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

[SSL]

 

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.

 

What in fuck is a "resolution step". And what fps do you get, average? I'd wager less than 60.

[VSG]

Why am I not surprised it is Fran posting this thread to Alienware's defense? 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

What in fuck is a "resolution step". And what fps do you get, average? I'd wager less than 60.

a mathematical constant ratio, with increased variables

1080P is a 16:9 resolution ratio

2160x1215 is 1920+(16*15)x1080+(9*15)

The constant is a ratio of 16 pixels wide to every 9pixels tall, its the mathematical ratio that governs the appropriate resolution(aspect ratio).

Each 16:9 resolution increase equvilates into 1 step, example

1920+16= 1936

1080+9= 1089

New resolution is 16:9 19436x1089, but the ratio is 1 step increased.

heres my desktop at 2 different resolutiuons compared.

I run battlefield 3 on ultra at 2160x1215@50~60FPS

[SSL]

a mathematical constant ratio, with increased variables

1080P is a 16:9 resolution ratio

2160x1215 is 1920+(16*15)x1080+(9*15)

The constant is a ratio of 16 pixels wide to every 9pixels tall, its the mathematical ratio that governs the appropriate resolution(aspect ratio).

Each 16:9 resolution increase equvilates into 1 step, example

1920+16= 1936

1080+9= 1089

New resolution is 16:9 19436x1089, but the ratio is 1 step increased.

heres my desktop at 2 different resolutiuons compared.

-snip-

I run battlefield 3 on ultra at 2160x1215@50~60FPS

 

So basically it's a meaningless number. You're using "step" as a unit, but units have to be constant and the way you're calculating them it isn't. It's much more meaningful to use a percentage - in this case 2160x1215 is about 25% larger than 1920x1080.

[TopWargamer]

Repost? http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/105953-turns-out-alienwares-steam-machine-is-upgradable-but-they-still-dont-want-you-doing-it/

[bob345]

 

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.

at what? 30fps?  my 770 can just barely run most modern titles at 60 fps at 1080p. i have a really hard time believing you are doing that with a laptop gpu unless all you play are games like league or dota2.

[jbr]

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.

 

Marketing hype and bullshit aimed at suckers.

 

It's a repeat of the WebTV and Onlive thing, which were both created by the same guy who has a long history of making crap, marketing the hell out of it and then dumping it.

[dizmo]

Marketing hype and bullshit aimed at suckers.

 

It's a repeat of the WebTV and Onlive thing, which were both created by the same guy who has a long history of making crap, marketing the hell out of it and then dumping it.

 

Haha, yeah. I mean there's people who use the argument that it'll run on SteamOS. To which I point out that it can only play ~250 games. Then they reply with "oh, but you can dual boot Windows.."

Ok. So why not just have only Windows on it? And...BAM...it's just a PC.

 

It seems to be working though. Look at all the people saying they're stoked about building a Steam Machine/Box.

[jbr]

Haha, yeah. I mean there's people who use the argument that it'll run on SteamOS. To which I point out that it can only play ~250 games. Then they reply with "oh, but you can dual boot Windows.."

Ok. So why not just have only Windows on it? And...BAM...it's just a PC.

 

It seems to be working though. Look at all the people saying they're stoked about building a Steam Machine/Box.

 

SteamOS doesn't exist,  It's Debian with Steam Wallpaper and Steam client in Big Picture mode by default.

 

Marketing bullshit that the media swallows because it makes good copy.

 

This whole Steam machine crap might turn into a real test for Linus and Luke though

if NCIX starts selling them then they might try and hire Linus for videos promoting them.

 

Linus trashed consoles in a NCIX video once and that video was deleted because NCIX sells console hardware.

[TheRetiredSlave]

I still don't understand why people were even pissed off in the first place about Alienware releasing a new model every year.. Intel/AMD/Nvidia generally release new products every year, so every PC manufacturer will obviously have to release a "new model" every year if they want to keep up with newer architectures.. Frankly, people would be more pissed off if Alienware DIDN'T release a new Steam Machine every year, because they would complain that they wouldn't have the latest hardware available..

