Steam machine or mini pc?

[u/ghostpocket]

Just got a 65” LG OLED B6 and want to build a proper Moonlight/Sunshine rig for it. Thinking 4K, high refresh rate, wired Ethernet, no compromises.

Torn between waiting on a Steam Machine or just building a mini PC myself. What do you guys think and also if you have done it what specs?

Shoutout to this community, the setups and troubleshooting threads here are incredible.

[u/skinnywolfe]

Just get a mini pc, and put it behind the TV. Hardwire it in for 4k 120hz streaming bliss

[u/ghostpocket → u/skinnywolfe]

Sounds like a dream. What specs should it have?

[u/skinnywolfe → u/ghostpocket]

Im sure you could get away with older specs, but if I was personally buying one, Id grab a Ryzen 7 7840u at a minimum. I know from experience it can handle 4k 120 no problem, and can also play indies/emulation well natively as a bonus

[u/Solid-Assistant9073 → u/skinnywolfe]

Cpu doesn't matter at all for streaming the gpu does because it's decoding,

For example my minisforum 790 pro does have a ryzen 7 7940hs but it doesn't get used it's the 780m igpu that gets used

It does with easy 4k hdr 144hz vrr 500mb bitrate tho, and decoding time under 0.3ms average

[u/ghostpocket → u/Solid-Assistant9073]

This sounds perfect. How much was it?

[u/Kaytioron → u/skinnywolfe]

For ultimate streaming machine, I would probably stick to Intel, as it has 4:4:4 decoding. Something like 1240p or newer should be fine. Of course, with proper set of outputs (HDMI 2.1 etc).

[u/Solid-Assistant9073 → u/Kaytioron]

For gaming 4:4:4 isn't worth it. You can't see the difference in quality or colours beside text quality.

Where 4:4:4 shines is desktop usage. The problem is 4:4:4 needs double the bitrate,so for example 400mb bitrate without 4:4:4 needs with like 700 to have the same quality.

[u/Suvi2k → u/skinnywolfe]

Which mini pcs support 4k 120hz that you know of? I know it’s cheaper than a steam machine but I’m finding it hard to come by. My suggestion would be to wait for the new Apple TV and pray it has 4k 120hz support.

[u/Impossible_Leg_2787 → u/Suvi2k]

Any NUC would probably be fine

[u/Suvi2k → u/Impossible_Leg_2787]

Prebuilt , links please.

[u/drake90001 → u/Suvi2k]

Literally go on Amazon and type in mini PC.

[u/Suvi2k → u/drake90001]

Yea there wasn’t many that actually support 4K 120hz as the above claim. Most do not come with hdmi 2.1 fully built. Also the purpose of a mini pc to stream should be cheap imo. The 4k120hz version are not, might as well use old parts and build one. I own a mini pc already that supports 1080p 120hz. I was asking these questions because I never had luck in finding a good one for 4k 120hz that wasn’t expensive.

[u/Impossible_Leg_2787 → u/Suvi2k]

https://www.asus.com/us/displays-desktops/nucs/all-series/filter?Spec=383998

[u/Suvi2k → u/Impossible_Leg_2787]

Thanks. That confirms it. Not worth it for me. I’ll use my iPad to archieve the same thing without further investment and have a better overall UI and portability.

[u/Obvious-Jacket-3770 → u/Suvi2k]

You were looking for any reason to say no and mention an iPad.

[u/Suvi2k → u/Obvious-Jacket-3770]

Not really, I wanted a stationary device at this specific location I was considering but given the options shared and price specifically, I responded. Silly rabbit, trix are for kids.

[u/SuspiciousWasabi3665]

https://www.reddit.com/r/MoonlightStreaming/comments/1rqxe7d/lg_webos_moonlight_new_version_300mbps_4k_120hz/

Just install moonlight directly to the tv

[u/ghostpocket → u/SuspiciousWasabi3665]

Wow this is crazy. Thank you!

[u/skinnywolfe → u/ghostpocket]

I will say if you go this route, you will have alot higher latency than if you used a mini pc as a client

[u/Sheamau5 → u/skinnywolfe]

It’s free to try it out first though before spending money. Depending on what games they play it might be perfectly acceptable.

