A uniquely designed mini-PC featuring a Ryzen AI 9 365 processor is getting attention for its ability to dual-boot Windows and Linux while having SteamOS ready to go out of the box. Once again, it could be said that this year is one of the best years for Linux users. Valve has managed to repeat industry-wide inspiration by releasing new hardware, this time around the Steam Machine with its controversial price tag, which has in turn inspired numerous mini or compact PC launches aiming to capitalize on using Linux to game via SteamOS. Previously, Valve caused a similar effect when it launched the Steam Deck, which reignited interest in gaming handhelds, a trend that is still going strong with new product launches from competitors every year (although still no official word on the Steam Deck 2). No matter, the current wave of Steam Machine rivals is leading to some interesting concepts for compact gaming machines, and the Piston V is no exception.
The Piston V has an LCD on its front/top, ports and vents on its side, and easily accessible slots for memory and storage on the bottom/back. Seriously, it would be difficult to make swapping out drives/modules any easier; simply remove the plastic toolless covers, and there you go. The fun doesn’t stop here, though, as the 10-core/20-thread CPU featuring Zen 5 cores (4 primary + 6 secondary 5c), 24 MB L3 cache, that can boost up to 5.0 GHz, which utilizes AMD Radeon 880M RDNA 3 graphics with 12 CUs clocking in at 2900 MHz, is paired with 32GB DDR5-5600 memory and a 1 TB M.2 SSD. This APU also features an XDNA 2 NPU capable of up to 73 total TOPS.
ETA Prime has said this mini-PC was provided without any mention of who manufactured it, but some are wondering if it might be U.S. based Xi3, which launched a similar product in 2013, although that Piston looked much different than this one. Regardless, testing has shown that it has both Windows 11 and Bazzite installed along with SteamOS and is a capable gaming machine. The LCD is fully customizable, and the overall aesthetic of the Piston V is somewhere between a modern digital clock and a smart thermostat, and its small footprint is sure to be appreciated. As of yet, pricing and availability are unknown, but more than likely will be in the $1k or higher range.
Discussion
Join Discussion →No replies yet. Be the first to reply on the forum.