Hey, I recently started to use Moonlight to stream games from my PC to my TV. I am currently using my old laptop hooked up to the TV via HDMI, but this is not what I want in the long run.
I was thinking about buying a new TV anyway, so I looked at some potential models. It's important for me that the TV is running Google TV natively so I can run all the Apps I need.
Now to the Moonlight related Part. The TV I was thinking about buying is this one. The spec sheet contains the following:
Does this mean I would be able to stream 120Hz content from my PC to the TV, when running Moonlight directly on the TV? (Assuming my network connection is fast enough)
I would appreciate your help.
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Almost all direct streaming apps are going to have significantly higher latency than an external solution over HDMI. Some of them won't even kick in game mode of a TV so the TV itself will add like 100 ms of latency to an already poor decoder performance.
Always worth testing if you already have the TV as you have nothing to lose, but it would be shocking to see a genuinely playable experience.
So the only really good/viable method is using a separate Mini PC, able to output (4k)120Hz?
Very few mini PCs support 4k120 atm. You'll be looking at nearly a 500 dollar investment, but 1440p, 4k60, etc are a lot easier to swing.
I’m using the steam deck docked. Supports AV1 decode and can access easily all steam features with a controller
Does steam deck support 4k 120 hz with hdr output on TV?
Some people made it work with Windows installed but it doesn't work in Steam OS AFAIK. I have mine set to 1440p 120Hz HDR since I can't tell the difference with the size of my TV and the distance and I'm sitting from it.
It runs at 4K60 and that’s fine.
Moonlight doesn’t stream HDR on the Steam Deck - option is greyed out.
Are you wired or wireless? You really need the host PC to be wired. It’s really not great without even with good WiFi.
To add to what beer said, most mini pcs, like the new intel ones, won’t actually play at 4k@120 despite the decoder and hdmi specs supporting it.
None of the mini sbc boards will do it either.
Streaming apps suck so don’t expect that to work.
That leaves 3 decent options. The steam deck which is stuck at 4k@60, but has stupidly low latency. The shield, which is also 4k60 but supports hdr and has low latency.
The 3rd option is an expensive minipc. Likely a new 7840u device with an hdmi 2.1 output. So $500+.
There's a minipc right now for $440, still high but a bit more reasonable than the $500+
Well you need to add storage and ram. Lol
Or build your own mini PC in something like a Lian Li H2O case
That is going to cost A LOT more than $500.
I ended up buying a 15m hdmi (fiber because normal hdmi can't do that) cable to my main pc.
nvidia shield pro ftw. I'm currently using it to stream cyberpunk in 4k 120 to my lg c1 and it runs/looks great. haven't checked to see if I top off at 120 frames, but can confirm starfield did.
The Shield is HDMI 2.0. it caps at 4k60. I know it looks great, as I use one too, but it can't do 120hz/fps unless you lower the resolution. We can just hope they bring out a 2024 version...
that makes sense...but can confirm that using cru utility (to create custom monitor profile) and disabling vsync I'm able to get over 60 frames (just like with any 60hz monitor).
Not sure if the shield and C1 are truly outputting those frames, but all fps software (steam, nvidia experience, etc.) say/show they are.
wish nvidia would get off their @ss and release a new shield already...its been 5 years...
I’m using a Rog Ally for 4k120hz streaming to a TV. Way too expensive for just that purpose but if you enjoy mobile gaming too it becomes a better value prop.
Be careful of the Ethernet Port. Most TVs don't have a gigabit port, I think some Sony and Samsung's do. The reality is I can't stream games on my TCL 75c845 above 65mbps on my 100mbps port, So you won't get 4K 120fps, I normally play at 2560x1440p HDR @ 120 though. Also game mode doesn't kick in with the app. The latency bothers me on reaction based games, Jedi Survivor for example but the TV looks amazing, lightsabers are bright and when I've been playing BG3 with my partner on the big screen (split screen) it has been amazing.
I bought a cheap gigabit Ethernet usb adapter and it works on my lg CX. I've got the moonlight client running directly on the TV so it's not the best decoder but I still get 4k streaming >90fps and HDR sometimes (I still don't understand why it's not working ever time). Both pc and TV on LAN.
Honestly, I have a google tv powered TV and the results are bad. Lots and lots of stuttering and a decode time of 60(!!!) ms on 2k60. It gets on the 20s on FHD
The only TV in my house that is able to do that directly and with good results (and not 120hz, only 4k60) is my OLED Samsung s95c.
The only way I think is viable to do 4k120 is with a mini pc. Every other solution will be frustating
Ok, thanks for your hands on experience. Just one more question, how did you measure/see de decode times?
There's an option on the android app to show stats on the top-left corner of your screen. It shows fps, resolution, packet losses, decode time and internet latency
Thank you. The option only exists on android? Not the windows moonshine client?
If you find a good way to do this let me know. Currently I am using an nvidia shield pro and it only supports 4k/60hz, but decode time is ~1ms and being on a hardwired lan connection my network latency is < 8ms, so its damned snappy. The only way I could get 4k 120hz was to hook uip my PC directly to the TV, but that sort of defeats the purpose of using moonlight for me if I need the PC directly connected rather than on my network.
