Connecting streaming computer with ethernet cord

[nicevibe]

My home network is all WiFi. I wanted to steam to my laptop and use it to hook up to the big screen TV in the basement. It seems that the connection is too slow unfortunately. I was attempting to play Dark Souls 2 and the video, sound, and control response were all stuttering and cutting out intermittently.

My question is: Could I use an ethernet cord to directly connect my gaming PC and my laptop and stream via that? Would it not be faster than WiFi? Would I need a switch or something, or could I connect them with just an ethernet cord? If anybody knows, that'd be great. Thanks.

[Sup3rDave]

Depending on your setup you may need a crossover cable instead of a standard ethernet cable if you plan on running a cable directly between the 2 machines. If you have sufficiently long ethernet cable to go from 1 machine to the other, any particular reason why you don't just hook both machines up to the same router via ethernet?

Alternately, you can look into 'powerline ethernet'. This is a cool alternate to wifi. Basically you run an ethernet cable from your router to this powerline adapter, it plugs directly into an outlet somewhere. Anywhere else in your house you plug another adapter into an outlet and then an ethernet cable out of that into your laptop or whatever other device. The internet signal is routed along your powerlines between the 2 devices. Assuming your house isn't a century old with sketchy wiring, it works really well.

[SilentHorizon]

you need a crossover ( red color) ethernet looking cable to connect both pcs together. it DOES take a spcial cable to connect two PCs with with one cable.

i have streamed this way and it works flawlessly.

[Sup3rDave]

They even support standard encryption protocols if you're on a shared power grid like an apartment building and are worried about someone stealing your signal.

[MrPuffyMunchkins]

Contrary to what people are telling you, most modern ethernet ports on computers do not require a crossover cable for direct PC-to-PC connections.