Shuttle's new bare-bones PC lets you build your own Steam Machine

And that's a Steam Machine that would be larger than Valve's design, but more powerful thanks to the ability to install a custom GPU.

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Kosta Andreadis

Senior Editor

Published Jul 2, 2026 1:33 AM CDT

4 minutes & 45 seconds read time

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TL;DR: Shuttle's XPC Barebone SB860R8 is a 14-liter aluminum cube supporting Intel Core Ultra 200 processors, modern GPUs, up to 192GB DDR5 RAM, and multiple M.2 SSDs. Larger than Valve's Steam Machine, it offers higher performance and storage options but requires separate CPU, memory, GPU, and storage purchases.

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Shuttle has announced its new XPC Barebone SB860R8, which is a 14-liter aluminum cube built for Intel Core Ultra 200 desktop processors ("Arrow Lake-S"), modern graphics cards, up to 192 GB of DDR5 memory, three M.2 SSD slots with one supporting PCIe 5.0 storage, and an integrated 80 PLUS Gold-rated 500W power supply. And yes, the aluminum cube shape and all-black finish are reminiscent of Valve's Steam Machine.

Shuttle's new bare-bones PC lets you build your own Steam Machine 2

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That said, the Shuttle XPC Barebone SB860R8 is much larger than the compact Steam Machine, with dimensions of 33.2 x 21.5 x 19.0cm. That's basically double the length of the 15.6 x 15.2 x 16.2cm dimensions of Valve's gaming box. Although the product page appears to focus on its capabilities as a compact PC for productivity and AI, with support for dual-slot GPUs and a 500W PSU power budget, there won't be any issue installing a card like MSI's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16G VENTUS 2X, which would deliver much higher gaming performance than the Steam Machine's entry-level RDNA 3 GPU.

As a productivity machine with ample storage, the Shuttle XPC Barebone SB860R8 supports up to four internal 3.5-inch SATA hard drives with RAID, so it can also double as a NAS or local server. As a bare-bones PC, you'll need to source an Intel Core Ultra 200 Series CPU, DDR5 memory, a GPU, and storage. And when you add all of that up, setting this up as a larger, more powerful Steam Machine will result in the overall cost exceeding Valve's controversial pricing.

Read more: ASRock's new compact DeskMini series expands with new Intel and AMD options
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Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question 01

What maximum GPU thickness and length will fit alongside the included 500W Flex-ATX PSU without blocking airflow or connectors?

The primary article states the maximum GPU size is 280 x 120 x 40 mm (Dual Slot).

Answered

Question 02

Can I install a full-length dual-slot PCIe Gen5 GPU plus four 3.5" drives simultaneously, or will drive cage placement conflict with large GPUs?

Yes. The Shuttle SB860R8 supports a dual-slot GPU up to 280 x 120 x 40 mm and also supports up to four internal 3.5-inch SATA hard drives, so a full-length dual-slot PCIe Gen5 GPU plus four 3.5-inch drives can be installed simultaneously.

Answered

Question 03

Does the built-in 500W PSU provide the necessary auxiliary PCIe power connectors for modern high-end GPUs, or will I need an adapter or external power?

The article states the Shuttle includes an integrated 80 PLUS Gold 500W Flex-ATX power supply and supports dual-slot modern graphics cards, noting a 500W power budget for GPUs. It does not specify whether the PSU includes auxiliary PCIe power connectors or if adapters/external power are required. This question cannot be answered from this article.

Answered

Question 04

Are there any BIOS or firmware limitations (e.g., CPU TDP or memory speed) that could prevent using Intel Core Ultra 200-series high-TDP SKUs or DDR5-5600 at full spec?

The article does not state any BIOS or firmware limitations that would prevent using Intel Core Ultra 200-series high-TDP SKUs or DDR5-5600 at full spec. The board uses an AMI BIOS and lists LGA1851 support for Core Ultra 200 series and four DIMM slots for DDR5-5600 up to 192 GB, implying compatibility.

Answered

Have a question not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

Especially when it looks like the Shuttle XPC Barebone SB860R8 is launching with a $700 USD price tag, as seen on Amazon. Here's a breakdown of the, admittedly, impressive specs.

Shuttle's new bare-bones PC lets you build your own Steam Machine 1

Item	Details
Product Name	Shuttle XPC Barebone SB860R8
Product Type	Bare-bones Mini PC
Chassis	Black aluminium chassis, Front door for I/O ports (USB and Audio), Kensington Security Slot
Mainboard/Chipset	Custom Shuttle form factor 195 x 244 mm with passive chipset cooling with heat sink, Intel B860
Socket	Processor Socket LGA1851 for Intel Core Ultra 200 series 9/7/5 processors
BIOS	AMI BIOS, SPI Interface, 32 MB Flash-EEPROM, Firmware-TPM (fTPM) v2.0
Power Supply	Built-in 500 Watt Flex-ATX, 80 PLUS Gold compliant
Cooling	Shuttle I.C.E. (Integrated Cooling Engine) with heat pipe cooling technology (10 heat pipes)
Fans	80mm (Front), 92mm (Rear)
CPU Cooler	92 x 92 x 25 mm
Memory	4 x DIMM slots for DDR5-5600 up to 192GB (48GB per DIMM)
Integrated Graphics Output	1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 2 x DisplayPort
PCIe Expansion Slots	1 x PCI-Express x16 Gen 5 slot, 1 x PCI-Express x4 Gen 4 slot
Max. GPU Size	280 x 120 x 40mm (Dual Slot)
Drive Bays	4 x 3.5" (internal)
M.2 SSD Slots	2 x M.2 2280 (PCIe 5.0 and 4.0), 1 x M.2 2230 (PCIe Gen 4.0)
Audio	Realtek ALC888, 5.1 channels
Networking	2 x 2.5G RJ45 connectors
Front I/O	1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0, Power Button, LED Indicators
Rear I/O	1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 2 x DisplayPort, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-A, 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x 2.5G LAN, 3 x Audio Ports (3.5mm)
Dimensions	33.2 x 21,5 x 19.0 cm (13.6 liter)
Weight	3.9kg