Steam Link worth It?

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

Title 

 

Its $20 USD right now 

[ARikozuM]

For what purpose? Can you wire it to ethernet?

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

For what purpose? Can you wire it to ethernet?

Yea I can do internet.

Purpose is to play games of course. 

[ARikozuM]

5 minutes ago, TheAmazingCookieFromSquare said:

Yea I can do internet.

Purpose is to play games of course. 

I'd say it's worth it then. It'll work with KB/M and Xbox controller though the usual is the Steam Controller.

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

I'd say it's worth it then. It'll work with KB/M and Xbox controller though the usual is the Steam Controller.

I have a xbox controller 

[Bleedingyamato]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

I'd say it's worth it then. It'll work with KB/M and Xbox controller though the usual is the Steam Controller.

I have to ask: if a user would be best served by connecting to the steam link using an Ethernet cable how is that better than just plugging directly into a monitor or tv?

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, TheAmazingCookieFromSquare said:

I have a xbox controller 

I would say go for it. As long as you can connect your Link to the router via ethernet, your experience streaming games should be the same.

1 minute ago, Bleedingyamato said:

I have to ask: if a user would be best served by connecting to the steam link using an Ethernet cable how is that better than just plugging directly into a monitor or tv?

The Link has wireless and a wired port. You'll be connecting the Link to the router or switch, not the computer itself. Wireless streaming can cause a bit of latency while wired keeps it to a minimum.

[Bleedingyamato]

1 hour ago, ARikozuM said:

I would say go for it. As long as you can connect your Link to the router via ethernet, your experience streaming games should be the same.

The Link has wireless and a wired port. You'll be connecting the Link to the router or switch, not the computer itself. Wireless streaming can cause a bit of latency while wired keeps it to a minimum.

Don't you connect the steam link to the tv or monitor?  

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Bleedingyamato said:

Don't you connect the steam link to the tv or monitor?  

Yes, via HDMI.

[Bleedingyamato]

5 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Yes, via HDMI.

Ok.   That's the point I was trying to make: if you have to connect the steam link to the monitor and to your wifi router with a cable how is that more convenient than directly to your monitor or tv?

 

Maybe I'm missing something here.. 

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Bleedingyamato said:

Ok.   That's the point I was trying to make: if you have to connect the steam link to the monitor and to your wifi router with a cable how is that more convenient than directly to your monitor or tv?

 

Maybe I'm missing something here.. 

The Steam Link is for playing games from the PC in your bedroom while in the living room. You have the option of wireless if the cable isn't doable.

[Bleedingyamato]

39 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

The Steam Link is for playing games from the PC in your bedroom while in the living room. You have the option of wireless if the cable isn't doable.

Yeah, but the cable to your router reduces the convenience a little.  

 

Sorry.  I'm sure some people love it but currently I wouldn't have a use for it.  

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Bleedingyamato said:

Yeah, but the cable to your router reduces the convenience a little.  

 

Sorry.  I'm sure some people love it but currently I wouldn't have a use for it.  

I wouldn't either since I have a Steam server, but it does exist and for $20, it's not a bad deal if needed (or wanted).

[Bleedingyamato]

6 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I wouldn't either since I have a Steam server, but it does exist and for $20, it's not a bad deal if needed (or wanted).

What's a steam server?

[ARikozuM]

5 minutes ago, Bleedingyamato said:

What's a steam server?

A server (like a NAS) for Steam games and VM's.

[Bleedingyamato]

4 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

A server (like a NAS) for Steam games and VM's.

So you just download all your steam games to it instead of to your main computers and stream your games any time you want to play them?

 

 

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Bleedingyamato said:

So you just download all your steam games to it instead of to your main computers and stream your games any time you want to play them?

 

 

NO! I still have games on my own rig. I use the server for the HTPC's since these rigs aren't equipped for high-end gaming.

[Bleedingyamato]

5 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

NO! I still have games on my own rig. I use the server for the HTPC's since these rigs aren't equipped for high-end gaming.

Sorry.  I didn't know that...  ?

[dalekphalm]

24 minutes ago, Bleedingyamato said:

Yeah, but the cable to your router reduces the convenience a little.  

 

Sorry.  I'm sure some people love it but currently I wouldn't have a use for it.  

I'm confused by your confusion.

 

Maybe you're misunderstanding what each device does? Of course, the SteamLink isn't for everyone, and many people will find it pointless.

 

The SteamLink utilizes "Steam In-Home Streaming". It allows you to use the horsepower of your main gaming rig to render your games.

 

So, for example, your Main Rig sits in your bedroom. But you also have an HDTV in your  basement. Rather then lugging your Rig downstairs to the basement every time you wanna sit on the couch and play TV, you can use the SteamLink instead.

 

The SteamLink connects via HDMI to your HDTV. It also has WIFI and Ethernet. You connect it to your LAN (Local Area Network) using either WIFI or Ethernet (Ethernet is better, of course, but WIFI is still pretty good if you have a great WIFI signal).

