When comparing ZOTAC Steam Machine SN970 vs Scan 3XS ST Steam Machine, the Slant community recommends ZOTAC Steam Machine SN970 for most people. In the question“What are the best Steam Machines?” ZOTAC Steam Machine SN970 is ranked 2nd while Scan 3XS ST Steam Machine is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose ZOTAC Steam Machine SN970 is:
Steam has developed their own gaming controller which comes packed with this machine and is part of the price. This is convenient for those looking for an all in one solution.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Comes with new Steam controller
Steam has developed their own gaming controller which comes packed with this machine and is part of the price. This is convenient for those looking for an all in one solution.
Pro Quiet operation
For a machine that will most likely be used in the living room, fan noise is a concern. Luckily the machine is made to be silent while being used so this is not an issue here.
Pro Very nice design
The design looks like it can actually throw some people off thinking that this small form factor PC is a next gen system. It looks great underneath your TV and is about the size of a Sega Dreamcast. In other words, it just fits in perfectly.
Pro You can upgrade your machine
Since this Steam Machine has the same chassis as the Digital Storm Eclipse, it too is a fully upgradable system that lets you replace all the hardware to create a more powerful PC console.
Pro Can be shipped overseas
Although these machines are produced in the UK, the company ships them overseas, given you pay extra amount for the shipping and have great patience.
Pro Matte Finish
Some other Steam Machines have glossy finishes that make the system look pretty, but attracts fingerprints. Luckily, the Eclipse has a matte finish that doesn't stain easily just from touching it.
Pro Various chassis
Not only can this Steam Machine rock it in a Silverstone Raven, but there are some other alternatives in case the lined edges are not your style.
Cons
Con Steam OS
The machine comes pre-installed with Steam OS as the main OS, this is based off of Debian Linux and as such Linux has less games than on Windows. This means that many AAA games will not be available on the system as they tend to be Windows only.
Con GPU cannot be upgraded
Like an Alienware Steam Machine, the Zotac's GPU cannot be upgraded. It may have a decent card inside now but a few more years down the road will make that card unattractive if you wish to buy something better to keep up with future titles.
Con No GPU amplifier at this time
Unlike Alienware, Zotac has not created a GPU amplifier for their Steam Machine so that if someone were to want to upgrade externally with a desktop GPU like an RX 580, they cannot do so.
Con Non unique chassis
Even though the chassis is nice, it isn't unique. In fact, you can easily purchase the Silverstone Raven chassis on multiple outlets like Amazon and Superbliz for around $79.99 and make a cheaper build with that exact chassis. The only things you won't get from building it yourself is the warranty on the unit and the logo in front.
Con Not located within the US
This is somewhat of a deal breaker since the manufacturers of this powerful computer with all of the upgradability options are located within the UK and do not currently have any warehouses in the States. This all adds up to extra costs for the customer.