3/2/2024 0 Comments Steam link review![]() I played a variety of games using the Steam Link and they all worked well after some initial launch issues (I had to get up and click on the install prompts). The wired Ethernet connection was even smoother and exhibited less latency. Enabling the Steam Link’s diagnostic tools showed a smooth 60 fps at 1080p using wireless and low latency. ![]() In my tests, games played without lag (for the most part) over my Wireless AC network. Streaming performance of the Steam Link, whether wired or wireless, is excellent. I didn’t mind a slight hit in graphics too much, though blacks did look consistently lighter than they should and there's some softness overall. If you have a quick network, graphics look great, but will never be as good as playing directly from your computer. If you have a slower connection, expect to see compression and artifacting, as well as some input latency. Video quality will depend on your home network. The Steam Link, on the other hand, can only stream your games. The Shield TV does a lot more though, packing in TV, movies, music, and its GeForce Now game streaming service. The NVIDIA Shield TV has a better game streaming interface, allowing you to zoom in and out of your desktop, but it also costs four times the price of the Link and only supports NVIDIA GPUs. If you have a dual or triple monitor set up, the Steam Link will show every desktop you have open with black bars on the top and bottom so prompts may be impossible to read. During some first game launches, I was met with prompts to log in, forcing me to walk to my computer, since the Link doesn't pull up a virtual keyboard to type. Since the Steam Link simply mirrors what’s going on on your PC, there are times when Steam Big Picture drops off and you see your desktop, leaving you with limited control. This keeps the cost of the Steam Link down, but also introduces some problems. Instead of relying on powerful hardware to render your games, the Steam Link relies on your gaming PC or laptop to do the heavy lifting. Valve’s website states the Steam Link works with 720p televisions, so your mileage may vary. Parts of the interface couldn’t be shown since they were off-screen and I had to guess where the overscan settings were in the menu. The Steam Link interface was too big and created overscan issues. However, I did have issues using the Steam Link on an older Sony Bravia 720p TV. Overall, setup is extremely simple and you can get started playing in a matter of minutes. It’s nice to be able to use the Steam Link with your existing peripherals. To start playing, you can plug in a Xbox controller (360 or One), Logitech F710, or Valve’s own Steam Controller. You’ll see a list of computers on your network that are capable of streaming to the Steam Link and selecting one launches Big Picture Mode on that PC. Turn it on, choose your language, connect it to your network, enter a 4-digit code on your PC, and you’re ready to stream your games. What I like most about the Steam Link is its simplicity. It’s strange that Valve left out Gigabit Ethernet, but the 100Mbit/s connection works well. There’s also Bluetooth 4.0 to connect wireless accessories and you can hook the Link up to your network via a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet connection or Wireless AC. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports to connect your gaming peripherals like game controllers or even a keyboard and mouse. ![]() This little box hooks up to your TV via HDMI and will stream games from your PC to your TV over your home network. You could also buy yourself a fancy Steam Machine, but they’re expensive and you’ll be limited to SteamOS’s game library, which is a fraction of Steam’s entire game library. What do you do if you want to play your PC games in your living room? You could move your PC into the living room, but if your PC weighs 50 lbs like mine, you’re going to have a bad time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |