Playing PC Games on TV

• 

  impoze on 11/08/2025 - 20:34

  +6

  Moonlight, not too difficult to setup.

  Try it with any existing hardware you have first, laptop or mobile.

• 

  tequilatime on 11/08/2025 - 21:10

  +1

  https://support.xbox.com/en-AU/help/games-apps/cloud-gaming/…

  Or sideload GeforceNow (and open an account)

• 

  Morien on 11/08/2025 - 22:06

  +1

  A quick google suggests your graphics card doesn't support the ideal encoder for Moonlight. If so, a HDMI is your best option.

  Otherwise, you need a budget.

  New 5070 goes for around $900.

  You could always get a Steam Deck or other handheld and dock and also use Moonlight. From memory SD will support up to 4k60hz without issues (streaming). That would cost an extra $650 (for base LCD SD), plus a dock for around $100?

  Otherwise, an Xbox series s for about $350.

  Anyway, for a real suggestion, you need a budget. Otherwise maybe just look into a cloud service.

• 

  Graduate on 11/08/2025 - 23:55

  +1

  For ideal Moonlight client on upstairs TV: If not repurpose existing PC, pair that perfect stream-decoding GPU in a small quiet case with bare essential components on the cheap.

  RX 6500 XT: HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, 8K@60Hz, HDR, VRR, eARC, HDCP 2.3.
  Hardware accelerated decode: H.264, HEVC (10-bit, 4K@120fps), VP9.

  For the host: If not a whole new PC, a new GPU, but don't tie it up with standalone Sunshine, run Duo for multi-seat operation!

  For what it's worth, your Intel UHD Graphics 750 can perform the role of encoder or decoder but it's not advisable if rendering or outputting anyway on a dedicated GPU for optimal latency, and it wouldn't achieve 4K 120 fps encode/decode (especially couldn't display it through its HDMI 2.0b).

• 

  jv on 12/08/2025 - 09:13

  -1

  Playing PC Games on TV

  Yes it is possible.

• 

  jk82 on 12/08/2025 - 09:29

  +1

  How much hassle do you want each time you go to play??

  1) Yeah, takes a bit to install but by far the most reliable way to actually play each time you sit down. Just make sure there's enough bluetooth range for your controller

  2) Would definitely work but they're pretty low powered machines so when you play the games on a big 4k TV they're not going to look good (unless you just stick to older games / indies)

  3) An option for sure and most will say it works great, and 80% of the time it will, but it's honestly such a hassle if it doesn't work - especially when you just wanna sit down and play a game. I did it for a couple of years and ultimately just ran a HDMI cable because of the times when it didn't "just work".

  4) Series S is a fantastic option and by far the easiest, but you won't have your Steam library and will have to cough up for a monthly gamepass sub, or buy some digital games outright.

  5) If you've got the skills you could build a mini-ITX rig for maybe $1500 that'd be plenty powerful. I'd do that over a mini PC or laptop, either way this is an expensive option but probably the best.

• 

  theguyrules on 12/08/2025 - 09:59

  +1

  Moonlight app exists on Xbox and works well.

• 

  tissue on 12/08/2025 - 10:42

  +3

  Thanks all,

  Thinking the best way forward might be to run Moonlight on an Xbox Series X, and need to update the GPU on the PC to something like an RX 9060 XT (around $580). Guessing all up around $1000 which is probably the best spend. Means its another console which I dont have which comes with controllers so probably a bit easier to setup than other options too.

  Whichever option I chose would need a new GPU so it was then more around the client or delivery to the TV. Running the HDMI cable is going to be harder than I first thought (its a 20m run up three walls and one mid floor and ceiling cavity) and I didnt want to waste money getting a secondary PC as a Moonlight client, nor getting something that will be superceded in 2 years like a Fire Stick.

  Thanks all

  EDIT: First step might be to try Moonlight and use an ipad or iphone as a simple client for proof of concept. Then update the GPU and try again.

  • 

    theguyrules on 12/08/2025 - 11:24

    Good idea to test our your network. Ideally you want both host and client wired with ethernet for best latency.

  • 

    spackbace on 12/08/2025 - 13:35

    Why not just get the Shield? It's only $300 or so

    Quick google seems to show that the new Google TV Streamer is a good option for Moonlight, and at only $135 or so, it seems like a cost-saving solution

• 

  Djiordje on 12/08/2025 - 15:17

  +3

  I've tried all of these options over the last few years and they've all got their pros and cons.

  HDMI is the hardest solution to setup but works the best. I have my PC in a separate study but for gaming I much prefer the comfort of the couch and a big TV so I've run a 20m HDMI cable through the walls/ceiling into the study. If you want to play 4k 120hz you need to get a decent active HDMI cable. I tried a few cheap ones from Amazon and had so many issues. Ended up getting this https://www.comsol.com.au/HDAC820_4 and haven't had a problem since. (Protip: Test the cable for a day or two before going through the effort of pulling it through your walls, I learned this the hard way.)

  I use a program called Display Fusion that lets you set monitor profiles and bind them to a keyboard command so all I have to do is press a button on my wireless keyboard to pass everything through to the TV. Mostly play games with a PS5 controller that connects to the PC via bluetooth, never really had an issue with this setup.

  Moonlight: Another great option if your network can handle it. I would say the most important thing to get this to work without latency is a Wifi 6 capable router. I've never had much luck getting this to work well on a Smart TVs built in OS, you're better off getting something like the Google TV Streamer or an Nvidia Shield if you go down this route. Setup is pretty easy, I'd recommend using Apollo which is a fork of Sunshine, on your PC.

  Depending on what games you intend to play, Steamdeck could be a good option but you're going to struggle pushing any recent AAA releases past 30fps. However, the deck is a great device to stream from your PC with the Moonlight setup, but depending on your PC it might not be worth the investment.

  My suggestion would be to update your video card and give Moonlight a go, its the cheapest and easiest option to try. If you decide later down the track that you love gaming on the TV but want a more permanent and less fiddly solution do the HDMI installation.

  • 

    jk82 on 13/08/2025 - 08:29

    I've done a very similar thing to you (started with moonlight but now have a HDMI 2.1 cable through the walls), I use MonitorProfileSwitcher but sounds like the same thing as DisplayFusion. And then in Steam I set a "chord" so that if I press the PS button + Up on the d-pad it triggers a keyboard shortcut that changes the monitor profile to the TV display. I also use moonlight on my phone as a mouse and keyboard (when it's rarely needed), this means I don't need a bluetooth keyboard/trackpad in the living room.

    The other handy shortcut on my controller chord layout is Windows key + Ctrl + V which will bring up the sound output menu on the taskbar as sometimes it doesn't automatically switch sound outputs for me.

    • 

      Djiordje on 14/08/2025 - 00:09

      Oh nice, I hadn't thought of setting up the display shortcuts through steam chords.

      Also I recently discovered you can set a profile in Moonlight for input only, not sure if that's what you're using but saves having the whole client running on your phone if just using it for mouse/keyboard input. Also works great for wired controllers, I've connected my fightpad up this way.

• 

  bennos on 13/08/2025 - 10:10

  I just got a PS5. Play games with the kids and by myself at night. I am a Pc gamer but the ease of the PS 5 is unmatched, fires up quickly, you'll get use to the controller. Its an option worth investigating.