Gaming PC is upstairs. Want to use it to play games on HDTV in living room. What hardware to get?

KatanaDV20

KatanaDV20

KatanaDV20

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Hey guys..well the thread title says it all.

My gaming PC is upstairs in my bedroom. I want to use it to play games on the my 32" HDTV downstairs in the living room. (No..I dont wanna move the gaming rig downstairs..its in bedroom for a reason - when guests stay over etc I dont want them fiddling with my prized possession lol.)

Anyways short of getting 12 metres of HDMI cable (if theres even that length!) to run down the stairs to the back of the TV - is there a better way of doing this?

:confused:

Is there a box of tricks I can get to have the PC feed the TV...wirelessly maybe? Id complete the setup with a wireless keyboard. I heard some of the more blinged-out routers can do such a thing?

Please share your thoughts, thanks :D
 
By all accounts that wireless card doesn't work too well, Custom PC tested it and said that the distance and any interference wasn't great. With the HDMI cable, there doesn't seem to be a maximum length in the specification:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/ask-installer-hdmi-13-cable-length-limit

However, I would guess that getting a well constructed 12M cable would both be expensive and hard to find!

I know this isn't a great solution, but bring your PC down when you want to play downstairs each time, and then put it back when you have guests? Otherwise I suppose a system like OnLive using a keyboard and mouse is a possibility, depends on your internet speed and whether you want to buy access to the games through them. HTH.
 
Actually on the cost price for the 12M HDMI cable I take it back, the rainforest company seems to sell some from between £20 - £70 (I would err on the side of the more expensive ones as they *should* be better made - additional investigations into the companies which make them and other users reviews should be checked).
 
Thanx fellers :D

TBH I didnt know there was such a thing as a wireless gfx card lol. Having a read of it now!

@ Dr Delphi - cheers for that link, its an interesting read. It is the simplest solution. Signal-weakening over a long length had entered my mind but I was not sure just how much would be degraded. I already have some spare square plastic tunnels (if thats what you call them) to fix to the side of the stairs through which I will run the HDMI. At least then the installation will look neat!
 
Tingle said:
HDMI over CAT6 maybe? That's if you can't use HDMI.
Click to expand...

Thats an interesting idea, especially as you can get 'HDMI Over Ethernet' converters for around £20. Might be worth trying that OP and then you just use your plastic housing to hold the CAT6 cable.
 
Tingle said:
HDMI over CAT6 maybe? That's if you can't use HDMI.
Click to expand...

Whoa...cool...I did not know of this. Im on a site that sells a HDMI over Single Cat5 Cat6 HD Extender Transmitter and Receiver (50m / 160ft)

Neat...Ive bookmarked this! Thanks :)

..especially as you can get 'HDMI Over Ethernet' converters for around £20. Might be worth trying that OP and then you just use your plastic housing to hold the CAT6 cable.
Click to expand...

Another neat solution...they are comin thick and fast lol. The TV has is own ethernet port in the back as well. Oh wait but the HDMI cable would still be used right? Yes *doh* I guess it will huh or how will I get hi-def!
 
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If you have to run a cable it might aswell be a hdmi it's same diameter as Ethernet and I'm not sure if theres any messing around with the Ethernet solution.

*Don't link to competitors!*
 
JasonKnights said:
If you have to run a cable it might aswell be a hdmi it's same diameter as Ethernet and I'm not sure if theres any messing around with the Ethernet solution.

*Don't link to competitors!*
Click to expand...

Yea I was thinking along the same lines since I have the plastic tunnels for those anyways.

Oh yea dont worry I wont post any competitor links!
 
Just thought I'd mention that the cheap OcUK 15m HDMI cable I bought about a year ago sends 1080p at 60Hz to my flat screen no problems whatsoever. No sparkles no dropouts. Worked with my 4890 and my present 6950.

with anything over 10m you may need a little amplifier or booster but that would be about it. I would try a longer lead and if you have issues look at those boosters. They are often lead powered and can work with over 20m lengths and regenerate the signal. I didn't need one but your mileage may vary.

Planning a 22m run this year for F1 and will be using a powered splitter and amplifier along with inexpensive cables.
 
Tealc said:
Just thought I'd mention that the cheap OcUK 15m HDMI cable I bought about a year ago sends 1080p at 60Hz to my flat screen no problems whatsoever. No sparkles no dropouts. Worked with my 4890 and my present 6950.

with anything over 10m you may need a little amplifier or booster but that would be about it. I would try a longer lead and if you have issues look at those boosters. They are often lead powered and can work with over 20m lengths and regenerate the signal. I didn't need one but your mileage may vary.

Planning a 22m run this year for F1 and will be using a powered splitter and amplifier along with inexpensive cables.
Click to expand...

Ahhh nice, thanks for all that info m8 :) Nice to hear from someone whose tried it. Im close to picking a length of HDMI cable ATM. Just gonna fish out the tape and verify the length again! Nice to hear you got no sparkles and all that from such a long length! So Im looking for an HDMI Booster? Is that what they are called?
 
KatanaDV20 said:
Ahhh nice, thanks for all that info m8 :) Nice to hear from someone whose tried it. Im close to picking a length of HDMI cable ATM. Just gonna fish out the tape and verify the length again! Nice to hear you got no sparkles and all that from such a long length! So Im looking for an HDMI Booster? Is that what they are called?
Click to expand...

Might be known as 'amplifiers', instead of 'boosters' in some cases.
 
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