To the editorial board of the portal site the test got a miniature set-top box from the company NVIDIA - SHIELD TV is an advanced media player for gamers that allows you to play and stream movies, as well as run games both through streaming and on your own hardware. But first things first.
Specifications:
- Unit size: 98 x 159 x 26mm
- Weight: 250 grams
- Graphics: NVIDIA Tegra X1 based on Maxwell 1GHz architecture with processors ARM Cortex A57 (4 cores) and ARM Cortex A53 (4 cores), 2.0 GHz
- Memory: 3 GB
- Storage for programs: 16 GB
- Connection: Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, 2x2 MIMO Bluetooth 4.1 LE
- Ports: USB-A 3.0 (2 pcs), Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0b HDCP 2.2 CEC
- Operating room google system Android TV (Android 7.0) with Google Cast support
- Sound formats: AAC, WMAPro, AMR, DTS, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, WAV, WMA
- Video formats: ASF, AVI, MPEG-4, VC-1, VP8, VP9, WMV9, XviD, DivX, H.263, H.264, H.265, M2TS, MKV, MOV, MPEG-2
- Warranty: 1 year
NVIDIA SHIELD TV comes in two configurations, the main differences of which are in size, amount of built-in memory for storing information and, accordingly, price. In the PRO version, users have access to 500 GB, while the standard models are equipped with 16 GB. At the same time, 5 GB are reserved for the operating system. Additionally, the PRO version has a Micro USB 2.0 port for connecting to a computer, an infrared sensor and a Micro SDXC slot.
NVIDIA recently announced new variant a set of the standard version, without a gamepad, which will cost significantly less (13,500 rubles versus 18,000 rubles for the standard version with a joystick).
We also received the standard version, which included a 16 GB version of the console, a remote control, a SHIELD game controller, a cable for charging the controller and a wire with an external power supply that is built into the plug. The plug itself is composite and allows you to rearrange the nozzles - depending on which sockets you use (two nozzles are included in the kit).
It is important to note that HDMI is not included in the kit, so in order to display 4K HDR and 60FPS on a new UltraHD panel, you will need to purchase an HDMI 2.0 cable.
The console is neatly packed in a tight, stylish box that reliably protects the contents from external influences.
The new NVIDIA SHIELD TV is very compact. If we compare this version of the device with the 2015 model, then it has become not only smaller, but also two and a half times lighter. The gadget is about the size of a screen. Nintendo switch, but slightly thicker than him. The top of the case is decorated with a three-dimensional relief that resembles the letter N and in front during operation glows green.
All connectors - HDMI, power, 1GB Ethernet LAN and two USB 3.0 - are located on the back, which is very convenient when it comes to connecting the power cable. wired internet, HDMI and memory cards, and it's completely inconvenient when you want to charge a gamepad or connect a keyboard and mouse.
As noted above, there are only two USB slots, which is clearly not enough for comfortable use of the console, especially considering that the free internal memory of the base model is only 11 GB, and some games and applications require a keyboard mouse and refuse to work with a gamepad and SHIELD remote control ... All connectors are located very compactly, so if you use non-standard flash drives, they may not fit in width with other wires.
The joystick design looks funny and unusual - due to the use of cyberpunk-style triangular elements. Despite the ruggedness, the controller lies well in the hands and resembles an Xbox One controller, only with the arrangement of the sticks like that of the PlayStation.
The joystick's unusual features include a built-in microphone for voice commands and a touch-sensitive volume bar between the sticks.
Slightly below the buttons "Back", "Play / Pause" and "Return to the main menu of the console" are densely located. They must be pressed gently, as there is a great chance of missing, especially if you use your thumb.
The remote control also has a touch-sensitive strip and microphone, which turns off to save power when not in hand.
As for the gamepad, the internal battery lasts for a long time. In a month of using NVIDIA SHIELD TV, we charged the joystick only once.
When you start the device, you are greeted by a simple Android menu TV based on the Android 7.0 operating system. Quick setup, which includes creating a profile and choosing an avatar, implies connecting the main Gmail mail, but for full use NVIDIA SHIELD TV also needs to link the console to an NVIDIA account.
