Buy Steam Link

This thing is awesome. I now own the best console on the market : My PC.

There are times in your life that you remember more than any other. For me, alongside memories of my Children coming into the world (which tops everything). I have memories of the first time I connected my home computers to a colour television. The first time I connected my brand new Sega Mega Drive (Genesis to you American folk). The first Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the first PlayStation (before it was a ‘one’) and fired up Tekken. I talk about these because now there is a new one, the First time I connected my Steam Link to my TV for the first time.

Yesterday was a great day for me, I had taken the day off from work for two reasons. Reason one, Fallout 4 was released and I wanted to do the whole countdown to midnight and play through the night thing. It happens very infrequently (once every decade or so). But I’ve been waiting so long for the next great RPG, and it was finally here so what the hell. Reason 2 was that my Steam Link and Steam Controller had been slowly working their way across Europe to arrive on the 10th November exactly (I just love how all things steam, arrive, on time – it makes the OCD part of me so very happy). And sure enough, at 11am exactly the postman dropped by two small cardboard boxes and I unpacked them like a small child on Christmas day, plugged it in, and was playing Fallout 4 on my big screen in the living room. Not a Fallout 4 capped at 30 fps, not a Fallout 4 with slowdowns in performance. Because THIS Fallout 4, was running on my Gaming Rig upstairs in my man cave and streaming down onto my TV.

I had made preparations for this, I had invested in a gigabit power-line adaptor, because I was using a 500Mbps connection before which I knew wouldn’t have given me optimum bandwidth for the streaming to work latency free and quality maxed out. I had watched (enviously) videos of folk over in the states unboxing and plugging it all in so I was well prepared.

Setup was easy, intuitive and trouble free. Within 1 min of connecting everything my steam experience was on my TV and I couldn’t have been happier. Sure the SteamOS/Big Picture interface isn’t the most streamlined and not (yet) beautiful.. it lacks all the spurious functions that you see on Sony and Microsoft’s game-toy-stations. But there is a benefit to this simplistic interface.. everything is intuitive and where you expect it to be. Navigation with either an Xbox 360 controller or the Steam Controller is simple and elegant. I’ll cover the steam controller on a different review (when I have had more time with it). But working with it on the steamoOS/big picture is really rather fun!

So in short, Valve have done it. The link works perfectly it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a no nonsense approach that is rarely seen these days and it has given me another awesome gaming memory.

I cannot wait until Christmas, where instead of playing Aging Wii and board games – the whole family will be playing games on my gaming rig.

I am truly excited not only about the Link, but the massive directional change SteamOS and the Link represent, we are about to enter the age when the PC can compete in the living room, and as with all things Steam/Valve and the PC it will evolve into the premier format over time.

However, there are a couple of missing things from the SteamOS/Link experience in big picture mode. Third Party Applications. A bit of convergence here would have paid a dividend. The link would be a perfect device (as it is Bluetooth and wifi compatiblity) to act as a bridge to the TV instead of a Chromecast (I exclude the AppleTV because, well… its flippin Apple!). Or it could have tackled this directly and have Netflix, BBC IPlayer etc as apps in steam. That’s not to say you cannot, because after all, behind the SteamOS/Big Picture view lurks your ‘real’ operating system so it’s perfectly possible. And with that minor negative comes an even bigger positive.

Now if Sony, Nintendo, Apple or Google had made the link, you can bet your bottom dollar that you would only be able to access content that they had sold you. Not so with the Steam Link.. the Steam link doesn’t just connect you to your Steam Collection, it connects you to your whole PC.. therefore you can link to non steam games and non Steam applications as easily as creating a shortcut – and because the steam controller is a mouse/trackaball – everything works.. even dare I say it.. iTunes!. A piece of functionality that clearly marked the terrain that Valve want to make.. this is a device for PC owners, regardless of if you use Origin, GoG, Steam or anything else it will work on the steam link.

So to sum up. The Steam Link does exactly what it says on the tin. It gives Gaming Rigs a way to operate on a Big TV in the living room where (most) PC gamers fear to tread. It gives amazing performance, is easy to setup and operate and marks a new era of PC dominance, not only in the Man Cave but in the living room too. And unlike its competitors, PC’s don’t become obsolete (well, as long as you upgrade em! Every couple of years!) – I now have access to the 500’ish games I own on steam, in my living room and I will never need to move my beast of a machine downstairs to do it.