 

A lack of upgradeability is an inherent tradeoff with systems that are aimed at being ultra-compact (just look at laptops), so I don't understand why people were surprised by this.

 

 

 

Fran: just because random people (on the internet!) have different opinions than you doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to "prove them wrong". Stop fangirling Alienware; nobody cares..

Let's face it, games have a ton of different options in a graphics settings menu, so "Ultra settings + smooth framerate" to one person doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as "Ultra settings + smooth framerate" to the next person. 

[geogga]

Personally I hate mostly-all these custom PC websites, except a few. But I think Alienware is getting better with their business in general than others like origin, where you pay extra $500 for it being built by their specialist computer geeks.

I hope I don't start a prebuilt vs home built war. If I do, oops

[FranBunnyFFXII]

I run battlefield 3 on ultra at 2160x1215@50~60FPS

people should probably read.

[mike88931]

You don't need to use profanity to get your point across...

I know. You also don't need to give a shit, but you didn't see me stating that.

 

Also, "profanity" can enhance speech. No reason not to use it there.

[mike88931]

@ FranBunny: "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. "

 

Stating you run games at max insinuates you actually get playable enough frame rates to get past the loading screen. With your card, this is simply not the case. You are nowhere near even 50 on most modern games. Stop lying to people that don't know better and will believe you. For what you said not to be a lie you have to play minesweeper esque games which is not what people will interpret your words as and you should know that. 

 

YOU should learn not to make purposefully misleading, ambiguous statements, and then fail at trying to cover it up.  

[Kobz360]

I know. You also don't need to give a shit, but you didn't see me stating that.

 

Also, "profanity" can enhance speech. No reason not to use it there.

Dude, you are so rude, it's not even funny. If you want to come on these forums and discuss in a meaningful and organised manner, please don't come in here with all your unnecessary and downright stupid swearing. There was no reason at all to use THAT much profanity in your previous post. Watch your mouth man.

 

Getting back to what you two were arguing about, it's a very subjective topic. I personally believe a 670 is really good for 1080P gaming. AMD even line up their 270X (7870) as their best 1080p card, the 280X as their best 1440p card etc. I will say though that 7970M is much closer to a 7850 in performance than a 7870.. anyway.  

 

GTX 670 is a very powerful card and I would disagree with you and say that 670 can easily max out most or even all modern games at 1080p with the odd extreme exceptions like Metro:LL which kills even the best cards. Not to mention you can just notch down the AA a tiny bit as some people may not like it or see it does a reasonable enough job to justify the performance hit. 

 

I have a 7870 and I was averaging Battlefield 4 (in Beta mind you) at 45FPS, with the lowest big 31. That leads me to the point of "playable frame rates" being subjective. Just because you will only deal with 60+FPS at Max settings, with AA turned up all the way, doesn't mean other people want that too. I can deal with Max settings and an average anywhere past 35-40 and I'll have no problems. I also like to turn down AA to 2x if it'll give me that extra notch of performance. Hell, I'll even turn down the settings to high, just as long as it reaches my preferred playable FPS. Once again it's subjective. 

 

Just because you don't agree with someone's opinion, doesn't make your one any more correct. In my opinion I believe a 670 is more than fine for 1080P gaming and I believe you will be able to max out modern games at 1080p. If not, just turn down the MSAA and some filters, it's no biggie. 

[kuddlesworth9419]

A Steam Machine is basically a console competitor.

 

It makes sense not to be upgradable.

No it doesn't. If it's upgradable than it's an advantage over the current consoles. If it wasn't upgradable then you might as well go and buy a PS4 or XBox One. 

[dyent10]

 

cpu bottleneck ultra settings 4x msaa.

 

 

gpu bottleneck ultra settings 8x msaa.

 

 

games are playable but not on 60fps and these are coming from a 5 year old alienware laptop.

 

@FranBunnyFXII if you want a meaningful discussion with a mature audience, stick to nbr. 

[Smashbow]

repost. I posted this yesterday.