The design of the main menu is very clear - the operating system sorts the content in three lines: New, Applications, Games. Additionally, at the very bottom there is a line with small icons for settings, monitoring connected controllers and turning off the device. And at the very top of the screen there is a button for calling a voice search, activating the keyboard and time.
It should be noted that for quick access to voice search you can simply press the center button on your controller or remote control. Speech recognition is at a high level, so there are no problems with search.
Detailed settings slide out from the right side of the screen in the manner of the Xbox One and PS4 quick menu panels and allow you to display an image of any quality level, check the network status, connect to accounts, and much more.
The menu is very fast and fluid - even in 4K resolution. Launching applications and navigating through tabs occurs either instantly, or almost instantly - depending on the application.
The only thing that saddened us was the absence of a gift card activation item in the store menu (because of this, you have to use a smartphone), as well as a pixelated standard background and the inability to replace it. You can choose from three options for the screensaver, but the picture in the main menu cannot be changed - you will see a low quality image that shines with pixels and compression artifacts - especially noticeable on UltraHD displays. Hopefully NVIDIA will change this in the next updates.
And there will definitely be updates. After unpacking and connecting to the network, the console prompts you to go to new version firmware. Also patches for controller and remote are available. The company has already announced the integration Google technology An assistant that allows you to control your smart home through voice commands using microphones built into the remote control and gamepad, as well as special sensors that can be purchased separately. The technology is not available at this time. NVIDIA promises to reveal more details in the future.
SHIELD TV accepts all known video codecs, so it copes seamlessly with playing movies from a flash drive or through the cloud in 4K HDR format at 60 FPS. It no longer plays 8K videos.
The built-in Android and Plex players either take a long time to load videos or may freeze for a moment when playing 4K HDR content at 60 FPS (similar videos at 30 FPS run smoothly, but also take a long time to load in PLEX). Therefore, it is highly recommended to immediately download VLC Player from the Google store built into the console menu. This player loads instantly, has a more user-friendly menu and smoothly displays heavy videos at 60 FPS.
As for the amateurs high-quality sound, then NVIDIA does not have licenses for decoding multichannel Dolby, so you will have to use an external receiver or DAC.
For those who do not want to strain, the SHIELD TV menu contains NETFLIX and Amazon Video applications, and from the Google store you can download ShowJet, ivi and other services for streaming movies and TV series, including those with Russian soundtracks.
Funny observation: YouTube channels with supposedly HDR / Dolby Vision content actually don't have real HDR / Dolby Vision - even despite the high brightness and powerful contrast - and even if you download the original files with a special 4K Downloader program. This is evidenced by the absence of a pop-up window with the inscription HDR / Dolby Vision when the file is included.
At the same time, recordings with real HDR can be found on the gaming site GamerSyde, which from time to time posts them in its news.
First of all, we tried NETFLIX, which has a simple interface and quick registration with a free first month of use. The main advantage of the service is a huge library of excellent quality. There is not only UltraHD movies and TV shows, but also in some cases, HDR support. This way you get a crystal clear picture with bright light where needed and more detail in dark scenes.
Unfortunately, in the service menu there is still no option to display only 4K HDR content - you have to search for lists on the Internet.
The connection is not always stable. We did not find the hang-ups typical of cheap TV boxes, but sometimes the signal quality drops temporarily and details are lost. Obviously, the whole point is not in the console, but in the heavy weight of 4K files that are streamed from Western servers and which even the fastest Internet cannot handle. Fortunately, this rarely happens.
It is important to note that NETFLIX offers Russian users only subtitles in Russian, but sometimes they don't even exist (there are, for example, Finnish ones). Voice acting we never found it in Russian. Moreover, there is no option in the menu to change the subtitle color from white to gray. Because of this, when HDR is on, the subtitles shine too brightly at you from the screen, which is not very pleasant when watching dark scenes with the lights off. With the lamp on, there are no such problems.
