How many of you game on the couch?
Posted by Organic_Fee_8502@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 56 comments
I'm considering building a pc and slapping it next to my living room tv because I can't wait for the steam deck. Anyone else?
KobraPlayzMC@reddit
steam machine* steamdeck has been out for a while
Logisticianistical@reddit
He might have been referencing stock levels
KobraPlayzMC@reddit
I would assume he's talking about the machine since he's comparing it to how the steam machine would work, but maybe.
Logisticianistical@reddit
Yea who knows.
I just know that a vast majority of mobile PC users have a dock for couch gaming on the tele, so Steamdeck still fits that HTPC slot just like the Machine will ( but obviously better suited ).
TopExplanation138@reddit
Steam deck can't really push 4k which is most tested nowadays, steam machine will beable to with FSR.
Severe-Orchid231@reddit
I am a PC couch gamer. Heavenly honestly.
d1versify@reddit
can you tell me what i need for this?
Severe-Orchid231@reddit
Personally I have my tower that my husband built for me plugged into a Samsung 85" QLED. You'll probably want a nice long usb cable that will reach from the tower to your couch for controller games. If you are a KBM player you'll probably want some sort of table you can move out of the way when not in use.
d1versify@reddit
so any TV will be fine? or there are specific TVs for gaming? yeah i meant for KBM if you had any special table or something
Severe-Orchid231@reddit
My tv does have a game mode which allows for a higher refresh rate vs a standard tv. I think it tops out at 120. I honestly don't do much KBM gaming so don't have a good setup for that. I use a little lap table but it's not sustainable for more than like an hour or 2. I'd think something like an adjustable height tv tray might be a good option.
psimwork@reddit
I game from the couch somewhat regularly. But I actually game FROM my office PC and stream to my Nvidia Shield via Sunshine (on the PC) to Moonlight (on the Shield).
It's pretty awesome, honestly. I played Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Spider-Man 2, Zero Dawn, and Forbidden West over the last year or so streaming from my desktop to the TV. It's nice because I don't have to pay to have two different machines, and it allows me to put whatever money I would have put into a living room PC into a higher-end office PC.
That said there's a couple of caveats:
If you're playing something that is particularly lag-sensitive (specifically something like CS2 or COD for multiplayer, or in my case, something like Pac-Man Championship DX+), in-home streaming is not the way to go. It just doesn't work very well (but don't take that it's super laggy from that - playing the games I listed above, I didn't find the lag noticeable at all. It was only when I tried to do Pac-Man and the input lag needs to basically zero that I had a problem).
Streaming MUST be on a hardwire connection. Ideally Ethernet, but I am able to get by just fine going from PC -> Ethernet -> MoCa -> Ethernet -> Nvidia Shield
For better or worse, the Shield seems to be about as-good-as-it-gets for this situation, and the Shield has a limitation in that it can only really do 4K/60/HDR. As-far-as-I-know it does not support VRR/G-Sync to a TV. I think that there is a Moonlight client for the Xbox Series S, however, which may provide support for 4K/120/VRR.
Don't confuse Steam In-Home Streaming with Sunshine/Moonlight. Steam's solution...well.. it just doesn't work very well. And IIRC it is entirely CPU encoded and uses a codec that isn't all that efficient. Sunshine/Moonlight uses GPU encoding, and the codec is VERY efficient (I think it uses HEVC, but can use AV1), so the experience is very close to playing on the desktop.
Witty-Emphasis4161@reddit
This is the exact setup im trying to for when i get my pc built and bought. Can i ask what you mean when you say that CoD or CS2 ahouldnt be streamed? You said that it wasnt because of lag but that is my number 1 conceen and cant imagine what else would make that shitty?
psimwork@reddit
It's possible I worded something wrong, but lag is the exact reason why that type of game doesn't work well.
aemich@reddit
I just stream to my TV using moonrise/sunshine
Al-Azraq@reddit
I have tried several times for a while and the monitor experience is just much better for me. First off, my TV might be too far from my couch for its size (49"). Secondly, my 1440p 144 hz looks great and can sit very close to it. Finally, while Moonlight + Sunshine is great, it comes with its own quirks.
