Steam In-Home Streaming

[Super56K]

I also got in the beta. My use case is backwards compared to many: I have a gaming PC hooked directly to my TV. I use a wired 360 controller and have a wireless htpc keyboard for when I'm using it for media. My laptop is on the other side of the room at a computer desk.

My plan is to use the laptop (15" 1080p screen) when I want to play RTS and point and click adventures and such. I've also got a 19" 1440x900 monitor that I plan on trying hooked to the laptop. I just haven't had enough time to really dig in. I only did a quick wifi test over the weekend, and it didn't go well. I had lots of latency with severe spikes that made it unplayable. I don't have a good router though by any means so I'll be running a cable soon.

In my limited use, best feature so far: Not having to log in when I switch between computers.

 

[SPBHM]

I did some initial testing with it and I'm quite impressed so far, even playing source engine first person shooters the input lag was not to bad, at higher bitrate quality is good (but over 20Mb I start having problems, even though my network works fine for file copy at much higher rate), also games are running at around 35FPS I think.

I tried some non steam games, and one didn't work (but that game have a separate launcher) the other did just fine, also I tried alt+tab on the "server PC" and the stream kept working, showing my desktop on the client PC (but with no mouse control over it from the client)

I love how simple it is, click stream and there you go, everything works so smoothly.

 

[el-Capitan]

It works very well and it is so easy. According to the stats I am running a 60-80ms lag. That makes all playable except for competitive multiplayer.

I just haven't gotten past the R* DRM on GTA IV... maybe i'm doing something wrong.

 

[Aikouka]

So, I got into the beta the other day, and I gave it a shot. It seems to be implemented fairly well. I did have some issues with my controller in the first few games that I played. I was looking for something quick and easy to test with, so I tried a few small games like Super Hexagon and Electronic Super Joy, but the controller wouldn't work in those. I decided to take a step up to AAA, and I tried out Rayman Origins. The controller wouldn't work in that game either. I went to Sonic All-Star Racing Transformed, and the controller worked fine. To be fair, I'm not sure if the controller problem was related to the fact that I plugged it in while Steam was running. It did work in Steam directly after plugging it in, so I don't think that should have been an issue.

I did notice that Geometry Wars absolutely refused to run. I also saw that once I exited out of the streaming, it left Big Picture Mode up on my desktop. I'd prefer that it didn't as that's just one more thing that I need to exit out of. I also kind of forgot the buttons to disable the information overlays.

Anyway, except for running at 30 FPS, Sonic All-Star Racing Transformed worked great. To be fair (yet again), I am running on a gigabit Ethernet network. If someone really wants, I could possibly try it on my Wireless AC network.

 

[CU]

I would be interested in how well wireless works.

 

[Zak_]

Exactly. The main benefit of this is being to able to game anywhere in your house without having to drag the big desktop around or pay for multiple video cards.

Agreed, too many wires make it really annoying to move the desktop. Might be able to get away with stringing a long hdmi on the floor temporarily with a wireless controller, but that's not ideal either.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Agreed, too many wires make it really annoying to move the desktop. Might be able to get away with stringing a long hdmi on the floor temporarily with a wireless controller, but that's not ideal either.

One power cord and one hdmi cable is too many wires?

 

[Red Storm]

One power cord and one hdmi cable is too many wires?

Yes? Especially when your PC is not near the TV.

 

[el-Capitan]

One power cord and one hdmi cable is too many wires?

I have 10 wires in the back of my desktop. pulling them out and reconnecting at least 3 of them at the destination (never mind carrying my 20lbs desktop). Why would i bother with that? So I'm gaming, and I get a work email I have to use the desktop for and i have to shutdown, unplug, carry, plug in, reboot? Also I have unplug/ re-plug all those out of my permanent, pretty much hard-wired, HTPC..

Also, running a 60ft HDMI cable through the apt is not an option either. It's expensive, looks fugly and has a WAF of exactly...zero.

 

[cmdrdredd]

If you really cared about pc gaming on the tv you would do it without introducing latency and problems. Otherwise in my opinion its just an excuse not to buy a console.

 

[mmntech]

I got into the beta. Sadly I can't get it to work streaming from my desktop to my MacBook. Just get a black screen. Apparently it's a common problem across platforms.

 

[SMOGZINN]

If you really cared about pc gaming on the tv you would do it without introducing latency and problems. Otherwise in my opinion its just an excuse not to buy a console.

The vast majority of games I play are turn based RPG's. A little latency is not going to bother me.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Finally had a chance to try this out today. I was very impressed with how well it worked, and it has me excited for what Valve might have in mind for the future.

I tried it over my shitty G connection, and it actually didn't work too bad for some games. Tried VVVVV and it worked perfect, worked OK in XCOM, and in runner2 it bombed.

Once I used a wired connection it was much better. Everything played smooth, and the quality was actually pretty decent. FYI I was streaming from my main gaming PC running windows, to a piece of crap old laptop that I installed Lubuntu on, that I doubt would be able to play anything natively.

Once my new router comes in (AC), Im gonna try it out again on wifi and see how it does.

More than anything though, Im excited for what the future holds. Im hoping for:
-streaming to Android and ios
-a chromecast-like device that you can use in your house (please launch with the controller!)
-a cheap windows/linux HTPC that will serve as a streaming device (<$100)
-streaming over the internet and playing your games on your PC from somewhere else in the world

I think people should be way more excited about this than a steambox IMO.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Anyone know what speeds are needed to use this? My cousins have a cheap powerline adapter (netgear 100 - 100mbps), and Im not sure its fast enough.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Anyone know what speeds are needed to use this? My cousins have a cheap powerline adapter (netgear 100 - 100mbps), and Im not sure its fast enough.

That should be plenty fast for most games. You might not want to play a competitive twitch shooter, but most anything else should work.

Why don't you try it out and report your experience back.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

I was invited but I don't have another PC. It's funny because I also have nvidia game stream on my 770 but nothing to stream to. #fwp
Do we have a steam rep on these forums? Does he want to donate a laptop?

 

[xantub]

Anyone know what speeds are needed to use this? My cousins have a cheap powerline adapter (netgear 100 - 100mbps), and Im not sure its fast enough.

I use it in my wireless laptop with an "el cheapo" router and works ok. Then again I mostly play strategy games where things don't move too fast which usually is what affects streaming quality (compression and stuff). Once in a while I get a 'slow connection' message and quality degrades for a second.

 

[Golgatha]

Pretty cool feature honestly. My son played Terraria from the laptop upstairs on the desktop downstairs this morning. I may try some FPS games from the desktop downstairs on the laptop upstairs. I like the thought of accessing and processing the graphics from my games on the desktop (SLIed GTX Titans FTW), but having the freedom to play elsewhere in the house or perhaps over the Internet in the future.

 

[DefDC]

I tested on my wired gigabit network to my laptop. The laptop is peppy enough that I've been playing Fallout: New Vegas with low details. It's playable, but certainly not ideal.

I streamed Dead Island (1) for a test. The game looked great. Decent frames. However, there a quicktime event when a zombie grabs you and you have to hit "LMB, RMB, LMB" and the latency showed it's head, however, it certainly wasn't a game breaker.

I didn't have time to check anything else, but this looks very promising. I have some older laptops I'm curious to test...