We tested the performance against the performance of LG's premium OLED 55C6V TVs and found that both SHIELD TV and LG's built-in hardware do an excellent job of handling 4K HDR 60 FPS video. At the same time, LG can display video in the premium dynamic range Dolby Vision, while NVIDIA SHIELD TV displays the same video, but only in a simpler HDR.
We also checked less dear samsung MU6470 - its filling was also enough to display content in 4K HDR at 60 FPS without any problems.
As a result, we came to the conclusion that streaming and playing videos on SHIELD TV, provided that you have an advanced TV with Smart TV functions, does not make any sense. The TV itself does an excellent job with these functions (although SHIELD TV has many times more convenient menus).
The only exception can be video in not the most popular formats, which the TV may not support. In this case, SHIELD TV with its ability to “have” everything comes in handy. But this is a rather rare case that only applies to local playback and does not apply to services like NETFLIX.
On the other hand, some screens, such as 4K monitors (for example, the Viewsonic XG2700-4K, which we tested a year ago), do not have the filling necessary for independent video playback. It is obvious that it is for users of the kind that relatively budget options and SHIELD TV was created.
Games are also an important feature of the console. NVIDIA SHIELD TV works with Android games from the Google Store, and - interestingly enough - supports game streaming from a PC and offers the GeForce Now streaming service. The latter is worth mentioning separately, but a little later.
We tested the capabilities of the system using the 3DMark program available in the Google store built into the console menu.
The Sling Shot Extreme Unlimited test gave 4059 points (maximum - 4120 points) and the rating “ Good news! This is one of the most powerful devices and everything works fine. "
The Ice Storm Extreme test gave 14160 points (maximum reached) and the rating “Good news! It is one of the most powerful devices and everything works fine. ”
The console's stand-alone graphics rating in this test was 13663 points (maximum reached) with 59.9 and 58.9 FPS in two graphic tests... Physics processing rating - 16223 points with an indicator of 51.5 FPS in physics test.
In a separate table of records, NVIDIA SHIELD TV is in second place, behind only a new one iPad Pro 2017 in 12.9-inch version.
Potentially, the system is quite interesting as a separate console, since it was created on the basis of latest version GPU NVIDIA Tegra - X1. This GPU is the heart of the Nintendo Switch system. Moreover, the lack of a portable mode - SHIELD TV must be constantly connected to the power supply to function - allows the set-top box to work at maximum frequencies at any time, which simplifies optimization and, in theory, allows you to achieve a better picture.
Unfortunately, major publishers don't release their own big games on it - most of the products in the store are dedicated Android ports created by NVIDIA's in-house Lightspeed Studios.
The store has Portal, Half-Life 2 and two episodes for it, Resident Evil 5, Super Meat Boy, Doom 3: BFG, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Tomb Raider 2013, Q.U.B.E., The Witness and other projects.
We tried to play The witness, a concept adventure from Jonathan Blow, but ran into trouble launching the game. When enabled, the port takes a long time to load, and then reports that it was not possible to check the license. When you try to repeat or close the application, the console freezes and does not allow you to go to the main menu. Due to SHIELD's lack of a physical on / off button on the console body and the only way to turn off the system is to press the virtual button in the main menu of the system, then we had to unplug the power cable from the outlet ... After rebooting and checking the connection to the network and Google / NVIDIA accounts, we tried again and again faced the same problem ...
Fortunately, neatly carried over Doom 3: BFG Edition works great on NVIDIA SHIELD TV. We did not find any technical jambs. The game is rendered at 1080p at 60 frames per second, so it looks crisp and offers fast and responsive gamepad controls. Moreover, in this version, you can flashlight and shoot at the same time, downloads are very fast and there is no terrible PC version soap filter on SHIELD.
But we were disappointed with the very noticeable texture compression artifacts. Some objects are extremely sharp, while others look very “pixelated” - clearly worse than in the PC version.
Obviously, the problem is not at all in the power of the console, which is more than enough to handle graphics of the Doom 3 level, but in the need to cut the weight of the files so that the game takes up as little space as possible on the 11 GB of the device's internal memory. Doom 3: BFG Edition weighs roughly 2GB on SHIELD versus 11GB on PC and 7GB on PS3 / Xbox 360. The incredibly pixelated loading screens support this theory.