Just had a quick question as I'm currently looking at implementing a similar set up - do you run the games at 4k or at a lower res and let the shield upscale?
I'm looking to get a shield pro once I finish running a cable from the router to the TV. However the GPU in my server with sunshine on a VM is a 6600xt and I'm debating whether to just set up sunshine on my main gaming pc with a 7900xtx.
I'm running an RTX 3080 on my PC, and yes I run at 3820×2160 (4k) at 60hz using a headless hdmi plug.
You can also get the Shield to do 1440p/120hz if you enable further resolutions in the developer options, but it can make things a little buggy with proper sizing of elements on the home screen and system UI.
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I am calling shenanigans on this. Nvidia shield does not support 4k at 120hz, it only supports 4k at 60hz.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidiashield/comments/166e2d1/shield_pro_doesnt_support_120hz_4k/
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/292259/how-to-set-shield-tv-to-generate-4k60hz-or-even-4k/
sheild pro uses hdmi 2.0 which doesn't support 4k at 120hz, would need HDMI 2.1 for that. Maybe yourr TV is doing some upscaling or something, but I would bet if you go into the resolutions on the shield settings itself its not going to say 4k/120hz
EDIT:
From Benq's website (https://www.benq.com/en-us/knowledge-center/knowledge/4k-120hz-gaming-monitor.html):
"HDMI 2.1 has 48Gbps carry capacity, compared to just 18Gbps for HDMI 2.0. Now, the 18Gbps of HDMI 2.0 assumes video delivery with HDR, 4:4:4 chroma, and 10-bit color coding. At a resolution of 3840 x 2160, that would fill up the entire bandwidth with a maximum framerate of 60Hz, and often 4:4:4 won’t be possible, only 4:2:2. However, if we can force 8-bit color coding (16.7 million colors), no HDR, and 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, then 4K 120Hz actually turns out to “cost” about 16Gbps, which is technically possible on HDMI 2.0."
So if you take a significant hit to color and lose HDR then you could maybe get it to run 4k/120hz, however I don't think shield offers that level of control.
Dammit you’re right. It was 1440 and 120fps. Not 4k. I will edit that! Thanks for the correction.
I was ready to start asking you to post all your settings so I could copy them and see. I tried for many many hours to get 4k/120hz with shield and failed myself. For the record I prefer just doing 3840x2160 at 60hz, I feel like the resolution is worth more than the 120hz to me.
Haha I would have asked all sorts of questions too. But now that you pointed it out, I remembered dropping the resolution first to 1440p in order to hit 120fps. But i also agree that I would rather have 4k at 60. 4k is too pretty to look at with these role playing games today. Even 4k with 90 fps would be satisfactory.
I have 82" LG C2 and I have installed Moonlight on it. It works with almost 0 lag.
Yeah, me too. lG CX and mariotakus moonlight. No problem gaming at 4k@90-120 sometimes HDR and reaction games are no problem. I've got an ethernet dongle plugged into the TV.
I may be the exception, but I am getting minimal lag using moonlight through a Nvidia shield, hard wired to an orbi mesh wifi hub. LG C3 Auto detects and switches to game mode. Perfectly playable for my use, which is primarily single player games. I'm sure it's too much latency for any kind of competitive gaming tho
4K120 simply isn't possible as a native app on the television, because the Android TV / Google TV interface only outputs a maximum of 60fps. Believe me, I've tried.
This is mainly the reason I asked. Kinda suspected something like this. But someone on here said he got it to work, you maybe know why/how?
Then I'd love to know how he did it, because my Philips 65OLED807 would stay at 4K60 regardless of the setting. And, I should add, the cpu's in these Tv's aren't fast enough to properly decode the stream @ 4K120, the decoding latency at 4K60 is already quite high..
Can someone remind me gently what is the point of 120hz ?
Less input latency, better motion clarity, and a more enjoyable gaming experience.
All that while keeping under 8ms per frame.
Human eyes cannot perceive anything above 60 frames per second ( some argue even less, 30).
And input latency have nothing to do here.
I smell marketing bs here.
Genuinely asking, but have you ever seen a 120Hz display in person? Because it sounds like you haven’t…
I did. And marveled at the price some bozos are ready to pay for it.
Cool, keep being miserable.
If YOU can't tell a difference between 60 and 120 then go see a doctor because there is definitely a difference. Don't even get me started about 30 vs 120, if you say there's no difference there you need mental help.
Also more frames = less latency it's common sense because you're able to update the frame faster as there is less of a delay in between frames.
marketing bs my ass, keep coping with your 60hz monitor lol
Ho and just because I have time to waste, input latency is
1/ time between input and client ( wired, BT, etc) 2/ time between client and host ( usually network) 3/ time between host and client ( network and encode on host, decode in client)
Therefore, a 120hz hooked to a SLI dual 4090 will help only on the 3rd part.
One big load… of bs.