Streaming from PC to TV

Trojan Horse · 4 Aug 2016 at 18:48

Hi guys

What is the best option to stream from my PC to my TV. I want to plug in my wireless receiver downstairs and use my xbox controller on steam big picture and stuff.

I have a few options, which of these would work best?:

- Steam Link
- nVidia Shield (dont have nVidia GPU)
- mini PC, e.g. Intel NUC and then plug in wireless receiver and use Steam on it

I have an LG smart tv if that helps.

BornEvil · 4 Aug 2016 at 21:52

I use steam inhome streaming with a mini pc, wireless will just not cut it for me. I have a home hub with wireless AC, and 1080p has too many stutters, unusable imho.

You would need a wired connection, home plugs might work but not tried myself.

Flying_Hellfish · 4 Aug 2016 at 21:54

I've tried steam IHS with homeplugs (500 version) to a HTPC.

Worked for me but there was a delay definitely. Might be worth a go if you can borrow some homeplugs.

Trojan Horse · 5 Aug 2016 at 11:32

Sorry I meant xbox 360 wireless receiver. connection will be via homeplugs. What options have like little to no lag?

meandu229 · 5 Aug 2016 at 11:39

Trojan Horse said:
Sorry I meant xbox 360 wireless receiver. connection will be via homeplugs. What options have like little to no lag?

My home plugs have 0-1ms lag according to the steam overlay and I cant tell it at all, using steam link. I do have to reboot my home plugs every few months though as one day Ill suddenly not be able to stream as lag/bandwidth is terrible.

Oh and 360 wireless reciever works in steam link.

Trojan Horse · 5 Aug 2016 at 14:35

meandu229 said:
My home plugs have 0-1ms lag according to the steam overlay and I cant tell it at all, using steam link. I do have to reboot my home plugs every few months though as one day Ill suddenly not be able to stream as lag/bandwidth is terrible.

Oh and 360 wireless reciever works in steam link.

how do you mean the receiver works in steam link? so i can have my receiver upstairs on my main pc and steam link my mini pc downstairs and somehow my xbox 360 controller will still work downstairs?

meandu229 · 5 Aug 2016 at 14:43

Trojan Horse said:
how do you mean the receiver works in steam link? so i can have my receiver upstairs on my main pc and steam link my mini pc downstairs and somehow my xbox 360 controller will still work downstairs?

The steam link has usb ports, supports wireless reciever, normal xbox pads and many other game pads

. I have one plugged into the link with 3 controllers + steam controller on it.

Ahh I misread the thing, I use a steam link which is a physical box.
But you should be able to just plug in any controllers inc 360 wireless into your mini pc and it will forward the button presses to main pc.

Trojan Horse · 5 Aug 2016 at 15:35

meandu229 said:
The steam link has usb ports, supports wireless reciever, normal xbox pads and many other game pads . I have one plugged into the link with 3 controllers + steam controller on it.

Ahh I misread the thing, I use a steam link which is a physical box.
But you should be able to just plug in any controllers inc 360 wireless into your mini pc and it will forward the button presses to main pc.

thats what i figured

ill go order a steam link but my wireless receiver is a 3rd party one, will it still work with the Link?

Triq · 5 Aug 2016 at 22:01

Pretty much any sort or USB would work on it. I am very happy with mine.

The one thing to be wary of is non-Steam games can be fiddly if not impossible to get to work. However, if you use only games on Steam it is perfect and with the powerline adapters I get zero lag.

Trojan Horse · 6 Aug 2016 at 11:15

Triq said:
Pretty much any sort or USB would work on it. I am very happy with mine.

The one thing to be wary of is non-Steam games can be fiddly if not impossible to get to work. However, if you use only games on Steam it is perfect and with the powerline adapters I get zero lag.

I'm buzzed, paid £30 for it off that eX with a C website. Basically as long as its a long range HDMI transmitter I'm sweet.

Do I have to change my game to 1080p, its 1440p currently?

Triq · 6 Aug 2016 at 21:31

As far as I know it will only do it at 1080, I don't know if you would need to change anything as I think it may do it automatically.

You can use it outside of Steam also by just exiting the Big picture mode which allows normal desktop use e.g. watching videos.

Trojan Horse · 6 Aug 2016 at 21:47

Triq said:
As far as I know it will only do it at 1080, I don't know if you would need to change anything as I think it may do it automatically.

You can use it outside of Steam also by just exiting the Big picture mode which allows normal desktop use e.g. watching videos.

So does that mean if I run Steam Link my PC will set to 1080p and I will enjoy faster FPS as it is lower res or does it just downsize the output 1440p footage?

BornEvil · 6 Aug 2016 at 21:57

Trojan Horse said:
I'm buzzed, paid £30 for it off that eX with a C website. Basically as long as its a long range HDMI transmitter I'm sweet.

Do I have to change my game to 1080p, its 1440p currently?

It will automatically down sample the 1440p to a 1080p stream before streaming though the network. Useful as you don't need to change settings back and forwards when ever you want to game on your desk.

Frames will be up to 60fps for 1080p. No tearing, like vsync which is nice.

Nvidia Shield TV can stream up to 4K 60fps, but last time I read, 1440p is not selectable.

Mark_D · 6 Aug 2016 at 23:34

I've seen a friend's steam link in action and it was pretty amazing. No discernible lag on his setup and I believe it was a power line setup.

passey89 · 7 Aug 2016 at 06:30

My steam link is brilliant even on WiFi never noticed any lag