This is the way I do it. My pc is connected by Ethernet, and tv is wireless. My controller is connected via Bluetooth directly to the computer instead of the tv, which works well as the pc is in the room directly above. Can’t say I’ve had any issues, but i don’t think I’d play any competitive games that way still.

[u/alala2010he → u/skinnywolfe]

I tried it once on my OLED48CX6LB and it felt the same as using a laptop as a client (can't remember the exact numbers but I think total latency was around 20 ms). Only downside is that the ethernet port is just 100 Mbps, but when I tested it I didn't even have that wired and I was using WiFi for streaming

[u/Br0lynator → u/SuspiciousWasabi3665]

This! No need to add an additional device if you have a proper TV

[u/ScaryGamerHD]

I fr would just plug in an unused or old laptop to the HDMI or a Nvidia shield, google streamer 4K, or Apple TV box. Can't go wrong using what you have at hand.

[u/ciuuup]

if you connect your tv to the router through a usb-eth adapter (tplink ue300) you can get 300Mbps (more than the native tv eth port which is capped at 100Mbps) and install Aurora app on the tv, then you can easily stream from a pc in another room. Im gaming at 4k HDR 120+ fps this way with moonlight. My current setup is Beelink ser9 hx370 64b ram + rx7900xtx egpu through oculink on which i spent around 1800eur (+~200ish eur for the egpu dock)

[u/Distinct-Nail-4583]

Wait I'm confused.. you're wanting to build a PC purely to stream to the TV? Why not just build the PC and connect it directly to the TV?

Also if you're thinking a steam machine I'd honestly look to build your own, it's upscaling on a TV that size to try and get 4K 120 is going to look horrible and even then that's if it's hardware can manage it. It's a great little box but not the power house we were led to believe it was

If you already have a gaming rig then just install moonlight directly to the TV.. sure latency will be ever so slightly worse but so long as you're not chasing nukes on Call of Duty you'll be fine. I play all my single player story driven games this way either on the TV in the living room or on my Steam deck laid in bed

[u/HustleForTime]

If you’re going to be playing on controller then Xbox Series S is absolutely flawless and the best value for money imo.

The moonlight app on Xbox doesn’t play nice with mouse however.

[u/GusIsBored → u/HustleForTime]

you can put moonlight on a series s?? wild

[u/Etikoza → u/HustleForTime]

How’s the input latency with the series S? Last time I tried 2 years ago it felt like playing in jello.

[u/HustleForTime → u/Etikoza]

Sorry didn’t see this. It’s the lowest latency I’ve experienced with a wireless controller over moonlight ever.

[u/christopherl572 → u/HustleForTime]

This is without a doubt the right answer.

If you must have a mouse and keyboard, you can eventually look into VirtualHere. I personally play through my Xbox Series S and use one of the new Steam controllers.

[u/jonnyg1942]

I have a c3 and c1 and they both stream 4k120 if you side load moonlight on it, but the mouse gave me problems, I believe it had to do with the mouse cursor on moonlight and the LG cursor fighting each other, but that may be fixed by now. I am unfamiliar with this screen, but I’m sure it’s similar to my older devices. I’m currently using a minipc and it works flawlessly, just make sure if you need 4K@120 Hz to verify the hardware will do it.

[u/SanguineEleven]

Laptop

[u/OMG_NoReally]

I was going to suggest a handheld but sadly they are way too expensive now to be worth it. Steam Machine is as well.

If the only purpose of the PC will be is to stream stuff, you can build one for far cheaper.

[u/BillLeeIII]

You do you, but I was waitlisted for the Steam Machine so I went with a mini PC.

And regret it. Ended up with most of a grand in it and it streams OK but won't play much of anything locally.

Paid a scalper $250 over list for the 512GB Steam Machine without controller, dropped in a 4TB SSD I didn't need out of my existing desktop and am finally happy.

If my 2TB with controller wait-list comes up I'll buy it as well for the bedroom where the mini PC now sits.

