We have been hearing about the Steam-based console from Valve for quite some time. Now we know that there is a Linux based OS behind it, we saw a controller that looked like a touch version of Xbox controller or Nvidia Shield without a screen. The joy pads were replaced by touch surfaces, which is interesting but something that we would have to try before we make up our mind if it's good of bad.

The hardware configuration is an interesting one. All 300 prototype consoles will ship with Nvidia and Intel combo. The one thing missing was AMD on both graphics and CPU side. All 300 consoles have the following specs:

GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and some GTX660
CPU: some boxes with Intel i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB GDDR5 (GPU)
Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
Power Supply: Internal 450W 80Plus Gold
Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high

As you can see this specification is much high performing than soon to launch Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and will offer more GPU and CPU power.

We are puzzled by lack of AMD GPUs and CPUs and we would imagine that you should see some of them. The Steam console looks like a decent PC that will let you play steam games on this hardware, and with 16GB RAM and 3GB GPU, you can expect quite nice graphics.

Intel won the deal with Haswell Core i7, i5 and unnamed Core i3 processors while Nvidia ranges from $200 cards such as GTX 660 all the way to the $999 Titan. This console looks interesting but there are far too many questions that need to be answered before it hits the market. One can imagine that Core i7 4770 steam box with Titan, 16GB DDR3 won't be a priced anywhere close to next generation console and one can only assume that such "console" would have to cost more than $1,500 probably much more.

We are not sure what is the deal with AMD and Valve, they use to love each other with Half Life 2 vouchers that took years for people to use, and from this angle looks like the love is over.