Best new bit of new Hardware this year for me – 9/10 – not a 10 because I have to do something to setup Netflix etc instead of it being out of the box.

Amazing.

$50! I was going to spend near that much just to find a decent long(er) range bluetooth adapter to use Dualshock 4 controllers on my PC.
This does that, with at least up to 4 controllers, and so much more. I love it.

So then I bought more controllers.
And then I bought more games.
And then I bought an even bigger TV.

This things cost me a fortune now!

Pros:
Works great.
Native 1440p desktop streams into 1080p no problem.
Steam big picture operates well.
Proper bluetooth range.
Looks great.
Not that it affects anything but the packaging it comes in is really nice, the blueprints for the unit are on the underside of the sleeve, really neat.

Cons:
Steam big picture could be more tidy, and easier to navigate. This is certainly in the works.
Wide variety of possible controllers means setting them up can sometimes be wonky. Also being improved.

Hopes:
Better Dualshock 4 compatibility - It's got a touchpad


All in all, it does what I've been trying to do for years - Get PC gaming into my living room so I can play with non PC gaming friends, or just by myself on the couch.
I'm so happy with it I replaced my TV with a larger, new TV. I chose a 55' 1080p after much research.
I hope this takes off and developers create more games with couch PC gaming in mind.

Thanks Valve!

tl;dr: Excellent tool, but with quite a few caveats and only if used properly. 9/10

I'm enjoying my Steam Link a lot. I would go as far as saying that it's the best 54€ I've ever spent on hardware. Here's the breakdown:

+ Image quality is fluid and crisp when set to "Beautiful" quality setting on my 1080p TV
+ Network utilization is fair... peaks are about 35Mbps, so it doesn't require gigabit network
+ Very discreet design, fits and blends perfectly on my XBOX 360
+ Excellent for people with a fairly big house where the computer and the living room are very far from eachother
+ Recognizes all my peripherals with no problem (XBOX 360 wireless controllers, Logitech mouse+KB via Unify wireless receiver, Logitech G25 wheel via Virtual USB software)
+ It doubles down as a cinema and party entertainment system, since you can minimize Big Picture mode and basically have your desktop and computer audio on your TV
+ Due to the above point, it also runs perfectly non-Steam games as well (I tried successfully Skyforge, EVE Online, HoMM3, HoMM7, Star Trek: BOTF, Empire Earth 1+2)

- Wired connection is recommended, but I'd go as far as saying it's required for 1080p
- UAC will be one of your worst enemies. Whenever UAC pops up (for older games, or other things), SL will disconnect and you will need to go to your computer and manually click
- Unsophisticated support for audio (only supports stereo. No 5.1/7.1/HT support) 5.1 support is currently only available in the beta firmware
- No 4K support

So overall, it's a very solid piece of the puzzle if you need a way to move the entertainment from your mancave or home-office to your living room. However, this comes with the following disclaimers:
* For the sake of your sanity, use wired network. I repeat: DO NOT USE WIFI! If your house isn't wired by default, invest in a couple of Powerlink devices. I personally use and recommend D-Link Powerline DHP-600AV, as they are cheap, discreet and reliable.
* Make sure your computer is beefy enough. The Steam Link is NOT a gaming computer replacement. If your computer is barely able to handle the games you play (close to minimum specs), then using Steam Link will only make it worse. Keep in mind that the games still run on the computer, which also needs to handle the encoding on top of that.
* Make sure your expectations are down to earth: This is not a gaming PC replacement. This is not a home-theater replacement (5.1 support is barely in beta stage). This is in many ways just a HDMI cable replacement.

If any of the above warnings don't fit with you, pass. Otherwise, start throwing money at your display!

Updated Review!

tl;dr: Despite some limitations, this device does what I, personally, need it to - it lets me use my main PC with the TV, without needing to change any cables or move anything.

