Alienware Steam Machine Review

Alienware Steam Machine Overview
The Alienware Steam Machine is a very small device, it is quite impressive that Alienware was able to fit so much in such a small package. The entire device is an 8-inch by 8-inch square that is only 2.3-inches tall. Being this small means that you can easily fit it in your home theater.

Alienware Steam Machine

The top of the unit is pretty basic and does not draw much attention to itself.

Alienware Steam Machine

On the front of the unit you will find the power button (Alienware logo) and two USB 2.0 ports. The Alienware logo will light up blue as well as the Steam logo on the corner.

Alienware Steam Machine

Moving around to the back of the unit we have two large exhausts towards the top of the unit. The rest of your connections are on the back which include power, HDMI in, HDMI out, optical audio, Gigabit Ethernet, and two USB 3.0 ports. Having an HDMI in means that you can connect other HDMI devices to the Steam Machine so that you save an HDMI port on your TV.

Alienware Steam Machine

Flipping the Steam Machine over there are 4 rubber feet on the bottom that will keep it in place. There is also a compartment on the bottom of the unit that opens up to reveal another USB port where Alienware has installed the receiver for the Steam Controller. This receiver will allow you to connect up to 4 Steam Controllers to the unit.

Alienware Steam Machine

Getting inside the Steam Machine is actually easier than you think. If you have a thin enough screwdriver all you have to do is remove 4 screws on the bottom of the unit and you can take it apart.

Alienware Steam Machine

Once you have it taken apart we can take a close look inside and see just how compact everything is. Both the CPU and GPU are cooled by large heatsinks and removable blowers fans. It is nice that the fans are removable as you can clean them from time to time. For those wondering the GPU that is in Alienware’s Steam machine is the equivalent to an NVIDIA GTX 860M, but it is an entirely different SKU as it was specially made for this system.

Alienware Steam Machine

Another great thing about the Alienware Steam Machine is that many of the parts are user-upgradable. The CPU is actually a socketed CPU so it can be upgraded and as you can see the memory is your typical laptop memory so that can be upgraded as well.

Alienware Steam Machine

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