GPU for Client (In-Home Streaming)

[luci5r]

Hello,

I'm hoping to get some advice on specific technical details regarding Steam In-Home Streaming.

I have a high-end HTPC/Gaming rig which hosts all my Steam Games, with hardware including GTX 1080 (ASUS ROG STRIX), 6-Core Intel i7, Water-Cooling, 32GB DDR4 RAM, NVMe PCIe SSD, etc.

I have a 2nd HTPC where I stream both Media & Games (Steam In-Home Streaming) over Netgear Nighthawk AC-1900 (R7000) routers.

Streaming, Networking & all other performance aspects are working great. I haven't had any trouble using Steam In-Home Streaming with game performance.

I'm in the process of upgrading the "Client" HTPC as I'll be connecting it to a 4K TV (previously it was connected to a 1080p TV). Although most other parts will remain the same, I am planning to put in a GPU in the system. Thus far it has been using the onboard Intel HD 3000 graphics packed into the Intel Sandy Bridge i5 CPU, which has gotten tremendously old. I'd like a GPU to handle 4K Media Playback better.

*There are absolutely NO games Installed or Run ON this Client machine - They are only streamed from Steam running on the GTX 1080 machine*

My understanding of Steam In-Home Streaming is that "ALL" of the video processing happens on the Host system (In my case - on the GTX 1080) and nothing except streaming the media happens on the client side.

I'm trying to pick a GPU to put in the Client machine, nothing too expensive, would like to stick around a $100 - $150 (if possible), but before I chose one, I wanted to check in a few things:

1. Is there ANY video processing, or GPU usage at all, that happens on the Client machine when you're streaming using Steam In-Home Streaming. In other words, is the client GPU entirely ignored? Or, is there some benefit to a better GPU in the client system? And if so, what should I be looking for?

2. For the client GPU, I'm open to both AMD & Nvidia. I can go with GTX or Radeon. I know both will perform equally well for the HTPC side - but would it matter to Steam In-Home streaming either way?

Thanks!

[Omega]

A GT 1030 will be all you need. And if it then still struggles get a used i7 2600/2700.

[luci5r]

Thanks for your response! I'm actually considering either GTX 1050 Ti or RX 560, both in 4GB version. After a PayPal credit I have, both cost me just under $100. So I'm guessing I'll be fine with either of them, since you listed GT 1030.

[Cathulhu]

Getting a 1050 or 1050 Ti would be a bit overkill if that PC is only receiving a stream and not rendering on its own.
The receiving end has very little to do. In fact, it's so little, that the Steam Link exists as a software app for Smart TVs.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yea GT 1030 is fine; not worth paying double that price (for GTX 1050) just for Media purposes, even for 4K like Bluray or MKV files encoded for X265

[Monk]

If it's for an htpc end, noise is a big factor, and you can get passively cooled gt1030's that will be silent, iknow atleadt MSI makes one and it's only around £70, should cope with streaming duties no problem, and silent.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originalmente postado por Monk:

If it's for an htpc end, noise is a big factor, and you can get passively cooled gt1030's that will be silent, iknow atleadt MSI makes one and it's only around £70, should cope with streaming duties no problem, and silent.

Newer GPUs aren't going to produce noise, especially when streaming and not actually running the games.

[Monk]

Any fan is noisier than no fan, so a passively cooled variant makes sense is what I was getting to, and the small (often 80mm) fans that tend to be on cards
Iike the gt1030 are far louder than the 120-140's on higher end cards.

[luci5r]

GT1030 is definitely an interesting perspective. The cost difference is exactly $60, as I would probably pick up the $80 EVGA GT1030 SC, versus the $139 MSI GTX 1050 Ti.

I understand that 4K Media Playback/Media Streaming would be no different on either card.

The main difference is the 2GB vs 4GB, 64-Bit vs 128-Bit, and 6000 Mhz vs 7000 Mhz Memory Clock -- In other words the entire difference lies on the memory side.

I know there is some GPU RAM usage towards Game Streaming, and also 4K Playback/Streaming, but definitely not > 2GB.

That said, I don't doubt that GT1030 will suffice, and 1050 Ti is overkill.

I have one final nuance left.

I don't upgrade my systems all the time. This system was built in 2011, it has been running an Intel Sandy Bridge i5 since then. This is a secondary, streaming-only PC, not the main PC, and therefore whatever I chose to put in now will stay in there for years to come. $60 this way or that way doesn't make any difference to me. I'm upgrading this system after almost 7 years, and whatever goes in there now will probably stay in there for another 5 - 7 years.

Is there any reason at all anyone can think of, any benefit at all, to spend the extra $60 and plug in the 1050 Ti instead?

Thanks!

[Omega]

2gb Vram is more then enough. Steaming uses little to no Vram.

Windows on the desktop uses 250mb +/- of Vram. That is 1,75gb left for your streaming.

[WarmedxMints]

Personally I would get a 1050ti so the less demanding games could be played directly without the need to stream.

[luci5r]

@ WarmedxMints: That won't be a scenario I would be entertaining. This system was built from the ground up for nothing but streaming. HDD & other parts were installed only to run Windows 10 and some streaming/media applications, plus some basic software. This is an HTPC that sits in the master bedroom. I game in the evenings or night occasionally on this one. All of my gaming and game installations will reside on the main GTX 1080 HTPC - where I keep my master library (Media & Games), with a 4K TV & Projector, and where I game predominantly. So I cannot consider this to be a reason for 1050 Ti.

If for 4K Media Playback / Streaming / Steam Game Streaming, there is no need in the foreseeable future of 5 - 7 years to go for a 1050 Ti, then I'm just going to go with GT 1030. Seems to be a good choice for this 4K Streaming-only HTPC.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tTkwrH/msi-geforce-gt-1030-2gb-aero-itx-oc-video-card-gt-1030-aero-itx-2g-oc

[luci5r]

Thanks @Bad_Motha. Good Price!!

I've been browsing through the GT 1030's and just wondering if there is one which seems to be the better one out of all. There are roughly 12 cards listed on Newegg and I've been comparing them. So far nothing really stands out.

Cost is not an issue, since this card is coming in almost half my budget - is there one particular GT 1030 which is the best/better of all listed?

Thanks!

[carl]

The EVGA card comes with HDMI and DVI-D ports only. No DisplayPort if that is important to you.

Also you may want to research what kind of video encoding and decoding capabilities it has. I think there was a minimum 3Gb VRAM requirement for UHD streaming on Netflix though that may have been overcome.

[luci5r]

Originalmente postado por carl:

The EVGA card comes with HDMI and DVI-D ports only. No DisplayPort if that is important to you.

Also you may want to research what kind of video encoding and decoding capabilities it has. I think there was a minimum 3Gb VRAM requirement for UHD streaming on Netflix though that may have been overcome.

Wait a second! Are you saying I "may" need more then 2GB RAM on GPU for 4K Streaming?? I thought 2GB would suffice! That was the whole point of going w/ GT 1030 vs GTX 1050 Ti 4Gb which I was going with originally.

I don't require DisplayPort but I definitely require full 4K Streaming from all possible sources.

I'm confused now!