The good:
* This device has replaced my media center PC -almost- completely
* In tandem with steam controllers, works OK for browsing the internet, watching YouTube/Netflix, etc
* Firmware updates have solved a lot of issues with certain games not working and general stability
* On a wired network, it works well enough for games with precise timing requirements like Street Fighter - even through about 60 total feet of ethernet cable, a router, and a switch.
* Plays nicely with wired xbox controllers, steam controllers, joysticks, mice, keyboards, etc.
* Tiny box. I have considered using a command strip to attach it to the back of my TV.

The Bad:
* Video compression artifacts make movie watching not quite as good as using a BluRay player or directly connecting your PC to the TV. If you're watching Netflix, it matters less. Not always noticable.
* No 4k support or >60hz means it has a limited shelf life. Works fine with a 4k tv, though, but it scales to 1080p. Be prepared. No black bars, though.
* Does NOT work with a wireless Xbox One controller dongle. You have to plug it into your computer itself. This still works fine, but it's a bit annoying. Microsoft giveth, Microsoft taketh away.
* Steam occasionally crashes. This will leave the game running on the host computer while the stream (and input!) stop. Does this suck? Yes it does!
* The Wake-On-LAN feature only sort of works for me. I usually have to walk back to the computer to turn it on or restart Steam/login (like if the above happens). This seems like a hard limitation of the technology, but it isn't fun. Be aware.
* The slightest touch of any input device that's connected to the Steam Link will wake it up, which, with my TV, means the TV automatically switches to that input and Steam enters big picture on my computer. Super annoying.
* There's no "ON" button. The above is the ONLY way to get it to turn on. This is frustrating when you use an Xbox One controller, because it's connected to the host PC, not the Steam Link. I have to plug another controller in, get into the Steam Link, then unplug it. Also super annoying.


Now I know, I know, that's a big list of cons and relatively few pros. But those pros are REALLY NICE and the cons are mostly just moderately obnoxious and intermittent. Every time people come over and I'm able to put on some Towerfall or ScreenCheat or Rocket League or <insert game here>, or a YouTube video, or a movie, with relatively little hassle, I'm glad I bought it.

Worth every penny.

Notes:
* 24fps movies are going to judder on a 60 hz display. This is a fact of math, and not the fault of the device.
* Steam's built in controller keyboards are nice, but not super easy to get open when you need them in a pinch. If you decide to close big picture mode, get a couch keyboard.
* You can do whatever you want on your computer by just closing big picture mode. You can browse Reddit, you can do video editing, whatever. Would not recommend video editing.

--- Original Review Below ---

I think it's important to understand what the steam link is, and is not, before buying it.

It IS NOT:
* A Netflix box
* A multi-media streaming device
* A replacement for a media center PC (mostly - see my update below)
* A replacement for a gaming console

It IS:
* An awesome little device that will let you bring your big-rig PC into the living room, without actually moving it.

I have no idea if it works over WiFi, but I can state confidently that it runs games seamlessly through an ethernet cord. I have about 50ft of ethernet cord between my PC and the steam link, and there is no discernible lag. I can couch-coop in Rocket League with friends and play against people online, and suffer no technical disadvantage.

I still use the media center PC for what it's good for, and I still use the PS3 as a netflix box (there's no native Netflix app for Steam yet, so the controls aren't very good), but now I use the Steam Link to play games with, when friends come over.

One caveat; this won't stream above 60hz, 1080p, which puts kind of an expiration date on the product for relevancy... however, given the price tag, I think that's pretty reasonable. Not a device for everyone, but if you find yourself wishing your main PC was in the living room because the media center PC won't run Far Cry 4 or something, this is the ticket.

-- EDIT 1/3/2016 --
You CAN use it for more media PC type applications, if you close big picture mode on the host PC after initializing streaming. This can allow you to watch movies and browse the web normally, though I don't particularly recommend movie watching with this device - as some other reviews have noted, the sound quality is not the best, plus 24fps movies have judder when displayed at 60fps.

Thoughts on the keyboard - I've played with both the dual thumb stick QWERTY keyboard and the pie menu flower-keyboard, and I think both have the potential to be very fast when you get used to them. Still not as good as a real keyboard, but clearly miles and miles better than anything I've seen a console try. For games with heavy typing, I still recommend mouse and keyboard.