How to stream video games from PC to TV

Streaming games from your PC to your TV will give you a more immersive experience. Here are a few methods you can use to stream games from your PC to your TV.

Do you want to play your favorite PC games on the TV screen? With the huge library of games on the Internet, using Windows, macOS or Linux computers as game consoles is becoming more and more popular. Besides, your favorite game controllers can also run on the desktop operating system.

However, the problem here is: PC and TV are two completely different devices. Connecting an HDMI cable for a long time between two devices is not a wise choice. Ideally, you should stream games from your computer to your TV over your home network.

Here are a few methods you can use to stream games from your PC to your TV.

1. Stream using Miracast or wireless HDMI

You will see several available wireless HDMI systems that are compatible with the desktop operating system. Wireless HDMI allows for the transmission of audio and video signals between two devices.

The original wireless HDMI devices (eg Intel’s WiDi, AMD Wireless Display) have been replaced by Miracast. Miracast is the standard of wireless connections. It supports Windows, so you can easily stream games from your PC or laptop over the air using a compatible dongle.

Some smart TV manufacturers also support Miracast. That means you can now stream your favorite games over the air without having to pay for a Miracast connected device. The price of this device averages under 100 USD.

2. Steam Link

As part of the hardware, users can use Steam Link as a service compatible with Android and tablets. Most importantly, it can also run on Samsung smart TVs, even the Raspberry Pi.

Any game in the Steam library can be streamed using Steam Link. It helps you create your own virtual game controller.

If using Stream running on PC and enabled In Home StreamingYou can stream the game right away. This feature is enabled in Steam> Settings and requires a TV, compatible streaming device & computer to be connected to the same network.

3. Create your own Steam Link using Raspberry Pi

If all of the above options are a bit expensive, you can try another solution. In this case, you need a Raspberry Pi 2 or later to clone the Steam Link features to your PC.

Thanks to the dedicated Steam Link software provided by Valve, the Raspberry Pi is the ideal choice for streaming PC games over the air. Even better, you are no longer limited to the number of Steam games using the Raspberry Pi. Thanks to Parsec’s game streaming software, you can stream PC games to your Raspberry Pi.

No matter which digital download service you use, or how to install the game, with your Raspberry Pi connected to your computer, the game will be streamed right to your living room.

The Raspberry 3 is more affordable than the Steam Link box, but installing it is a bit more complicated.

4. Nvidia Gamestream

Offering a similar solution to Steam Link, Nvidia Gamestream (available with Nvidia Shield TV devices) can also stream video and other media over the Internet.

This feature, along with the included game controller and remote management (both integrated into the mic for voice control) makes it clear why the Nvidia Gamestream is more expensive than Steam Link. Note that with Nividia graphics, you will pay an additional $ 100.

Once setup is complete, if you have a PC or laptop running on the same network with a suitable Nvidai GTX series GPU, the Nvidia Shield TV can manage the games that are streaming from the computer to the TV.

Meanwhile, if your console isn’t scratched, the Nvidia Shield TV will let you stream your video games to the cloud. The GeForce NOW service is currently available for $ 7.99 / month and will stream games to your TV via Nvidia Shield TV box.

5. Chromecast and Apple TV

You can rely on your hardware to choose other alternatives like Apple TV, Google Chromecast. However, streaming games to these platforms is currently not stable and smooth as expected. In this case, you should only stream the game with a low capacity, the configuration is not too powerful enough to play for a short time.

The above are ways to help you stream video games to the wireless network quickly and effectively. If there is a better option, do not hesitate to share with us. Hope the article is useful to you.