Best value mini-pc/client for Moonlight 4K/120hz

[RedMogg]

As title, I'm trying to figure out the cheapest/best value way to stream games (Sunshine/Moonlight) from my study PC (5900X, 7800XT) to the lounge or bedroom TVs (TCL 845K), at 4K/120hz. House is wired with Cat6, but have very decent mesh Wifi6E, too.

The TCL TVs will run Moonlight natively (Google OS), but I can't access game mode (120hz) without using one of the HDMI 2.1 ports....

Could use an Xbox One S = £120ish each, but they're bulkier than I'd like.

Some sort of all in one mini pc (NUC) that I could hide behind the TV would be ideal, but I'm struggling to find ones with HDMI 2.1 4K/120hz for anywhere close to the cost of an Xbox.

Anyone had any success doing this?

 

[Defy Belief]

Is hdmi over ethernet an option depending on your cable set up? Actually not sure if you can do that with 2.1...never looked

 

[RedMogg]

Is hdmi over ethernet an option depending on your cable set up? Actually not sure if you can do that with 2.1...never looked

It wouldn't be streaming, but would certainly avoid a lot of the other niggles that come with Moonlight/SteamLink...

4k/120hz HDMI 2.1 over Cat6/7 distro boxes are very pricey (£380+ based on a quick search).

But a 30m HDMI 2.1 fibre cable is a potential consideration - £55 from Kenable. I just need to test whether my PC will pick up my controller's signal from the bedroom/lounge. I have a few which use Bluetooth and/or 2.4Ghz dongles (PS5, Xbox E2, EasySM-X15 + a few others), so I'm hopeful.

Will report back.

 

[BornEvil]

Thread watched

I’ll be buying a 4k 120hz Tv soon, and looking for alternative to fireTV 4k stick for Moonlight

Problem is I have always had problems with HDMI outputting 7.1 sound from non set top boxes (such as windows PCs). You actually tried a Xbox One S to do 4k 120hz?

 

[RedMogg]

Thread watched

I’ll be buying a 4k 120hz Tv soon, and looking for alternative to fireTV 4k stick for Moonlight

Problem is I have always had problems with HDMI outputting 7.1 sound from non set top boxes (such as windows PCs). You actually tried a Xbox One S to do 4k 120hz?

Google-Fu results, so far:
Xbox One-S will do 1440p, but only at 60hz.
A Series S will do 1440p @120hz.
Series X will output 4k 120hz.

Still looking for a budget friendly solution that offers an HDMI 2.1, 4K @120hz output. Lots of recommendations for Minisforum tiny PCs, but not at a price below that of a secondhand Series S.

Pretty sure it's going to be a 30m HDMI Fibre cable, with a possible matching length USB 3 extension, to plug the controller's dongle into...
Which means I'm just using the TV as a second monitor, rather than streaming over ethernet.

 

[Defy Belief]

Google-Fu results, so far:
Xbox One-S will do 1440p, but only at 60hz.
A Series S will do 1440p @120hz.
Series X will output 4k 120hz.

Still looking for a budget friendly solution that offers an HDMI 2.1, 4K @120hz output. Lots of recommendations for Minisforum tiny PCs, but not at a price below that of a secondhand Series S.

Pretty sure it's going to be a 30m HDMI Fibre cable, with a possible matching length USB 3 extension, to plug the controller's dongle into...
Which means I'm just using the TV as a second monitor, rather than streaming over ethernet.

Honestly though, what games are you playing?

If you're playing with a controller anyway on said tv, you'd probably just be best buying an XSX and using that natively on that TV? Seems like a big expense for a streaming box and it still wont 100% feel as good as native either.

Or downsize any pc you have to ITX and just move it into the space with the TV when needed?

 

[moppy89]

The shield TV Pro seems like it should be decent at this and as a bonus, is probably the best media playback device/jellyfin client as well. I've got one, will try and fiddle with moonlight.

I've got ethernet running from my loft conversion with the pc in to the shield 2 floors below it. I guess I'd need to use the software to connect my controller to the shield as it will be out of range to connect to the pc

Edit: 4k 60hz only

 

[RedMogg]

Xbox One-S (not Series) confirmed running at 1440p, 120hz, averaging 6ms latency.
Can also have 4K, 60hz with HDR, Dolby Vision etc, but this doubles the latency (12-14ms). For the games I play (single player, Tomb Raider, Days Gone, Cyberpunk), it's perfectly tolerable and looks fantastic.

I did have to connect the Xbox directly to the TV (TCL C845K) with an HDMI 2.1 cable, rather than going through the AV Receiver, which is limited to 60hz, but I still get decent sound via eARC.

My son plays Fortnite & Rocket League tournaments (pretty successfully, to be fair) and he said the 1080p 120hz at 2-4ms "isn't that bad" and could be great fun playing on the 75" screen & 5.2 sound system.

I'm certainly looking forward to some evenings on the sofa as I work through the huge backlog of games I've bought, but not had time to play.

A Series-X would obviously be better for a 4K/120hz client, but I already had a spare One-S in the cupboard, so this exercise has currently cost me absolutely nothing bar time fiddling with inputs & settings.

 

[RedMogg]

Honestly though, what games are you playing?

If you're playing with a controller anyway on said tv, you'd probably just be best buying an XSX and using that natively on that TV? Seems like a big expense for a streaming box and it still wont 100% feel as good as native either.

Or downsize any pc you have to ITX and just move it into the space with the TV when needed?

I hear you.
I've waited years to have my own space/study, where I can use my PC for work & "Dadmin" in peace, but I don't want to shut myself away from the family completely.

This exercise gives me the ability to play my huge game library in the comfort of the lounge, without the noise & heat of the PC in the same room (which we had in our tiny old flat, where every square foot had to be multi-purpose...), but I can still escape to the study for a conference call or watch an Inquiry hearing/Commons debate, without having to shift hardware around the house each time...