Also, many distractions with people passing by in the living room destroying my immersion and interrupting my sessions constantly.
So unless I'm on my Steam Deck, I don't play at the couch.
mr_dfuse2@reddit
been doing that for a while with my laptop. just need to find a good solution for strategy games where i need a mouse and keyboard
lordhooha@reddit
105” 4k tv my recliner and I have it so it can be used in my game room on the 75” in there or in the living room. It acts like my Xbox, ps5 etc. I also have my marantz cinema receiver, definitive tech 9080’s svs sub and the rest of my surround sound in the walls. I love it
chibicascade2@reddit
I built a Linux PC running steam os just for my living room, it's a pink cube!
Currently not running as I had to borrow the ram for it while I wait on an RMA.
TheRtHonLaqueesha@reddit
Even on my HTPC I gamed on a office chair in front of the couch.
InvaderJ@reddit
Literally since forever. Rii X8 keyboard/trackpad combo, PS5 and Gamesir G7 Pro, Steam big picture. PC chilling on display on a shelf unit next to the TV. 100% worth it if you want to sit back with your games instead of lean forward.
Curun@reddit
Since at least 2015. Win boots into BPM.
Also have a drive that boots bazzite into bpm.
cloudy710@reddit
always been a pc couch gamer, i hate being up close to my monitor. took me years to even consider getting one. lmao.
SpreadingFires@reddit
I have my PC in my basement office like regular desk and computer chair set up, and I also ran a hdmi cable upstairs to my living room tv so I can play on the couch when I want to play something with a controller, or couch co-op
TopExplanation138@reddit
I'm thinking about doing that maybe, by steam deck i assume you mean the steam machine.
Notnowcmg@reddit
Yep, I have a gaming setup in my home office, nice recliner sofa with a 65 OLED Tv and both PS5 Pro and PC hooked up to the tv. I’m 99% a controller player so have the PC set up with playnite, but also have a lap desk I can grab if I ever need to use M+K.
TWA2K@reddit
Ive been pc gaming on a recliner. Computer chairs are garbage all feel stiff as boards
donut4ever21@reddit
Bazzite OS handheld edition to the rescue.
aragorn18@reddit
I've been doing it for years. My old back just isn't comfortable sitting at a desk for hours.
Psyko_sissy23@reddit
My old back isn't comfortable gaming on a PC while sitting on the couch. A good office chair is a must though.
shuckley_Jays@reddit
I have rhuemetoid arthritis and I need to start gaming more comfy. I am letting comp overwatch and rivals go for more chill games bc my hands get so swollen. Sucks but I'm still gonna game!
Psyko_sissy23@reddit
I feel you. You gotta do that you gotta do to keep it going.
aragorn18@reddit
Fair enough. My couch recliners into a zero gravity position. Super comfy.
iAmTheDanger991@reddit
Link? :D
aragorn18@reddit
My particular model isn't sold anymore. But, here's the brand. https://www.ashleyfurniture.com/c/furniture/living-room/sofas/?prefn1=facetLightFeatures&prefv1=Zero%20Gravity
DreadJak@reddit
I do. I play a lot of single player controller stuff, natural fit for the couch. I haven't been sweaty enough to play competitive mouse + keyboard stuff in awhile. Just have my PC hooked up between my desk and the TV receiver to switch as needed
duicide@reddit
that's exactly me.. I have a decent PC sitting in my "home office room", but as I already have spent 8 hours there per day I really like to just settle on the couch and play something unwinding on my gaming laptop connected to our OLED TV
Bumpinbluntz@reddit
The only time I'm on the couch is when I'm using my switch, other than that I'm at my desk
ucwepn@reddit
Yeah for a few years now I even raided mythic in wow every week haha. I had k63 and lapboard with a few different mice. It’s very comfortable and still capable either way kb&m or controller. TCL c855 65”
shuckley_Jays@reddit
I wish I could but my gf plays tik toks so loudly
Soggy-Airline@reddit
Depends on the game. It's only PvE games that I'll use the couch, especially for racing games or those AAA single-player games.