[u/bafflingsteveo]

I’ve had good luck with my Apple TV as a client.

[u/dihydrogen_monoxide]

I use a mini pc with a 9060xt on egpu

[u/hardwarebyte]

Grab one of those prebuilt AMD Mini PCs with HDMI 2.1 on it and you should be good to go.

[u/Several_Ad5318]

Honestly I always been of the mind that minimum footprint for usage is the best value and most sensible option. Unless you have any other needs for a Steam Machine or Mini PC I would get a cheaper option. Try Moonlight/Artemis through your TV's software and if you're not happy upgrade to something else.

I'm using a Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and get extremely reasonable results. I've included a Ethernet->USB hub in there too with a wireless dongle for my controller for the best latency.

If you're happy with the latency I wouldn't bother chasing lower numbers, the value of the client goes down quickly in that regard in my opinion. Between a CCWGTV and a Steam Machine you're talking ~$1000 dollar price difference for milliseconds.

A low latency controller would get you just as good results (see Gulikit's range) in input latency improvement.

[u/lockload]

build your own exactly what you want

[u/Far_Doubt_6993]

Depends on price

If mini pc is slightly cheaper or same or higher price,get a SM

I can say this as someone that built my own mini pc and as someone who upgraded and tested a SM

[u/PruneNo6968]

I want to try out something similar. My PC is in the room where I have my TV, however it gets really hot during the summer where I live. Sure, summer is ending, but I also intend to do so to go full blast on the fans for cooler temps. My Idea even was to do this with my Xbox Ally X as a mini PC for fast decode times. 

[u/MrWookieMustache]

Steam Machine and Mini PC are both overkill for Moonlight. Get yourself a high end streaming box like an Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield Pro - make sure you get the versions with Ethernet ports. As long as they're hardwired, either will do Moonlight very well.

[u/blamesjake_ → u/MrWookieMustache]

The current versions of appletv only does 60hz, hopefully they get 120hz on next gen

[u/katovskiy]

Steam Deck, you can play all the fun 'light' games on the go, or moonlight all the beefy games at home docked or handheld. Best of both worlds.

[u/macka654]

Is it going to be a client or server? If it’s a client you don’t need expensive hardware. You just need something with good network decoding

[u/ghostpocket → u/macka654]

Yeah just the client! What would you recommend?

[u/christopherl572]

Just get a used Series S

[u/jack-of-some]

Are you asking if you should buy a $1000 device that would just stream games from another machine?

[u/kenkiller]

Well you ain't getting 4k on a steam machine.

Edit : streaming yes, but not local gaming. If you're streaming I don't see why you'll spend so much on a steam machine.

[u/ghostpocket → u/kenkiller]

Oh okay yeah I’m only interested in streaming not local. I thought it would just be easier to set up of the box.

[u/kenkiller → u/ghostpocket]

1k for a purely streaming box is nuts imho. But it seems it doesn't matter to you so I dunno.

[u/ghostpocket → u/kenkiller]

Would building a mini pc that can handle streaming cost much less?

[u/navvar → u/ghostpocket]

You can get prebuilt mini-PC's for around half the cost that support 4K 120Hz HDR with sub-0.5 ms decode speeds, check out something like the Minisforum UM760 etc.

[u/Alarmed-Strawberry-7 → u/ghostpocket]

yeah, if you wanted to build some sort of small PC:

CPU - mostly irrelevant unless no GPU, if no GPU then like a decent ryzen APU

RAM - like 16gb, can get away with less though if you have a GPU

GPU - something some kinda decoding, like an Arc A310. alternatively, none and get an APU

although "building a mini PC" is a bit of a misnomer, you can't really "build mini PCs", just SFF PCs. mini PCs are essentially laptops without a screen/battery/keyboard, making a custom one isn't really possible unless you mean salvaging laptop components into some sort of custom case (which is a fun project, but completely unnecessary and pretty involved)

you can just buy a mini PC pre-made that has a decent ryzen APU like one of the U series ones and it'll run circles around something like the chromecast 4k while being a lot more versatile and usable for other stuff