XDO Stax: Modular mini-PC running SteamOS undergoes gaming benchmarks, including Cyberpunk 2077

Featuring SteamOS support, the XDO Stax is a stackable modular mini-PC that may remind some readers of a very similar device we previously covered. YouTuber ETA Prime recently released an in-depth video examining how well the official SteamOS runs on the Stax. Though marketed as modular, the Stax is still highly limited in flexibility. For instance, it currently lacks an external GPU option and can only be expanded with a removable base unit that provides additional I/O interfaces, including two 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet ports, an HDMI output, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a single M.2 2280 slot connected via four PCIe 3.0 lanes.

The main unit itself features one full-function USB-C port as well as a second USB-C port with Power Delivery support. The Stax can be configured with either an AMD Ryzen 5 6600U or Ryzen 7 7840U processor, though no options are available for a dedicated GPU, limiting its performance in demanding games. That said, ETA Prime demonstrated that Cyberpunk 2077 runs quite smoothly at Full HD on SteamOS, whilst Elden Ring requires a reduced resolution of 900p to maintain fluid gameplay. The main unit includes one M.2 2242 SSD slot and two RAM slots supporting up to 6,400 MHz LPDDR5 memory. Measuring 100 x 100 x 67 mm (3.9 x 3.9 x 2.6 in), the configuration with a Ryzen 7 7840U, 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 512 GB SSD is currently available from PicoPC for around $335, down from its original list price of $390. PicoPC says it offers free worldwide shipping, but prospective buyers should review the company's shipping policy first.

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