Turns out Alienware's Steam Machine is upgradable, but they still don't want you doing it

[TopWargamer]

http://kotaku.com/you-can-upgrade-the-un-upgradable-steam-machine-but-it-1507211467?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

 

"We've purposefully designed the Alienware Steam Machine to be smaller than the latest generation consoles," Alienware general manager Frank Azor told Eurogamer. "Upgrading the internal components will not be as easy as compared to other platforms (...) but we will not prevent a customer from upgrading."

 

GOOD. So instead of buying one their consoles every year, just buy one, and upgrade it, like you can do now on any PC. So what if it's a small size? When there's a will, there's a way.

[helping]

upgrading that thing is probably going to be some extreme struggles. 

[Bluejay0]

The space will be non-existant probably

[MatheusSanzo]

Of course it is, it's basecally a computer.

[Humbug]

I wonder why Alienware is trying so hard to make it smaller than consoles. Is that really the priority for buyers?

[Guest GRRigger]

I wonder why Alienware is trying so hard to make it smaller than consoles. Is that really the priority for buyers?

Well, its definitly more appealing than xbone, and by my opinion even ps4. Looks arent everything, but you pay what you see with Alienware.

[rjshield]

Its most likely laptop hardware so things like the processor will be soldered to the board. It will probably just be the memory and storage that are upgradable without replacing the whole motherboard-cpu.

Basically just as much upgrading as current laptops.

[ForsakenLive]

I wonder why Alienware is trying so hard to make it smaller than consoles. Is that really the priority for buyers?

For the Console  users, it has to be slim and small, they don't understand that a larger chassis is not bad.

[brownninja97]

haha pricks, gtfo we dont care, its OUR SYSTEM, i mean THIS IS OUR LAND.

[Yoinkerman]

The only things that really benefit from upgrades are the gpu and hdd nowadays, cpus last a long time.

[gunsman]

i don't think alienware's box was never meant for an enthusiast who wants to upgrade everything, i think they are trying to target the average consumer that wants a small profile gaming box for their living room. they are targeting a whole different niche that this forum, and any enthusiast forums cater to.

[Pvtjace]

i don't think alienware's box was never meant for an enthusiast who wants to upgrade everything, i think they are trying to target the average consumer that wants a small profile gaming box for their living room. they are targeting a whole different niche that this forum, and any enthusiast forums cater to.

Exactly, I dont know why people are getting upset over these articles.

The "Type" of consumer that buys their product is "Generally" someone who wants an out of the box gaming experience. Its the same as the Apple product catalog. People are happy to pay more to have it ready to go from the first second.

[Sors]

Would be funny if they decide to use the same case for all future versions, and you can just buy the video card of the new model as a replacement part to put it in the old one.

[Kobz360]

Its most likely laptop hardware so things like the processor will be soldered to the board. It will probably just be the memory and storage that are upgradable without replacing the whole motherboard-cpu.

Basically just as much upgrading as current laptops.

Not necessarily. A lot of laptop CPU's are upgradeable as well, though I doubt that would be the case here, however, if Alienware decides to utilise Mobile PCI-Express (MXM), like they do in all of their gaming grade laptops, it would technically be possible to upgrade the GPU, as that's the case with the gaming laptops. 

[mgsstar]

Its good that it is upgradable but not sure if there will be availability of parts that you are able to use to upgrade. Maybe a DirectCU II mini or MSI's mini gaming edition gpu would fit but nothing else big.

[FranBunnyFFXII]

https://www.facebook.com/Alienware/posts/10151935583211973:0

Important points

"The Alienware Steam Machine is designed to deliver a great gaming experience in the living room and we will enable customers to upgrade components - both at purchase or after receiving their unit."

"Considering we’ve purposefully designed the Alienware Steam Machine to be smaller than the latest generation of consoles"

"We feel we have multiple options for customers based on their individual needs. If a gamer wants more freedom to upgrade, we have the X51. If they would prefer a much smaller, more console-like system, we will offer the Alienware Steam Machine."

"The tiny size of our Steam Machine is our biggest point of differentiation but also our most limiting factor when it comes to the traditional sense of PC upgrades. 8"x8"x2.5" is very small and a lot of very exacting engineering is required to get everything inside the unit. "

[tedjani]

i don't know about you guy's but i'm building my own steam rig

[Luc401]

For me i really do not give a crap about size make it 2' by 2' by 2' i dont really care..

[Kirihuna]

A Steam Machine is basically a console competitor.

 

It makes sense not to be upgradable.

[ManOfDisguise]

what cracked me up was one of the replies to the post:

 

This isn't Razer, this is Alienware. They know their s**t.

[defunkt]

"For 1080P gaming, a GTX 670 (or any other card in the future that fits in the 150-170 watt range) is more than enough to run games at max settings. _DC1"

 

Yeah.. That's bullshit.

[madknight3]

I'm sure like everything else Alienware offers you'll be able to customize it. You probably just wont have that much choice. As for how easy you can take it apart and change things out yourself, well I guess that's still to be seen.

[FranBunnyFFXII]

"For 1080P gaming, a GTX 670 (or any other card in the future that fits in the 150-170 watt range) is more than enough to run games at max settings. _DC1"

 

Yeah.. That's bullshit.

No thats absolutely true. I run most games at max settings and I have an HD7970M which is equivalent to the HD7870 desktop card. I'm playing eveyr game I have at max settings @ 2160x1215 downsampled resolutions. Thats 15 resolution steps higher than 1080P.

A GTX 670 is more powerufl than an HD7970M so no its Not bullshit at all.

[defunkt]

 

Yeah.. That's bullshit.

No thats absolutely true. I run most games at max settings and I have an HD7970M which is equivalent to the HD7870 desktop card. I'm playing eveyr game I have at max settings @ 2160x1215 downsampled resolutions. Thats 15 resolution steps higher than 1080P.

A GTX 670 is more powerufl than an HD7970M so no its Not bullshit at all.

I have a GTX 670. I can max out some newer games, SR4, AC3. But have to turn down the settings in most games. Far cry 3, Batman Arkham city I have to turn down the settings a fairish amount.

[dizmo]

I really don't get the whole craze with steam machines. It's just a pc that sits under your tv. It's something that my dad's done for the past 5 years.