Thinking of getting a steam link but what does it do ?

2013

2013

2013

Soldato
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Im thinking of getting a steam link when it comes back on sale but what does it do ?

OK, before someone make the wrong type of comment,
I know it links to your PC to any TV in the house. allowing you to play your games on the tv but i have a few questions.

Will it let me play any game on my pc or only stream game ?
Should i be aware of any requirements ?
Can i only use the steam controller or can i use any controller ?
 
I have had mine for a cpl of weeks, maybe i can help.

Yes you can run most games, you simply add them to your steam library..for example, i play battlefield and battlefront through steam and can launch them through the steam link no problems.

Forget about wifi, you will need to be hard wired otherwise it can be a shambles in my experience. I use tplink to send internet downstairs to the big tv and i have had no issues. You can use an xbox controller or keyboard and mouse.
 
First thing is, are there any TVs that are not feasible to connect to your PC via HDMI? And would you like to use said TVs for your PC gaming?

If yes, get a Steam Link.

If the TVs you want to use are in range to comfortably hook up with HDMI then Steam Link is a downgrade.
 
ancientmariner said:
I have had mine for a cpl of weeks, maybe i can help.

Yes you can run most games, you simply add them to your steam library..for example, i play battlefield and battlefront through steam and can launch them through the steam link no problems.

Forget about wifi, you will need to be hard wired otherwise it can be a shambles in my experience. I use tplink to send internet downstairs to the big tv and i have had no issues. You can use an xbox controller or keyboard and mouse.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

About the games, I have some games on origin and microsoft, some on just the pc few on neither maybe something diffrent in the future, it all depends on the offers.

from your reply im assuming the games will need to be on stream library or can i add any game to it ?

connection should not be a issue, im hoping to have a hard wired connection available, but is your gaming stable or do you have issues ?
 
Last edited:
Omaeka said:
First thing is, are there any TVs that are not feasible to connect to your PC via HDMI? And would you like to use said TVs for your PC gaming?

If yes, get a Steam Link.

If the TVs you want to use are in range to comfortably hook up with HDMI then Steam Link is a downgrade.
Click to expand...

All the TVs have HDMI
I was thinking of using steam link in the living room, my pc is in the bed room,
 
2013 said:
Thanks for the reply.

About the games, I have some games on origin and microsoft, some on just the pc few on neither maybe something diffrent in the future, it all depends on the offers.

from your reply im assuming the games will need to be on stream library or can i add any game to it ?

connection should not be a issue, im hoping to have a hard wired connection available, but is your gaming stable or do you have issues ?
Click to expand...

You have the option on steam to add nonsteam games to your steam library for ease of launch. Any of the games i have tried to add, have done so without issue. With the hard wired option i have had no issues, couple of times ive had to restart the steam link after things froze but that was the exception to the rule. I imagine if you can hard wire directly to your router, it would be pretty easy to do what you want.
 
ancientmariner said:
You have the option on steam to add nonsteam games to your steam library for ease of launch. Any of the games i have tried to add, have done so without issue. With the hard wired option i have had no issues, couple of times ive had to restart the steam link after things froze but that was the exception to the rule. I imagine if you can hard wire directly to your router, it would be pretty easy to do what you want.
Click to expand...

OK thanks, fingers crossed it comes on offer again.
 
I have had mine since release, after the many updates it has had it's now a wonderful bit of kit, it's useless over wifi but useing home plugs it's great for most games, I wouldn't bother with fast paced online games, there's still a fairly noticeable delay between what's going on on your PC and what your seeing on the TV via the link
 
I'll add to this, when it launched it was the best £40 I spent that year!

I will say that non steam games are a bit hit or miss from my experience, though keep in mind I haven't tried one for ages so tweaks may have improved this. Any origin game I tried wouldn't recognise the controller properly. It used the sticks like a mouse and none of the buttons would function for some reason.

Didn't have this issue with actual steam games with controller support though, they worked perfectly via a 360 pad plugged in to the link

As above wireless isn't even worth attempting! I used mine wired from the router to a network power adapter in the wall, then upstairs another network power plug to the pc

Every now and then I would suffer major input lag but to resolve this I would switch off one of the plugs, wait a moment and turn it back on and it would run fine again. Do expect some level of input lag though, it wasn't noticeable on 2d games or 3rd person stuff but I tried an fps on it and it was apparent then
 
Too bad it cant be used for plex, it would have been nice i would only need one item instead of getting amazon fire as well.
 
2013 said:
Too bad it cant be used for plex, it would have been nice i would only need one item instead of getting amazon fire as well.
Click to expand...

Add Kodi or Plex as a non steam game, it works. Remember all it's doing is basically mirroring the your monitor to the TV

I use it for Kodi all the time
 
DONOHUE07 said:
Add Kodi or Plex as a non steam game, it works. Remember all it's doing is basically mirroring the your monitor to the TV

I use it for Kodi all the time
Click to expand...

Now that's useful, im assuming its just mirroring, so no need for steam compatibility.


1. Would i still be able to use my pc or even the a game if someone else is using the steam link ?

2. would i be able to use plex or a game if someone else is using it on steam ?
 
2013 said:
Now that's useful, im assuming its just mirroring, so no need for steam compatibility.


1. Would i still be able to use my pc or even the a game if someone else is using the steam link ?

2. would i be able to use plex or a game if someone else is using it on steam ?
Click to expand...

No as like this chap above says it's pretty much just mirroring your pc monitors display to the to so imagine your to as the pic monitor I guess. That would be useful of course :D
 
Do you still have to drop the game resolution to 1080p whenever you want to game on your TV, when your normal monitor is 1440p, or does it deal with that itself? When I used the steam streaming thing before with a laptop, Skyrim looked rubbish on the 1080p laptop, even over a wired connection.
 
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