Transfer your Windows PC to a MBP M1 for gaming streaming.
Transfer your Windows PC to a MBP M1 for gaming streaming.
I recently set up a Windows NAS based on Anthony's Old PC Server guide to hold photos and videos. It’s located in another room, so I rely on Windows’ built-in RDP for transferring files—though the speed is around 12MBps, which might need improvement. I experimented by streaming videos from the host PC to MPV, but found it slower than expected. Now I’m considering gaming, but game files don’t work on MacOS, and streaming via RDP seems unreliable. My current setup uses a Google Nest Mesh system. I suspect LAN Wi-Fi could handle speeds over 12MBps, but I’m not sure about my network configuration.
You seem mixed up about what a NAS does. It's mainly for keeping files, not playing them directly. Trying to decode, re-encode, and re-decode videos isn't practical—it would be inefficient and lower quality compared to using the original files. For gaming, it's usually best to log in to Steam on both devices. Then on the target machine, it will show all games from any other logged-in Steam account, including servers, so you can stream them easily.
It varies by graphics card; NVIDIA offers a dedicated fix in GeForce Experience using an unofficial tool.
It seems to function effectively. The resolution is slightly inaccurate, but overall it's fine.
Consider Steam’s remote play feature as the top choice, since it functions with non-steam titles too. It’s more efficient, works across different hardware, and lets you stream your desktop if desired—adjust settings or use simple apps like Notepad or File Explorer. nVidia Shield Streaming is available, along with other alternatives; for gaming, Steam remains the best option. Ensure your GPU can handle encoding—ideally a basic NVIDIA card supporting NVENC (such as GTX 750 or newer) or comparable AMD models. Bonus tip: Install PLEX to leverage NVENC for real-time media conversion without straining the CPU, and access it via a web browser for added convenience.