Hardware Build your own Steam Box

I like the idea of the article but I think the execution required a little bit more thought and planning. As others have said, there are cooler, cheaper and better looking alternatives that are easily found (Llano being just one).

Personally I like the look of these new aluminium Streacom HTPC cases which aren't outrageously expensive like most small form factor case (why is this?):
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/streacom-f1c-series-htpc-mini-itx-case-black
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/streacom-f7c-series-htpc-mini-itx-case-black

As an aside, you will need a case that can take a two slot GPU but you can get low profile GTS 450's which makes decent full HD graphics an option (not sure where to buy them though):
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3588/palit_geforce_gts_450_low_profile_1gb_video_card/index.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/131315/Gainward-GTS-450-GOOD-Low-Profile-Card-Pictured-Taken-Apart.html

 

The concept is good, and the level of detail provided for the build was more than adequate. Let's be fair, here: we're a tough crowd, and we can all find ways of doing things differently / better (to our minds). He did a good job with what he was trying to do.

Hindsight, in this case, is even better than 20/20 ...

 

For the same price, but a bigger case, you can have a Pentium G840 with a GeForce GTX 560.

I think if I was going to play games (hey, it's a Steam box ffs!) I'd much rather live with a bigger case and something approaching decent graphics performance.

Still think the long HDMI cable and extended keyboard and mouse (controller? REALLY? Le sigh) from your main gaming desktop is by far the best option!

USB extension → http://www.cables2u.co.uk/line-extender-extends-upto-p-340.html

 

the right way to do it:

£45 = 8GB DDR3
£60 = slot-load BD-rom
£60 = Silverstone Modular PSU
£100 = Silverstone FT03-mini
£120 = Asrock z77 mITX
£140 = Ivybridge quad
£140 = Samsung 256GB 830
£200 = AMD HD7870

oops, got to £865, but it is still awesome!

 

£45 = 8GB DDR3
cheaper would be:

£35 = slot-load DVD-rom
£60 = Silverstone Modular PSU
£100 = Silverstone FT03-mini
£70 = Asrock A75 mITX
£65 = AMD x641
£140 = Samsung 256GB 830
£85 = AMD HD7770

£555 is far more palatable, but still pretty swift.

 

My Steam PC
http://www.scan.co.uk/savedbasket/2a781bb2b37841ed9a511000efdb9618

Yes this is how its done in SFF. Could get it shorter with a load of custom kit like 90degree PCI rise and some sort of holding contraption, but seriously why bother.

 

Same here...got the HDMI routed through the chimney stack and the TV on the wall. Playing on my PC I can switch over to my Xbox controller and you wouldn't know you weren't playing on the console (except for the far superior graphics of course!)

 

Interesting article, personally for myself I would have gone with an AMD APU rather than the i5 with bolt on gt430 but I'm not 100% on how that would have played out with thermals and noise. Love the idea of a gaming mini PC though Keep up the good work!