The delay of Steam Machines and their Linux-based SteamOS has not halted the launch of other PC-turned-consoles. PC builders all seem to have a dedicated section for custom living room PCs and Alienware’s been showing off the Alienware Alpha, which is essentially a Windows version of a Steam Machine.
Now ASUS is trying to get a slice of the action and recently announced with the GR8 Console PC. It’s about the size of a Wii, is less than 3 litres in volume and can be upgraded ever so slighty.
The tiny machine is powered by a dual-core Intel Core i7-4510U (2 GHz) processor and an Nvidia GTX 750Ti GPU. It’s stuck with the CPU and GPU, but the DDR3 RAM can be upgraded to 16GB while storage can be increased as well, as removing the cover reveals a slot for a 2.5” hard drive or SSD. It’s obviously not for anyone planning on upgrading to stay ahead of the curve. Or even slightly behind it.
Here’s the full list of specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-4510U Processor
- Graphics processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti Graphics w/ 2GB GDDR5 VRAM
- Operating system: Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Pro
- Memory & storage: 1600MHz DDR3L memory (up to 16GB) 2 x SO-DIMM. SATA 6Gb/s; 1 x 2.5″ 1TB 7200rpm HDD, or 2.5″ 256G SSD, 1 x 2.5” extension bay for HDD/SSD, Free 100GB of ASUS WebStorage for 12 months
- Networks: Intel Gigabit LAN, Wireless Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
- Connectivity: Front 1 x Headphone, 1 x MIC-in, 2 x USB 2.0 (1 with USB Charger)
- Rear 3 x Audio jacks (LINE_IN/LINE_OUT/MIC), 1 x S/PDIF optical out, 1 x HDMI (support Ultra HD 4K), 1 x DisplayPort (support Ultra HD 4K), 1 x LAN(RJ45), 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x 19V DC-in, 1 x Kensington lock
- Power consumption: 19V DC, 6.32A, 120W Power Adapter, 0.4W when off, 13W at idle, 70 to 77W at full 3D loads
- ROG-exclusive features: SupremeFX Audio, Sonic SoundStage, Sonic SenseAmp, Sonic Studio, Sonic Radar II, GameFirst III, Miracast Receiver
- Bundled software: Kaspersky Anti-Virus (1-year full license), AiSuite III, ASUS HomeCloud with Wi-Fi GO!/Media Streamer, DTS Connect
- Accessories: M801 gaming mechanical keyboard (optional), ROG Gladius gaming mouse (optional), 120W AC adapter, Power cord, User Manual, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card
- Size: Max. 238 x 245 x 60 mm (2.5-liter chassis)
- Weight: 1.284kg
It won’t be cheap either, expected to be as pricey as $999, which is not insignificant given its middling power. And it seems a bit too much if it’s going to tempt console gamers into getting a PC for their living room.
Cheers, Forbes.