Steam Machines have yet to be made available for consumer purchasing and here we have the leading desktop motherboard manufacturer in the world, Asus, announcing that it is going to take a piece of the PC console market with its slim form factor GR6. GR6 is an extremely compact gaming system that actually possesses a high degree of portability.
Weighing it at just 1.28 kg and measuring 238mm by 245mm by 60mm, the console also possesses hardware specifications that will trump the ones present in Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4. Additionally, GR6 happens to be a very quiet machine according to the information published by the source. While idle, the machine produces 20dB and 28 dB when it is at full load.
In terms of hardware specifications, GR6 does not disappoint when pitted against next generation consoles. However, for future proofing an individual’s gamer needs, something with a bit more kick will be required. Under the hood, is Intel’s 5th generation i5 5200U processor (clock speed details are currently unavailable), 8GB of DDR3L-1600 RAM (supports up to 16GB), HDD and SSD storage options. For gaming purposes, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics chip is present, along with a powerful Wi-Fi adapter that satisfies speeds of the 802.11ac standard.
Furthermore, users can also hardwire their systems in order to get better internet performance through GbE LAN. For peripheral connectivity purposes, two USB 2.0 and four USB 3.0 ports are added. For display purposes, the following ports are provided.
- One HDMI port
- One DisplayPort port
- 5 mm audio and mic jacks
GR6 will be running Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 platform, along with Steam. The Steam application can be launched with the tap of a single button. In terms of gaming accessories, either an optional ROG Gladius mouse and M801 keyboard or ROG Sica mouse and RA01 keyboard will be provided.
Unfortunately, there has been no word concerning the pricing details of the PC gaming console. However, bearing in mind that is has been assembled by Asus as part of its ROG (Republic of Gamers) lineup, do not expect a small price tag.
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