4K content and gaming solution
Discussion
Having taken delivery of my Sony 65XE9305 I'm one step closer to my AV setup being finished. The next issue I'm trying to work out is content. And some games.
I want to be able to stream 4K/HDR through Netflix/Amazon etc and take advantage of that lovely screen by playing some games on it. Then maybe once or twice a week stick a 4K UHD Blu-ray on. Both PC and TV are in the same room connected by ethernet to the router.
I'm loosely considering two solutions:
1. Panasonic UB400 for BR, nVidia Shield for 4K content and connected to my PC for gaming.
2. X-Box One X for BR and gaming, Roku+ for streaming, Steam Link (already owned) for the odd PC game.
I've always been a PC gamer (albeit casual) but playing mostly FPS games I don't think it'd be a huge jump to go to a console, and I've heard tell of how good the One X looks on a properly specced TV. I've also thoroughly enjoyed playing the odd game via Steam Link on the big screen - unfortunately though the PC crashes as often as not.
On the other side, the Shield looks very capable. but I don't game enough to pay for their subscription service. And my PC is due a mobo/CPU/GPU upgrade - I think at the least, I'd need to upgrade to a GTX 10xx to get decent HDR. Which is another couple of hundred quid.
I would also like to game on the PC monitor (a 27" WQHD monitor - fairly capable) when the TV is in use. My AVR has two HDMI outs, but can only run one feed which complicates the X-Box option somewhat.
Any views on the pro's and con's of either of those solutions, or is there a third solution I should consider?
I want to be able to stream 4K/HDR through Netflix/Amazon etc and take advantage of that lovely screen by playing some games on it. Then maybe once or twice a week stick a 4K UHD Blu-ray on. Both PC and TV are in the same room connected by ethernet to the router.
I'm loosely considering two solutions:
1. Panasonic UB400 for BR, nVidia Shield for 4K content and connected to my PC for gaming.
2. X-Box One X for BR and gaming, Roku+ for streaming, Steam Link (already owned) for the odd PC game.
I've always been a PC gamer (albeit casual) but playing mostly FPS games I don't think it'd be a huge jump to go to a console, and I've heard tell of how good the One X looks on a properly specced TV. I've also thoroughly enjoyed playing the odd game via Steam Link on the big screen - unfortunately though the PC crashes as often as not.
On the other side, the Shield looks very capable. but I don't game enough to pay for their subscription service. And my PC is due a mobo/CPU/GPU upgrade - I think at the least, I'd need to upgrade to a GTX 10xx to get decent HDR. Which is another couple of hundred quid.
I would also like to game on the PC monitor (a 27" WQHD monitor - fairly capable) when the TV is in use. My AVR has two HDMI outs, but can only run one feed which complicates the X-Box option somewhat.
Any views on the pro's and con's of either of those solutions, or is there a third solution I should consider?
You sound in a similar position to me, planning on something similar and I am also a PC gamer more than anything else
I have tried to stream games at 4k over a hardwired network(granted using a GTX 970) and the experience was not good, i am not sure how much was my pc(it isn't terrible) and how much was other factors.
I think PC gaming 4k wise is early days, you need a 1080ti really for good 60fps which is what pc gaming is all about due to the extra detail you get pc gaming. I tried project cars at HD on my 1070ti with details ramped up and i hit 30FPS or less, so you can still kill your gaming experience quite easily. And that GPU is as you may know the best part of a grand due to crypto mining
For me the most sensible solution for 4k is the xbox one x, but if it is casual gaming it is still a fair amount to spend. I am looking at a one s i think for the uhd as not too expensive, and TV's are so good at upscaling i will be happy to the next generation of consoles and when pc's are better at coping
I might add i have hardwired CAT7 in my new house to ensure i have the best possible network if i do try to stream games at 4k
I have tried to stream games at 4k over a hardwired network(granted using a GTX 970) and the experience was not good, i am not sure how much was my pc(it isn't terrible) and how much was other factors.
I think PC gaming 4k wise is early days, you need a 1080ti really for good 60fps which is what pc gaming is all about due to the extra detail you get pc gaming. I tried project cars at HD on my 1070ti with details ramped up and i hit 30FPS or less, so you can still kill your gaming experience quite easily. And that GPU is as you may know the best part of a grand due to crypto mining
For me the most sensible solution for 4k is the xbox one x, but if it is casual gaming it is still a fair amount to spend. I am looking at a one s i think for the uhd as not too expensive, and TV's are so good at upscaling i will be happy to the next generation of consoles and when pc's are better at coping
I might add i have hardwired CAT7 in my new house to ensure i have the best possible network if i do try to stream games at 4k
Get an Xbox One X. It's going the be the easiest path to getting 4k content and gaming and is pretty great as an all-in-one 4k entertainment box. Nicer to use a gamepad that's designed for the console to navigate menus than have a wireless mouse/keyboard stuffed down the side of the sofa.
