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There's a great guide on The Verge forums about building a Steam Box on the cheap: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/30/3706718/forget-the-ps4-and-the-xbox-720-bu

There's a great guide on The Verge forums about building a Steam Box on the cheap: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/30/3706718/forget-the-ps4-and-the-xbox-720-build-your-own-steambox-on-the-cheap http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/30/3706718/forget-the-ps4-an... For all those gamers out there who are familiar with building their own gaming PCs, the Steam Box future is already here. There's currently a huge sale on Steam for games that use controllers. You can make it happen today. And the value of having a fully functional HTPC cannot be overstated. You can watch any content you want, no compromises. YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, torrents, Usenet, it's all supported.

sliverstorm 14y ago
Allow me to again share the writeup I did on my Steam Box http://gist.io/4199804 http://gist.io/4199804 w1ntermute, I think you've already seen this, but anyway... :) As mahyarm mentions, NAS work just fine with an HTPC- I've actually installed several games to my NAS via iSCSI.
ibrahima 14y ago
Incidentally, are you the wintermute that was involved in DS homebrew way back when? (I recently started reading HN again and I keep seeing you pop up).
- w1ntermute 14y ago
  Nope, never done DS homebrew (or even had a Nintendo handheld since the GBA).
bitsoda 14y ago
Very nice guide. But I wouldn't build a Steam Box. There's something to be said about consoles and how they provide developers with one standardized specification that they can target over a span of 6+ years that enables them to optimize games so they run smoothly while squeezing out every last drop of power the console has to offer. Gaming PCs lack this standardization that consoles enjoy. Sure, there's infinite flexibility with what you're able to do with a PC -- such as using it as a HTPC -- but over time, a Steam Box built today won't be able to play the latest games that 2017 has to offer with any grace, while the PS3 will be running a title like "The Last of Us" nearly seven years after the console's introduction. Sure, you could always upgrade the graphics card, CPU, HD, and other components, but now you've already overpaid what you would have had you bought a PS4/Xbox 720. Just something to keep in mind for anyone who decides to build a Steam Box in hopes that is can replace a console.
- w1ntermute 14y ago
  It doesn't sound like you're the target market then. The Steam Box (at least in its current form) is targeted at PC gamers, who don't expect to have a single, static hardware platform that exists for a half-decade or more. This is more about taking what's great about PC gaming (the all-digital distribution system, customizability/flexibility of hardware, etc.) and bringing it to a living room, console-style gaming experience.
- ekianjo 14y ago
  Yeah, but in 2017 your console games will completely suck versus what you will have your PC-Steam Box if you renew it every 2-3 years or so. And you will have access to literally thousands on games on it, while your PS4-Xbox720 will still be hard at work building such a library of titles. And online play is free on Steam (versus 50 dollars a year on Xbox), games are cheaper too and regularly on sale for a fraction of the original price - overall you are SAVING by playing on PC if you play many games. It only makes sense to own a console if you 1) want specific, exclusive titles 2) do not play many games at all (and then it becomes more economical than a PC). That's why true hardcore gamers will remain on the PC no matter what consoles they bring on the market: best graphics, largest choice, and best use of your money is on PC.

sliverstorm 14y ago

Allow me to again share the writeup I did on my Steam Box http://gist.io/4199804 http://gist.io/4199804 w1ntermute, I think you've already seen this, but anyway... :) As mahyarm mentions, NAS work just fine with an HTPC- I've actually installed several games to my NAS via iSCSI.

ibrahima 14y ago

Incidentally, are you the wintermute that was involved in DS homebrew way back when? (I recently started reading HN again and I keep seeing you pop up).

w1ntermute 14y ago
Nope, never done DS homebrew (or even had a Nintendo handheld since the GBA).

bitsoda 14y ago

Very nice guide. But I wouldn't build a Steam Box. There's something to be said about consoles and how they provide developers with one standardized specification that they can target over a span of 6+ years that enables them to optimize games so they run smoothly while squeezing out every last drop of power the console has to offer. Gaming PCs lack this standardization that consoles enjoy. Sure, there's infinite flexibility with what you're able to do with a PC -- such as using it as a HTPC -- but over time, a Steam Box built today won't be able to play the latest games that 2017 has to offer with any grace, while the PS3 will be running a title like "The Last of Us" nearly seven years after the console's introduction. Sure, you could always upgrade the graphics card, CPU, HD, and other components, but now you've already overpaid what you would have had you bought a PS4/Xbox 720. Just something to keep in mind for anyone who decides to build a Steam Box in hopes that is can replace a console.

w1ntermute 14y ago
It doesn't sound like you're the target market then. The Steam Box (at least in its current form) is targeted at PC gamers, who don't expect to have a single, static hardware platform that exists for a half-decade or more. This is more about taking what's great about PC gaming (the all-digital distribution system, customizability/flexibility of hardware, etc.) and bringing it to a living room, console-style gaming experience.
ekianjo 14y ago
Yeah, but in 2017 your console games will completely suck versus what you will have your PC-Steam Box if you renew it every 2-3 years or so. And you will have access to literally thousands on games on it, while your PS4-Xbox720 will still be hard at work building such a library of titles. And online play is free on Steam (versus 50 dollars a year on Xbox), games are cheaper too and regularly on sale for a fraction of the original price - overall you are SAVING by playing on PC if you play many games. It only makes sense to own a console if you 1) want specific, exclusive titles 2) do not play many games at all (and then it becomes more economical than a PC). That's why true hardcore gamers will remain on the PC no matter what consoles they bring on the market: best graphics, largest choice, and best use of your money is on PC.