Playing NFS: Heat on my 65-inch TV is great! I just run an HDMI cable from my PC room to the living room.
shuckley_Jays@reddit
To me, nfs heat is so underrated. The vibe is so cozy, the cars are so cool
Roonil_-_Wazlib@reddit
The only games I still sit at my desk and play are online FPS ones. Evening else gets streamed either to the TV or handheld
shift1186@reddit
Couch gamer here. Wireless mouse and keyboard along with both Xbox and 8bitdo. 74in 4k OLED TV (running in 1440p) Ryzen 7700x paired with 7900xt. Running Nobara Linux.
MultiMarcus@reddit
I don’t, but basically all of the people I know who’ve tested it are satisfied with it if they are a traditional console gamer with the big issue just being the user experience being kind of bad. If you are comfortable with it, I’d probably go for something like bazzite and then use something like the upcoming framework keyboard and combining it with the steam controller which is supposed to be launching ahead of the steam machine is the rumour.
For hardware, obviously if you’re doing Linux, the recommendation is AMD. A 9070 XT with something like a 7800x3D or 9800x3D he’s going to be a great system for gaming likely well into the next generation. Maybe only having issues with path tracing if that starts becoming the norm.
WATAMURA@reddit
I actually mostly game from a recliner, which would be a similar setup as a couch.
The computer desk is next to and on the same wall as the 55" TV. So I can go back and forth whenever I want.
I have two sets of KBM and Controller, wired at the desk and wireless at the coffee table. Both the TV and display are plugged into the GPU of the PC.
I had to construct my own custom lap desk, since most lap desks are for laptops or couches. Just a thin 36"x12" board with a 36"x12" mouse pad attached to the top, that goes from one arm west to the other.
I don't just game from this set up... I use the computer and also watch streaming from the browser. It much easer to navigate with KBM than the remote using their crappy apps.
amchaudhry@reddit
Me...I upgraded from xbox series S on a 60hz 55 inch LCD to a PC connected to a 75 inch 165hz miniLED display. Has a 9070XT/Ryzen 7 9700X and can pump out fantastic 1440 and great 4K...its worth it. I loaded it up with emulators and there is nothing more awesome than playing BOTW with cheats enabled in better quality than the original.
larryokiscout@reddit
My wife and I both do, side by side on 55” 4k tvs. My desktop is next to the couch with an HDMI strung across to the tv so I can use wired keyboard and mouse. Her with wireless keyboard and mouse/controller to her laptop under the tv. Even if we don’t play the same games, we find that being in the same space together is awesome.
Itsjustmagiks@reddit
my primary way of playing, only downside is booting up and navigating Win11 via wireless kb/m and refraining from playing games that do better with kb/m
ConcentrateLucky8630@reddit
That's my new normal. I have my 34inch widescreen and 55inch u8n plugged into the 5090. When I'm tired the couch is 10xs better than even my high end gaming/ office chair
Ok-Strawberry277@reddit
I game in bed brother, wireless keyboard and mouse with desktop hooked up to the tv
captainstormy@reddit
I have two gaming machines. One in my home office running Fedora Linux and the other running Bazzite Linux hooked to my TV in the living room.
I love PC gaming from my recliner. After 8+ hours at work on a PC (at the same desk via a KVM to the work laptop) I don't wanna game on the regular PC. I do game on it sometimes during the weekend but honestly I haven't games on it much since I built the Bazzite machine. That 9700X3D and 7900XTX are feeling pretty lonely.
EmploymentNegative59@reddit
I do but have my monitor on a portable table. It’s when my gaming room is occupied.
More comfortable than my office chair, for sure.
parkour267@reddit
That's what my Nintendo switch is for
PeeB4uGoToBed@reddit
I do, got my ultrawide monitor on my coffee table and the tv on the wall behind it. I get comfortability on the couch and the stereo system for pc games
Uhmattbravo@reddit
5900x with a 4090 through a 4k 120hz 65" TV. Unfortunately, with my wife using the TV in the living room, I mostly end up using my bedside setup instead.
Crytaz@reddit
My trade off is considering getting a recliner for pc gaming, seems heavenly compared to “gaming chairs” or even office chairs