Mine gets used for Netflix and gaming, albeit only on a 1080p TV at the moment, but it's still much faster in terms of loading apps/games than a regular Xbox One. Enhanced games look better too. And Microsoft is doing a great job of adding backwards compatibility for original Xbox and X360 games too.
Mine gets used for Netflix and gaming, albeit only on a 1080p TV at the moment, but it's still much faster in terms of loading apps/games than a regular Xbox One. Enhanced games look better too. And Microsoft is doing a great job of adding backwards compatibility for original Xbox and X360 games too.
I've settled on the X-Box as the best solution. In fact I've got the Roku Stick already, so I've pretty much ruled out the Shield.
One issue I've had a bit of a headache with is running the X-Box to two screens separately - sometimes I'll want to play on the TV, others (when SWMBO is using the TV) I'll be playing on the PC monitor. My AVR won't run two inputs to two outputs simultaneously (it'll do one to both, but not two to two.) So I need to fathom out a solution. I've got a Harmony remote which seems like it opens some doors as I can automate the X-Box input, turning the monitor on (via smart plug) etc but it's still a bit of a condundrum.
The best case would be an HDMI switch (not splitter) with an IR remote, but despite spending at least an hour searching I've struggled to find one that will support 4K HDR@60fps. This is the best i can find, and I'm not sure if it'll do the best available output the X-Box can offer (it says HDCP, but not specifically HDCP 2.2.) It's also £70.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002E50R02/?coliid=IXU...
I can find some manual ones but not one with an IR remote that I can control as part of a Harmony activity.
If I look a splitters, it'll only output at the resolution of the lowest res detected screen (the 1440p monitor.) But I'm thinking the cheap solution might be to use a splitter, rig the PC monitor up to a smart plug and as part of the 'X-Box on TV' activity get the Harmony to switch off the PC monitor prior to turning on the X-Box - so it should only detect the TV, and output at that highest detected res.
One issue I've had a bit of a headache with is running the X-Box to two screens separately - sometimes I'll want to play on the TV, others (when SWMBO is using the TV) I'll be playing on the PC monitor. My AVR won't run two inputs to two outputs simultaneously (it'll do one to both, but not two to two.) So I need to fathom out a solution. I've got a Harmony remote which seems like it opens some doors as I can automate the X-Box input, turning the monitor on (via smart plug) etc but it's still a bit of a condundrum.
The best case would be an HDMI switch (not splitter) with an IR remote, but despite spending at least an hour searching I've struggled to find one that will support 4K HDR@60fps. This is the best i can find, and I'm not sure if it'll do the best available output the X-Box can offer (it says HDCP, but not specifically HDCP 2.2.) It's also £70.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002E50R02/?coliid=IXU...
I can find some manual ones but not one with an IR remote that I can control as part of a Harmony activity.
If I look a splitters, it'll only output at the resolution of the lowest res detected screen (the 1440p monitor.) But I'm thinking the cheap solution might be to use a splitter, rig the PC monitor up to a smart plug and as part of the 'X-Box on TV' activity get the Harmony to switch off the PC monitor prior to turning on the X-Box - so it should only detect the TV, and output at that highest detected res.
http://store.aclasstechnology.com/sw21---2-way-4k-...
Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
jmorgan said:
http://store.aclasstechnology.com/sw21---2-way-4k-...
Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
That's two inputs to one output; I need one input to two outputs. I'll have a mooch through and see if they do anything else that'll do the job though.Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
tenohfive said:
jmorgan said:
http://store.aclasstechnology.com/sw21---2-way-4k-...
Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
That's two inputs to one output; I need one input to two outputs. I'll have a mooch through and see if they do anything else that'll do the job though.Bought a few leads off them once, postage a bit though.
That's the price of an X-Box itself. Err....pass. I'm lazy, and don't want to have to manually switch cables (or use a push-button HDMI switch) - but I will, if I have to. I'm just surprised that for something relatively simple - take in two feeds, supply one out - there are so few products. Perhaps it's quite niche to have one AV component connected to two screens.
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