Considering a modern Shuttle XPC instead of Valve's Steam Machine

Valve says the Steam Machine will release this summer, and FCC listings highlighted by wayTooManyBugs on Reddit suggest the mini PC could launch before the end of June, with public regulatory documents set to be released on the 29th. If it does pop up before June is out, you'll have to finally get hold of Valve's MSRP and work out whether you can afford the box, as there's every chance it'll cost way more than a PS5 Pro.

That prospect has me thinking about revisiting plans to build a compact Shuttle XPC. I recently got my hands on a Shuttle XPC from 2003 running Windows XP, and the company still makes modern barebones systems that save space while supporting full-size components.

Valve's 3.8-litre box is still a fraction of the size of the case I'm eyeing up—the 13.4 litre Cube SH610R4 that's $435 at Amazon—but a slightly larger footprint would buy better upgradability.

United States

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