The first consumer Steam Machines are coming to light and leading the pack is Alienware. Developed in close collaboration with Valve, the Alienware Steam Machine is being billed as one of the platform's flagship devices, not only due to the scale at which it will be produced, but its blend of performance and form factor.

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Set to launch in the latter half of this year, Alienware's Steam Machine is considerably smaller than both the Xbox One and PS4. With a 8" by 8" square design and roughly 3" tall, the chassis is ultra-compact. It comes equipped with two USB 3.0 ports on the front, but on the back, it will ship with an optical audio connector,and an ethernet jack.Most notably, like the Xbox One, the Alienware Steam Machine will have both an HDMI input and an HDMI output. While neither Valve nor Alienware have disclosed their plans for the HDMI passthrough, its inclusion suggest that both Alienware's box and the Linux-based Steam OS could support integrated TV feeds or other HD sources — perhaps even a game console.But what about under the hood? Alienware is once again keeping its plans close to its chest, but the PC maker has confirmed that it will use an Intel-based CPU and a discrete Nvidia GPU. Given its diminutive size, a model from Nvidia's unannounced next-generation of laptop GPUs seems likely. In terms of performance, Alienware says it surpasses both the Xbox One and the PS4 in raw power, and the company is targeting native resolutions of 1080p.It should also come as no surprise that the system will ship with an external power supply, but the overall footprint and design remains unknown.So, when can you buy one and how much will it cost? Alienware says the system will be "competitively priced" with Sony and Microsoft's latest consoles and will share more details as the year progresses.

Scott Lowe is IGN's resident tech expert and first-person shooter fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter at @ScottLowe