As for publicly available Android applications, the storefront, as it turned out, does not adapt to the console, so we are offered to download games that cannot be played without touch screen... Fortunately, projects that work with the pad are marked with special tag... You cannot play World of Tanks: Blitz on NVIDIA SHIELD TV. This is sad.
Works great on SHIELD TV on a gamepad at maximum graphics settings, delighting with an excellent frame rate and the clearest picture of all projects we tested.
Nevertheless, the mobile origin still makes itself felt - due to the weak elaboration of some details, such as car windows, small objects and characters' hands. It was not conspicuous on the smartphone screen, but is clearly visible on the 55-inch OLED panel.
Aim control with the right trigger works with a slight delay, which is compensated for by moving the character using the left trigger. This allows you to aim more accurately. As a result, you can quickly get used to playing on TV and, after 10 minutes of playing, give your enemies headshots.
But Modern combat 5: Blackout for some reason, it does not allow you to change the definition settings, which are set to 80% by default, which is why the image is full of pixels. You can raise the frame rate up to 60 frames per second, but the pad controls are very crooked. As a result, we turned off the game at the second level.
It looks good from EA and runs smoothly. But the simple, albeit clean environment is replete with huge ladders, and in the options we did not find the settings for increasing the resolution.
It is worth noting that all three games have problems with adapting the menu to the gamepad, since they were created for touch screens of smartphones and tablets.
The best impressions of playing on TV in Android applications were left by Telltale Games projects, which look like real kings against the background of a mobile trash can and immediately absorb into history, delighting with interesting characters and cinematic production.
Works great on SHIELD and is perfectly adapted to the controller. At the same time, the game looks nice - not only due to good clarity, but also great job with style.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of NVIDIA SHIELD TV is still the streaming of games from a computer and specifically the GeForce Now service. The first works provided that you are using an NVIDIA graphics card. To get the best picture quality with 4K and HDR, you need a top card like a GTX 1080 or 1080 Ti and GeForce Experience. You can connect SHIELD TV to your computer either by air or by wire. The second option is preferable, but in general, Wi-Fi at 5 GHz is also suitable.
It is only natural that SHIELD TV allows you to play your games even when you are far from your computer - and this is the main reason for streaming on SHIELD TV in our opinion. In this case, the main thing is to leave your PC on.
For those who do not own a powerful PC or do not have a computer at home, NVIDIA has created a special service - GeForce Now. The pre-installed app allows you to stream computer games at maximum detail settings. Graphics are processed on NVIDIA servers and sent to SHIELD TV over the Internet. The picture can be of any resolution - depending on the game itself. Some projects do not support resolutions higher than 1080p. Others support it. You can change the graphics level manually in the options if available.
It's important to note that most games have an HD 1080p icon, but that doesn't mean you will be limited to that resolution. Some projects with this tag are only disorienting - and in fact, these games can go to more high definition... For example 1600p in Ultra street fighter iv... However, to be honest, we did not notice any special difference in picture clarity between 1080p and 1600p.
The subscription for the first month is free. Then they will ask you 650 rubles a month. For a subscription, you will get free access to a large number of projects, such as Tomb Raider 2013, the re-release of the original BioShock, The Witcher 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Saints Row IV, Borderlands, Batman: Arkham City, Spec Ops: The Line, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and the aforementioned Ultra Street Fighter IV.
And for some games, like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year and Batman: Arkham Knight, you will have to pay separately. Price paid games differs from project to project. Simple arcades like Snake Pass or Lumini can be bought for 250 - 450 rubles. Large projects cost from 900 to 2000 rubles. The most expensive games of the service at the moment are The Surge and No Man’s Sky, for which they ask for 2,000 rubles. Full version The Witcher 3 costs 1,500 rubles.
All paid games come with a Steam download code. Except for The Witcher 3. If you buy it from GeForce Now, you will receive a GOG version key. Unfortunately, the versions are not related in any way. You won't be able to use your saves from Steam or transfer saves from GeForce Now to it.
