Thinking about getting a Steam link

pumaz

pumaz

pumaz

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Thinking about getting a Steam link but have a couple of questions.

My PC has a 1070 and a 1440p monitor however the TV I want to stream to is 1080p so how would this work?

I know it streams steam games but is it possible to mirror the desktop completely so everything on the PC like Origin and Kodi is usable on the TV and again how would this work with the difference in resolution?

Thanks
 
Hi Mate,

I think it streams the main monitor only (Mine is 1440p) it will downscale the resolution (if your games are set to 1440p) to 1080p

You can stream your desktop by minimising big picture, in this case it will also downscale the desktop if set to 1440.

You can change the resolution on the desktop to 1080p so it doesnt scale.

Non steam games can be added into steam and streamed directly via big picture mode, this also allows you to set up controller configurations for them. Make sure you get the steam controller, it really is great once you get used to it
 
Hi! For other games the best way is to add them to your steam library as non-steam games, then they come up in big picture mode for you to launch. However i found origin games in particular didnt stream all too well, may be different now as ive not tried one for ages!

Pretty sure it could be used to stream kodi etc but wait for others to reply in that

I run 1440p too, however it outputs at 1080p so will adjust that for you. I always wondered about this, if a game is set to 1440p in the games settings but the steam link downscales it, should we be changing the ingame settings to 1080p to save resources etc? I imagine its still technically running at 1440p but you dont see the benefit through the tv via the link, so may aswell change the game to 1080 anyway and maybe get better fps etc?

Its a great little box there is a multiplage thread here somewhere all about it

Do you plan on having it wired? I hear poor reports about wifi performance but generally ethernet is near to perfect imo

**apologies, Mr roper, seems we replied at the same time :D sounds like we have similar thiughts about the desktop streaming then! Must give that a go myself
 
With regards to the downscaling, your are getting a small amount of "supersampling" so it might allow you to use less Antialiasing.

I normally set the games res to 1080p as I prefer a sharper image

Edit:

and as kinger said, make sure its wired!
 
I have one coming in the post that I bought on the MM here and can't wait to have a play.

I will be connecting the SL directly to router behind the TV but I have a laptop with a 880M so it can play games at high settings at 1080 no bother, was hoping to be able to keep using laptop wireless but won't be a problem running a cable or connecting laptop to a cable beside TV and sitting it down for example.

I have a Pi with OpenELEC connected too and that uses Kodi to stream everything from my server. I was hoping to use the SL for Netflix though, is it simple enough to run Netflix on the SL? I guess you just minimise Steam when streaming to the TV over the SL and you open up a browser and run Netflix there or via Netflix app in Windows?

I have a wireless 360 controller and will use that, what is the advantage of the Steam controller? Does it give any more functionality than 360 controller or is it just a nicer controller to actually use but gives no added performance/functions in your hands?

Thanks.
 
Thanks guys, some good info :)

I don't really want to mess with game settings but it does sound good and you get steam link and controller for £50 from steam :)

Anyone know how long delivery takes from steam?
 
Im planing on getting one as well does anyone know if you can stream none steam games via the link? For example Forza Horizon 3?
 
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ak22 said:
Im planing on getting one as well does anyone know if you can stream none steam games via the link? For example Forza Horizon 3?
Click to expand...

Looking at getting one also...

I'm sure this is fine as I have read you can actually get to your desktop.


Hopefully a Link owner can confirm.
 
Cant comment on steam controller, how are they now? At launch they werent the best?

360 wired is spot on may go wireless one day!

One option with wired ethernet is like how i have mine, i use network power plugs so min goes pc to the power plug in the wall, then from the other power plug to the router, and router to steam link to the tv! Closest i can get to full ethernet without running a cable and its fine!

I use the cheap tp link ones. Every now and then i get a bit of slow down in reponse times, i found all i then have to do is switch one of the plugs off at the wall and back on to sort it out then its flawless again!
 
I love mine, very easy to setup and the streaming so far for me has been great.

Some games are just meant to be played on the sofa with a controller.
 
Nate75 said:
Looking at getting one also...

I'm sure this is fine as I have read you can actually get to your desktop.


Hopefully a Link owner can confirm.
Click to expand...

This should be fine, you can also add non-steam games into steam so they can be launched from big picture mode.
 
kinger8938 said:
Cant comment on steam controller, how are they now? At launch they werent the best?
Click to expand...

The steam controllers are great, even can play more traditional K+M games with great accuracy due to the gyro.

some of the setup features are amazing now for the controller.

 
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I ordered a SteamLink a few days ago when it was on offer.

I held off on getting a controller until I had decided on the pros/cons. I have no controllers at the moment. Are the Steam controllers worth it over the Dualshock 4 for example?
 
They take a long time to get used to, but once you have you will be as good if not better than an xbox/ps4 pad.

The set up options are extensive (see the video above) and the track ball pads are really nice once you have reconfigured your brain to use them.

TBH I love my controller!
 
I love mine, I highly recommened them. I've got one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Wired only though, wifi even with a very strong signal doesn't cut it in my experience. I also use xb360 controllers, I've got a steam controller but can't get away with it, it needs two sticks!

I just wish there was some sort of agent that runs on the host pc so you can turn on big picture mode remotely from the steam link. Unless there already is and I'm missing something??
 
Still struggling with the controller tbh, just have no motivation to put the effort in setting it up really.

Project cars works fine on the big TV though.
 
i dont think they are better than a one pad or DS4. they certainly allow a LOT of customisation and the ability to play games that would otherwise need keyboard input BUT the hardware isnt as good - it needs a second stick as using the track pad to look just isnt as accurate, and the triggers dont have nearly enough travel.

If valve add a second stick and sort the triggers out, it would be a hard pad to beat but right now it's not there. That said, its still a decent controller, i just dont think i'd pay the going rate for one.
 
james.miller said:
i dont think they are better than a one pad or DS4. they certainly allow a LOT of customisation and the ability to play games that would otherwise need keyboard input BUT the hardware isnt as good - it needs a second stick as using the track pad to look just isnt as accurate, and the triggers dont have nearly enough travel.

If valve add a second stick and sort the triggers out, it would be a hard pad to beat but right now it's not there. That said, its still a decent controller, i just dont think i'd pay the going rate for one.
Click to expand...

While I agree that a second stick would be great, the track pad is just as accurate as a mouse when combined with the gyro for fine aiming, this all depends on it being set correctly though in the first place.


The triggers I agree with, however being dual stage is a nice feature
 
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