Steam Link: What is "Hardware Encoding" and can I change the client settings on the Steam Link itself?

[Shinebreaker]

I'm doing my best to optimize my streaming performance from my PC to my Steam Link, and it doesn't help that the In-Home Streaming settings can be vague about what they do. What exactly is "Hardware Encoding" for the host PC (or "Hardware Decoding" for the client for that matter)? What does it do, and how does it impact my performance?

Also, is it possible for me to change the client streaming settings on the Steam Link itself ?The settings menu it gives you for the device has nothing to do with any of the settings for in-home streaming you see in the options menu of Steam on the PC. Do the client settings on the host PC dictate those of the Steam Link when they're connected, or has Valve just not thought to put in the options to tweak client streaming on the Steam Link itself yet?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Hardware Encoding is when you have a Dedicated GPU; as those are much more capable of handling the Encoding. If that option is off / un-ticked, then your CPU does the Encoding; which greatly impacts overall performance and won't be as good as GPU Hardware Encoding.

The Host Gaming PC ultimately dictates the stream settings.

When it comes to the Client Streaming PC (or Steam Link) there should be nothing to really change or optimize. However what can help is using Wired connection on both systems.

For Steam Link's settings; simply go to Settings within its BigPictureMode screen there; everything for configuring the Steam Link for said system/account/controller profiles is all in there. Again, many of these settings are per-system or per-account bound settings.

If you need further help regarding Steam Link or Controller; please look here:

Link: http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions
Controller: http://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions

[Astraea Kisaragi]

This should be actually familiar, cause now even internet browsers and more advanced video codecs (CCCP, K-Lite, Kawaii Codec Pack) offer this option.

If you have a gaming level GPU, then the choice should be obvious as long the pixel/texture rate and RAM speed (DDR5) is completly superior to almost any CPU.

Simply said, if you gave a GTX or Radeon R7 at least, tick it. If you have some crappy integrated card (Intel HD), don't.

[DStruct]

I disagree, dont ask me how but having hardware encoding on the host unticked gives me better results

I have a Radeon 290X and my CPU is a i5 2500k

Discuss that :P

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Cause Hardware Encoding is NVIDIA feature

[I---8track---I]

BOOM! ...sit your a$$ down.

[DStruct]

Just been told similar in another thread, that AMD's encoding sucks right now.
When, if ever, will AMD improve on its hardware encoding or isnt it a driver/software fixable issue?

[DStruct]

Originally posted by MattDamonSouls:

BOOM! ...sit your a$$ down.

Seated already. No ones trolling here so dont start, Im still figuring out my own settings myself and learning along the way..

[Quad]

Valve enabled AMD GPU encoding awhile ago but its still not perfect. If you have a AMD GPU you're probably still better off using the encoding ASIC on your Intel CPU (Quicksync).

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Which ever method of settings work best for your and your streaming devices; use that.

[Black Eye]

MSI TRIO 2080
if i turn on hardware encoding in any way i have bs connection to my pc and everything sucks ass...

so even if its a nvidia feature.. it doesn'T seem to work properly atm