Ubisoft games and uPlay service integration are coming soon to GeForce Now.
We have tested several projects. The first was Epic Games' MOBA with incredible beautiful graphics, which runs on the latest version of the Unreal Engine 4. The game supports a gamepad, but only after you complete registration, which can be done by connecting a keyboard to the console. The gameplay is superbly optimized for the pad.
We couldn't find the graphics settings, but it looks like the game in the version for the GeForce Now streaming service runs at maximum detail and pleases with great textures, luxurious character models and beautiful lighting.
However, the quality of the video stream is far from perfect - you can clearly see compression artifacts - especially in dark silhouettes. And there is a slight lag.
The lag is felt and Ultra Street Fighter IV. Characters perform actions with a slight delay of about half a second. At the same time, the picture in this game looks much cleaner. Compression artifacts are not visible, although the image looks a little “soft” relative to games that are rendered on the console itself. At the same time, at maximum graphics settings, the game runs at 298 frames per second.
Ultra Street Fighter IV also lets you discover the inside of the GeForce Now server. As it turned out, this is a 64-bit system on Windows 8 Datacenter Edition with a processor Intel Xeon CPU E5-2697 v4 @ 2.30 GHz with 15251 Mb of memory and NVIDIA Tesla P40 video card. The price of the latter is 400,000 rubles ...
We also tested Tomb raider 2013, which in GeForce Now produces a stable 60 frames per second at maximum graphics settings in 1080p resolution. It is impossible to raise the resolution higher. If you turn off vertical sync, then the NVIDIA server will process the game at an average speed of 107 frames per second, walking in the range of 76 - 134 FPS.
The picture looks very clear and pleases with high details. The realistically flowing hair of the main character looks especially beautiful.
In this game, the “softness” of the video stream is almost invisible, the artifacts are visible only if you take a good look at the dark parts of the picture, and there is no delay in control at all.
It is important to note that for the entire time of using the service, there has never been a technical problems or mistakes. NVIDIA servers are stable and games are always smooth.
After a month of heavy use, NVIDIA SHIELD TV leaves a mixed impression. On the one hand, this is a high-quality, sophisticated device with support for 4K HDR 60 FPS, which is ahead of all other similar solutions on the market in terms of performance and playback capabilities of various video formats. different tasks and is perfect as set-top box for those who do not have a screen with Smart TV functions.
On the other hand, most modern UltraHD panels already have the ability to play 4K HDR 60 FPS content and have built-in video streaming services like NETFLIX.
From the point of view of games - the library of Android applications is severely limited on SHIELD TV by the lack of a touch screen, most projects from smartphones are still rubbish, and looking for pearls that are optimized for a gamepad is a rather thankless task. Although for the same games from Telltale Games, the device is great. There are still too few ports from NVIDIA for large projects, and there are no interesting exclusives at all.
The main trump card of the device, as we see it, remains the streaming of games from the PC and the GeForce Now service, which works perfectly, which can be an excellent solution for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on buying a new computer or want to have access to games from their PC in anywhere in the world, subject to the availability of a high-quality Internet channel.
And, of course, it will be very curious to see the potential of the gadget to become the center of a smart home when NVIDIA launches the system together with Google assistant and SmartThings Hub.
Advantages
Very high performance
Nicely small form factor
Convenient operation thanks to Android TV
Comprehensive software functions
Remote control and controller included
Flaws
Relatively high energy consumption
There is no slot for microSD memory cards
Too expensive to be used solely for streaming
Nvidia Shield test results (2017)
- Price-quality ratio
The average - Place in the overall rating
1 of 11
- Value for money: 53
- Equipment (20%): 100
- Management (35%): 97.9
- Streaming (40%): 99.7
- Power Consumption (5%): 38.8
Editorial grade
User rating
You have already rated
In ours, we evaluate Shield TV primarily as a media player, leaving out of the brackets many (primarily gaming) functionalities of the NVIDIA device.
Nevertheless, to get a complete impression of the device, we consider them separately within the framework of this material.
But even as a purely streaming device, this media player climbs to the top spot with 96 points out of 100 possible and keeps the silver medalist, Amazon Fire TV, at a decent distance.