 

Once it's connected to your LAN, the SteamLink then tells your Main Rig to start rendering your game of choice, and streams that over your LAN to the SteamLink, allowing you to essentially "remote control" your PC.

 

It's also super cheap, so it's often more convenient to buy a SteamLink then to build an HTPC/Gaming PC for the basement HDTV.

 

Does that make sense?

 

I'm not sure I'd buy one. Not sure I'd get enough use out of it. But for $20, it makes me consider it.

[Bleedingyamato]

9 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

I'm confused by your confusion.

 

Maybe you're misunderstanding what each device does? Of course, the SteamLink isn't for everyone, and many people will find it pointless.

 

The SteamLink utilizes "Steam In-Home Streaming". It allows you to use the horsepower of your main gaming rig to render your games.

 

So, for example, your Main Rig sits in your bedroom. But you also have an HDTV in your  basement. Rather then lugging your Rig downstairs to the basement every time you wanna sit on the couch and play TV, you can use the SteamLink instead.

 

The SteamLink connects via HDMI to your HDTV. It also has WIFI and Ethernet. You connect it to your LAN (Local Area Network) using either WIFI or Ethernet (Ethernet is better, of course, but WIFI is still pretty good if you have a great WIFI signal).

 

Once it's connected to your LAN, the SteamLink then tells your Main Rig to start rendering your game of choice, and streams that over your LAN to the SteamLink, allowing you to essentially "remote control" your PC.

 

It's also super cheap, so it's often more convenient to buy a SteamLink then to build an HTPC/Gaming PC for the basement HDTV.

 

Does that make sense?

 

I'm not sure I'd buy one. Not sure I'd get enough use out of it. But for $20, it makes me consider it.

Yeah it does.  Do you have to use a steam controller with it?  Or can you use a mouse/keyboard and/or Xbox one controller/gamepad?

[dalekphalm]

2 minutes ago, Bleedingyamato said:

Yeah it does.  Do you have to use a steam controller with it?  Or can you use a mouse/keyboard and/or Xbox one controller/gamepad?

I know for a fact that you can use the newest XBOX One S controller with it, over Bluetooth. I'm fairly sure you can also plug in just about any USB peripheral, whether it's a gamepad, mouse, or keyboard.

 

Not sure about driving wheels and flightsticks though.

[Bleedingyamato]

Just now, dalekphalm said:

I know for a fact that you can use the newest XBOX One S controller with it, over Bluetooth. I'm fairly sure you can also plug in just about any USB peripheral, whether it's a gamepad, mouse, or keyboard.

 

Not sure about driving wheels and flightsticks though.

Cool.  I don't like the look of the steam controller so I'd hate to be forced to use it.  ?  

 

 

[dalekphalm]

Just now, Bleedingyamato said:

Cool.  I don't like the look of the steam controller so I'd hate to be forced to use it.  ?  

 

 

It's... different. I haven't personally used it, but I've watched a ton of reviews on it.

 

For games that are pretty good using a standard console style controller, such as racing games, third person action games (Your Assassin's Creed's and WatchDogs, etc), a XBO Controller is going to be better for most people.

 

For FPS games, an XBO controller will most likely be better, but the Steam Controller DOES offer better fine control, since the pads are essentially trackpads.

 

For slow paced RTS style games like Civ 5/6, the Steam Controller is going to make those games playable, when they wouldn't be on an XBO Controller.

 

The Steam Controller can also operate in a few different modes (Mostly changing how the trackpad works), and in one mode it "simulates" a regular controller's analog sticks.

 

You can also just use a KB+Mouse, but that's not ideal at all for couch gaming. I'd personally use it with a XBO Controller, if I bought one.

[ARikozuM]

14 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

I know for a fact that you can use the newest XBOX One S controller with it, over Bluetooth. I'm fairly sure you can also plug in just about any USB peripheral, whether it's a gamepad, mouse, or keyboard.

 

Not sure about driving wheels and flightsticks though.

There's a software that let's you couple all of the functions for wheels and, presumably, flight sticks.

[Bleedingyamato]

1 hour ago, dalekphalm said:

It's... different. I haven't personally used it, but I've watched a ton of reviews on it.

 

For games that are pretty good using a standard console style controller, such as racing games, third person action games (Your Assassin's Creed's and WatchDogs, etc), a XBO Controller is going to be better for most people.

 

For FPS games, an XBO controller will most likely be better, but the Steam Controller DOES offer better fine control, since the pads are essentially trackpads.

 

For slow paced RTS style games like Civ 5/6, the Steam Controller is going to make those games playable, when they wouldn't be on an XBO Controller.

 

The Steam Controller can also operate in a few different modes (Mostly changing how the trackpad works), and in one mode it "simulates" a regular controller's analog sticks.

 

You can also just use a KB+Mouse, but that's not ideal at all for couch gaming. I'd personally use it with a XBO Controller, if I bought one.

In that case I'd say like the steam link the controller has its uses for those who have a need.  Again.  Not me though.  lol.