Alienware takes on living room gaming PCs with the Alpha-- a console-style number running not on Steam OS but on regular Windows 8.1, if with a custom-designed "Alpha UI".

Like a Steam Machine or other similar living room PCs the Alpha features an HDMI-out port, as well as an HDMI-in with pass-through support. As mentioned earlier it runs on Windows 8.1, with the Alpha UI's "Console Mode" promising users can navigate through all core features using just a gamepad and the Steam client's Big Picture mode.

A "Desktop Mode" allows use as a regular PC via the addition of a mouse.

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group completes the USB Type-C specification, meaning the next generation of USB connector is all but ready to enter production following transfer to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF).

USB Type-C is a modified version of the 10 Gbps USB 3.1 standard, with a slimmer connector promising to be robust enough for laptop and tablet use while being slim enough for smartphones.

The connector is reversible, bringing an end to mis-plugging issues, while USB Power Delivery support allows it to carry up to 100W, enough to power a laptop.

The one catch-- or advantage, depending on how one sees it-- with USB Type-C? It is not compatible with the current USB standard, demanding a need for convertors (as defined in the specification).

Club 3D launches what it claims is the first USB 3.0 graphics adapter able to output 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 resolution) video with the USB 3.0 to DisplayPort 4K Graphics Adapter (CSV-2302).

Part of the SenseVision product family, the adapter pushes display signals via USB 3.0 to DisplayPort-enabled 4K displays at a refresh rate of 30Hz. It carries a DisplayLink DL-5500 adapter and is backwards compatible with QHD and HD monitors via DisplayPort 1.2 interface.

Also included are HDCP 2.0 (for protected video playback) and integrated audio.

The decline of the PC is all but olds by now, but Jon Peddie Research (JPR) reports the market has at least one bright spot-- gaming hardware, one worth $21.5 billion in 2014, or twice the size of gaming consoles.

It is also a segment set for growth, forecast to reach the value of $23.1bn by 2017.

"More money is being directed to mid and high range PC builds and upgrades by gamers," the analyst says. "[PC gamers] pay thousands for the ability to play games at very high settings and then do business, video/photo editing, content creation and other tasks with maximum horsepower at their disposal in a desktop ergonomic environment.”

The PC gaming segment covers PCs, upgrades and peripherals used, as the name suggests, by gamers. It is also a cornerstone of the entire consumer PC market, and JPR predicts companies will invest more of their R&D and marketing budgets towards the needs of games.