Steam Link

Steam Link

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Play Steam Link while someone is using PC
By dravenar
Tutorial for use Steam Link (playing on TV) while someone is using PC on other tasks.
   
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Requirements
This is my PC:

  • Intel Core i5 6600 (Intel® HD Graphics 530)
  • MSI Z170A gaming pro carbon (HDMI output)
  • Nvidia GTX 970 (DVI output)
  • 16Gb RAM
  • Windows 10

If you are planning to play Steam Games while someone is using at the same time the PC, make sure that you have a powerful one.
Enable Integrated Graphic Card
First of all, on BIOS, you have to enable internal graphic adapter and assign, for example, 64mb of video (for simple tasks like browsing is enough). On my BIOS, the path is: Settings > Advanced > Integrated Graphic Configuration.





Before all of this, I was using DVI output of the GTX970 for the display. To get this work, I have to use the HDMI output too. Both outputs must be connected (through cable) to the display (like you have two monitors). I can change between them with “Input” button in the screen. I’ve noticed that when both outputs are connected, HDMI output is displayed by default at boot (right part of the screen), so I have to change to DVI manually.
Create a new user
The next step: create a new user in window 10 (administrator for example). Configuration > Accounts. If you don’t know how, check google or this tutorial[www.howtogeek.com]

Open this account, and in task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, Startup tab) and enable Steam to load at boot.
Aster multiseat
The last requirement, you have to use a multiseat software, which is capable to use multiple Windows users at the same time with one pc. I have use Aster (link[www.ibik.ru]).

It seems that Aster don’t get on well with Geforce Experience and 3D Vision, so I have uninstall them. I don’t know is this work with them installed by the way.

When we run aster, your screen should be similar to mine. In Terminal1 we have to put the first/main user (where someone is going to use the computer while we are playing). In Terminal2, the user we have created, that would run Steam. Probably a password in both cases would be necessary.


In the next tab, we have to assign resources to every user. The screen 1.1 and 2.2 represents HDMI and DVI output. As you can see in the screenshot, both screen is blue, that is because both cables from both outputs are connected to the screen at the same time. If any of them is grey, then is not connected.

In the Inventory (left side), you have to pick resources, and drag & drop in every terminal. As you see, in Terminal1, there is a screen, keyboard and mouse and speakers. The Terminal2 is the same, except it has no keyboard (I don’t have any), but has a different mouse. It would be useful to have a keyboard-mouse to control the second terminal (I have ordered mine hehehe).


If you left the mouse pointer over first screen, you see what graphic card is assigned to every user. In this case, I want the Intel 530 for browsing, watch video or a film.


And the second terminal would use GTX970, because Steam will run in background in the second user (Gamer in my case).


Back in General Settings tab, we pick in Enable ASTER and reboot PC.


When the reboot is complete, in HDMI would be Doctor user running in foreground, and in DVI would be Gamer user in background. Using Input button in your monitor we can control background user when the second mouse.

If you turn on steam link, it will detect the steam in background session ready to cast.
13 Comments
AlexMacCity Dec 28, 2023 @ 6:54am 
Yeah like shouldnt I be able to like win key + tab and just run the window in the background? It doesnt work, but thats how that should work, but doesnt. The only other way i can i think is SSH
brahma1982 Oct 4, 2023 @ 1:52am 
hi, would the procedure be the same with windows 11?
ancalimon Feb 10, 2022 @ 10:59am 
I could do similar on my Amiga, two decades ago. Could watch a movie on my tv connected to Amigas video output port and play a game on my Amiga monitor connected to native AGA graphics output port and use AmigaOS and browse internet and use IRC client to chat on the VGA monitor connected to the graphics card. I also could run a video editor called Movieshop on another tv but that slowed things down.
Ouinx2 Jun 8, 2020 @ 10:22am 
Steam link isnt discontinued. The hardware is but not the software: it's just implemented on TV, android devices like shield, ios etc.
And the ASTER solution is great. You have to configure the first time but then it's so simply to enable as a one button push. I'm able to play on PC non-steam games or do other stuffs while my child plays with my Steam account on TV. Great.
JackW Jun 6, 2020 @ 9:43pm 
Wow, this looks like a great amount of effort simply to be able to do something as rudimentary as use your PC's desktop #1 while steamlink runs on (virtual) desktop #2.
Has anyone got a more straight-foward, painless solution? Perhaps this is one reason why SteamLink was discontinued, it lacked the bells and whistles to be a competitor.
SpeedyDarklight Jan 9, 2018 @ 2:13pm 
Well if that's the case what settings would you need to do for that kind of setup?
xcsgamer Jan 3, 2018 @ 11:54am 
Wrong you an also with only 1 graphic card if it has enogh power that 2 users can play or 1 play and 1 work at pc. For example if you TFT Display / Monitor has more inputs like hdmi, dvi, dp, vga you can connect as many times to it as the graphic card has outputs like hdmi 2 tft, dvi 2 tft , dp to tft , vga 2 tft and you can use 4 users at same pc with it 1 at tft 3 steam links if more graphic cards up to 12 users with aster or connect more monitors if want real multi users local at the pc , i use 4 steam links to gtx 1080 .
dravenar  [author] Dec 30, 2017 @ 11:37am 
You need two graphic cards (onboard or not), one to use the game and another one to use the PC
SpeedyDarklight Dec 29, 2017 @ 9:29pm 
What if you don't have an onboard graphics card for your motherboard?