The smallest steambox or retro games dream


tdp

tdp

Member
Joined
May 13, 2003
Messages
70
I have fallen in love with this little box:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGHIvYUUitc

8b47a504-fbda-4968-8d8f-5e906b1b26fc.jpg
 
hmmm steam box? might be but, which graphic accelerator is in this thing? 

http://www.dx.com/p/guleek-i8-quad-core-windows-8-1-smart-google-tv-player-w-2gb-ram-16gb-rom-hdmi-eu-plug-presale-368319#specification says "HD Graphic(Gen7)" <- whatever this is.

also 2GB of RAM might also be a limit, windows based systems tend to eat a lot of ram ;)

on the go i would miss the screen, for home use it could be used as a media center or home server with batteries included ^ ^ ( USV integratet  :D )

As a steam box I think it lacks of graphic power.
 
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It wont play many high end games but it should just about get acceptable frame rates on many older games. There are many videos on youtube of Dell venue pros paying games from portal 2 to skyrim on low/medium settings so I expect this to be able to do the same.

I was going to buy that but have ordered 

www.geekbuying.com/item/PIPO-X7-Windows-8-1-Smart-Mini-PC-TV-Box-Media-Player-2G-RAM-32G-ROM-Intel-3736F-1-8GHz-Quad-Core---Silver-339668.html

Which is currently on route to me, very similar specs but no battery but has ethernet.
 
$108, that'd make a nice little headless always-on linux server to replace my aging BeagleBoard. I wonder what the power requirements are. 2amp power supply so can't be any more than 10watt. That's not too shabby.
 
Probably using this SoC:

http://ark.intel.com/products/80271/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3745D-2M-Cache-up-to-1_83-GHz

It maxes out at 2GB of RAM and fits the rest of the product descriptions for the Guleek i8.  So, it's either that one or something very close to it.

It is very similar to the SoC I suggested for consideration for the Pyra:

http://ark.intel.com/products/76760/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3770-2M-Cache-up-to-2_39-GHz

The primary difference is that this one clocks higher and can hit 4GB RAM.

I wonder why nobody has taken this SoC and tacked on a keyboard and display.  It seems to be a logical progression.  It's too bad the manufacturers keep putting Windows on these tiny x86 toys.  I'm looking forward to what Cherry Trail will bring out.  At 14nm it should be both efficient and relatively quick.

Then there's the WTF? factor of these SoC units.  64bit X86 and limited to 1, 2 or 4GB of RAM.  Why are they 64bit again?
 
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Grench said:
It's too bad the manufacturers keep putting Windows on these tiny x86 toys
Click to expand...
Honestely if you don't want Windows, why taking a x86? the only advantage of x86 would be the compatibility with old close source windows software...
 
This device will run a number of games quite nicely. However, as a small and tidy emulation machine, it will be great. If you are making a Mame machine, emulation hardware  (without heat issues) - sorted!!! I have got one order - looking forward to playing with it. Or it would make a great lite server with it's own built in ups ;-). I have not seen a portable computer that looks as good this unit.

In fact, imagine a Pyra running this hardware. Maybe Evil Dragon could look at this as an alternative cpu/mobo setup. Or a way to to take the mobo out of this and retro-fit it into in a Pyra case with access to the keyboard, controller and screen.
 
elwing said:
Grench said:
It's too bad the manufacturers keep putting Windows on these tiny x86 toys
Click to expand...
Honestely if you don't want Windows, why taking a x86? the only advantage of x86 would be the compatibility with old close source windows software...
Click to expand...
You have the option to install any flavour of Linux etc... I'm going to try and see I make a Hackintosh out of it (probably not - but you gotta try). 10.5 worked well on the older atoms, and Baytrail beasts those. Might not work with 10.6 any beyond though.
 
tekkendp said:
In fact, imagine a Pyra running this hardware. Maybe Evil Dragon could look at this as an alternative cpu/mobo setup. Or a way to to take the mobo out of this and retro-fit it into in a Pyra case with access to the keyboard, controller and screen.
Click to expand...
I had suggested considering the Intel Z3770 back when SoC options were being debated.  About 80% of the community seemed to want me lynched for even suggesting it.  A few people took it seriously.  The Bay Trail Atoms were the first X86 platform that could truly compete with t he ARM options of it's time.  So, it was theoretically a viable option.  Apparently Intel wasn't interested in working with ED, so the option was scrapped and the OMAP 5 was chosen.

What woulda/coulda/shoulda been intresting though - if the device had been designed using Bay Trail then flipped to Cherry Trail for production...

Linux on X86 has a pretty wide support infrastructure.  The Intel HD graphics rolled into these isn't fast by PC gaming standards, but pretty quick on/for mobile SoCs - PLUS we would have been able to have open/free graphics drivers with OpenGL at 8 AM day 1.

I don't think we need to re-argue the point though.  We're off and running on OMAP.  I'm looking forward to buying a Pandora Pyra.
 
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WizardStan said:
With luck the Pyra will be successful and an x86 CPU board will be produced.
Click to expand...
It's an intriguing thought.  However, I don't think it will be that simple.  There is a lot going on to tailor the Pyra's main board to the OMAP SoC daughter board.  (Rotator chip for example.)  Many will say that offering both an ARM and an X86 version of the same machine would, 'split the community'.  Personally I think it would, 'grow the community exponentially.'

Personally, I don't feel like anyone has done a proper x86 palm-top computer since IBM did the PC-110 back in the late 80's.

http://www.basterfield.com/pc110/pc110idx.htm

The OQO came close.

Neither had decent gaming controls.  As far as I can tell, the Pandora's (and Pyra's) controls put it in a class all by itself - regardless of the processing architecture.

A Linux on X86 Pyra using a Cherry Trail (or Bay Trail) SoC would be the proverbial 'handheld/portable steambox' and an emulations powerhouse.  BUT, to get there the Pyra ARM unit has to sell in crazy numbers and ED would have to be willing to step outside the comfort zone (all of the Pandora's and then Pyra's built up infrastructure).

It would be cool as hell, but I simply don't see it happening until we get to the end of the OMAP road map and have the SoC discussion all over again in around 2-3 years.
 
@ people who want x86 in Pyra:

It's not out of the question but there is one big problem.

You can get the processor from Intel but the problem is the bios.

AFAIK Intel processors need a bios and we would have to make one for Pyra.

That's the big problem.

Else I also would like a x86 option.
 
Askarus said:
@ people who want x86 in Pyra:

It's not out of the question but there is one big problem.

You can get the processor from Intel but the problem is the bios.

AFAIK Intel processors need a bios and we would have to make one for Pyra.

That's the big problem.

Else I also would like a x86 option.
Click to expand...
I was just thinking - I have still got my old eeePC 701 - the internals of this would be a nice replacement. Just need a screen replacement, and you would have a pretty nice netbook. Just need to get in touch with my inner Ben Heck and start hacking (once it arrives).
 
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