Link = PC Monitor Mirror?

[NonDescript]

I just got the link, and plugged it in, configured, up and running... unless I'm misunderstanding something, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Please help me understand.

I was under the assumption that since it's hardware/device, the whole steam link would work without mirroring what's seen on the desktop monitor, is this not true?

If I have to waste my monitor real-state to get games running I do not see a point in having this, I already have an HDMI cable running from my PC to the TV and I can simply use that.

Also, another issue that I need help addressing is resolution settings in games, it seems that the aspect ratio locks to whatever your monitor source monitor is, right now I have two monitors, one is 21:9, and the other one is 4:3, and my TV is 16:9, so no matter which monitor I choose to run bigscreen on, I get horizontal or vertical bars, and changing resolution/default monitor in steam/steamlink makes no difference.

Please help me understand, I was looking forward to this device, especially cause of the "yet to come" steam controller, but right now I don't see a point in keeping it.

Thank you.

[henryg]

Yes, the Link duplicates your monitor - approximately. It can capture windowed games and transform them to be fullscreen, so if you configure your games to run in a 16:9 resolution like 1920x1080, then the Link will appear full-screen even though the game doesn't occupy your full monitor.

If a HDMI cable setup is working for you, and your PC is close enough to connect your controllers directly to the PC, then that might be a better solution for you than the Steam Link.

[NonDescript]

Originally posted by henryg:

Yes, the Link duplicates your monitor - approximately. It can capture windowed games and transform them to be fullscreen, so if you configure your games to run in a 16:9 resolution like 1920x1080, then the Link will appear full-screen even though the game doesn't occupy your full monitor.

If a HDMI cable setup is working for you, and your PC is close enough to connect your controllers directly to the PC, then that might be a better solution for you than the Steam Link.

Thanks for the response, it's appreciated.

Some follow up questions if you don't mind:

- The steam controller works with steam client and the link is not required correct?

- By mirroring the PC Host monitor, is there an additional performance hit as a result of having to render the image twice? or does the actual link hardware do this mirroring performance hit free?

- Is there a way to minimize the PC Host game while the link is active?

- Lastly, it seems that when link game is active, the PC controls are not free, as I was expecting, not allowing me to use the PC, and someone else play games at same time, any plans to change this?

[henryg]

Sure thing. Some of this is covered in the product pages or support FAQs, but just to put it all in one place:

- The Controller and the Link are totally independent. You can use the Controller with any computer via USB cable or the included wireless dongle.
- For the Link, the Steam client software duplicates the image on the GPU and then performs a video encoding step. This encoding step is not as expensive as rendering the image twice, but it does have a CPU impact. Hardware acceleration with recent NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, or the appropriate Intel integrated video drivers, can significantly reduce the impact.
- Most games need to be on-screen and in the foreground in order to render properly.
- The host computer is tied up because games do not know about the Link, and will continue to process local KB+mouse events.

[NonDescript]

Thank you!

[usabigcountry]

I was very disapointed myself. I was sure that I would be able to minimize my game on the PC and still use the PC while someone was playing a game on steam link. Wasted $50 and they will not let me return it.

[Greg]

I was sure that I would be able to minimize my game on the PC and still use the PC while someone was playing a game on steam link

What ever gave you this impression? Has your computer ever been able to do this before?

[NonDescript]

Apparently there's way to achieve both, but with third party software to duplicate the mouse controls, and setting up a headless client for steam access.

Aster for multi-controls - http://www.ibik.ru/

and Headless Client - http://bashardbissi.com/blog/?p=9

I was myself working under the impression that these were there from the start, seemingly because it is standalone hardware.

I guess never assume.

Going to try to get these working tonight I think.

[Tucu]

Originally posted by NonDescript:

Apparently there's way to achieve both, but with third party software to duplicate the mouse controls, and setting up a headless client for steam access.

Aster for multi-controls - http://www.ibik.ru/

and Headless Client - http://bashardbissi.com/blog/?p=9

I was myself working under the impression that these were there from the start, seemingly because it is standalone hardware.

I guess never assume.

Going to try to get these working tonight I think.

That solution uses virtualization. I seriously doubt you will be satisfied with the gaming performance of the VM.

[XxHunter82xX]

I must admit that I thought the pc would do the processing, but wouldn't require monitor real estate (that was well before the steam link and just computer to computer, however).

That said, the link was designed to address my specific need: that it's, harnessing the power and flexibility of my pc on the other side of the house into my living room tv. And it does it beautifully.

Honestly, if you have your pc sitting right next to your tv, this device isn't for you. You can get already game on your couch. You can probably sell it pretty quick, though, to someone whose needs it does match.

[NonDescript]

Originally posted by Tucu:

That solution uses virtualization. I seriously doubt you will be satisfied with the gaming performance of the VM.

Sorry wrong link, I mean to link to http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/490125737470862532/

I've not tried it before but going to try now.

Other option to try is http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/485622866441496331/ instead of headless

[Tucu]

Originally posted by NonDescript:

Originally posted by Tucu:

That solution uses virtualization. I seriously doubt you will be satisfied with the gaming performance of the VM.

Sorry wrong link, I mean to link to http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/490125737470862532/

I've not tried it before but going to try now.

Other option to try is http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/485622866441496331/ instead of headless

That first one is for when you want to have a host without a monitor or with the monitor switched off. I use those settings on my gaming PC. It doesn't solve the problem of sharing the PC, though.

[NonDescript]

What do you mean sharing the PC?

If you mean it's processing power then personally I did not expect any less, or rather, I understood that the PC does the work.

If you mean mouse/keyboard control being lost while Link is streaming, then apparently the solution is what I linked above, the software program called ASTER (Multiseat Software for Windows) - http://www.ibik.ru/

People reported on these forums that that's how they got around that, I'm trying to set it up right now, along with Headless Client, although I'm having trouble following the headless client instructions.

" ASTER is a program (and only a program!), which allows a lot of users to work with one computer independently as if each of them had their own PC. "

[Tucu]

You were looking for a solution to have a user playing a game and a user working on the PC. I meant that as sharing the PC.

That solution for headless host doesn't solve that problem. Maybe ASTER works, give it a try if it has a trial.

[NonDescript]

How are you achieving headless by the way?

[Tucu]

Originally posted by NonDescript:

How are you achieving headless by the way?

I followed the instructions on that HOWTO that you linked.
Basically it involves finding the right simulated display entry under HKLM/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/GraphicsDrivers/Configuration/ and changing the resolution to 1920x1080