In terms of equipment and streaming features, Shield TV sets new records in their respective disciplines. In particular, this box boasts two USB ports, supports all kinds of external modern media, offers users a gigabit LAN port, ac WLAN module and Bluetooth, and also provides access to the comprehensive Google Play Store for the Android TV platform. ...
However, compared to the predecessor model, here you will miss a slot for memory cards of the microSD standard, with which it was possible to inexpensively expand the small size of the internal memory, which is only 16 GB. However, you can still use USB drives and external hard drives by connecting them via the USB ports.
The basis of the code for the operating system is Android 7.x, with which the player is up to date. Onboard there are apps for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Watchever, Maxdome, YouTube, Sky Snap, as well as all relevant media libraries. Thanks to the presence HDMI port 2.0, as well as the capabilities of the system on the Tegra X1 chip, Shield TV is capable of transmitting video in 4K resolution at a rate of 60 frames per second - there is nothing better at the moment. In addition to the console and cables, the package includes a remote control and a superbly made controller.
Alternatively, you can control the device using the native smartphone app. In terms of power consumption, the player from NVIDIA is significantly inferior to competitors in relative comparison, but upon closer examination, the difference between 5.6 W (Shield TV) and 2.0 W (Apple TV 4) in absolute terms turns out to be small.
NVIDIA Shield TV: Best Streaming Client We Tested
What the new Shield is capable of as a gaming console
When it comes to streaming, the Shield is the benchmark, but as a gaming machine, Android TV devices play a very minor role in the market. However, NVIDIA offers users numerous features here that would be of interest to both casual and hardcore gamers.
Users usually start by visiting the Play Store. It has several interesting games that are displayed on this console just flawlessly. These include gameplay gems like Telltale's action-adventure The Walking Dead, the shooter Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and the puzzle game The Witness. The games are based on Android, so you only need one Google account.
GeForce Now goes one step further by providing gamers with a server park that takes care of all the "miscalculations" of PC games and sends the results over the Internet to Shield TV. However, this service will cost players 649 rubles per month. In turn, you will get access to some of the games that are included in the "subscription". At the time of the test, there were, for example, "Deus Ex: Human Revolution", "Just Cause 2", "Hitman: Absolution" and "Tomb Raider". In addition, there are also games that can be purchased separately, but they usually contain Steam key for local gaming.
Anyone who already owns a gaming PC can also use NVIDIA Game Stream. With this feature, you can stream any games over your home network from your PC to Shield TV. However, a prerequisite for this process is the availability of a suitable graphic GeForce cards and program GeForce software Experience. The games can be controlled either with the supplied controller, or through the keyboard and mouse connected to the Shield.
Focus on games: those who play little don't need Shield TV either Looking Ahead: NVIDIA Plans Shield
NVIDIA said something about the future of the Shield console at CES in January this year. In particular, someday this device should become a kind of control center for home networks. To this end, the manufacturer will introduce so-called spot extensions on the market during the year. These modules can be installed anywhere in the apartment or in the house, they must wirelessly connect to the Shield and thus help control the elements of the smart home system, as well as, for example, change the music or its volume.
The software is based on Google Assistant, a voice control system for Android devices. We cannot now check the validity of such statements, since we have not been able to test this function as part of this test. As soon as the spots become available, we will provide you with an account of our impressions on this topic.
On the "playful" side, in the future, too, something will be done. For example, the partnership between NVIDIA and Ubisoft will soon become even closer. The one who owns Uplay account, An Origin-like Ubisoft, will be able to import their library of games and stream through GeForce Now at no additional cost. These games include Watch Dogs 2, Far cry Primal ”and even the just released“ For Honor ”. This service should start within the next few weeks.
Watch_Dogs 2: Coming Soon to Play on Nvidia Shield TV Alternative options
Cheaper: Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD (2nd generation)
The classic among streaming media players is produced by Amazon. comes in two versions, can play 4K content at 30 frames per second and costs about 5500 rubles. It is quite clear: from a gaming point of view, the device from Amazon is not an alternative, because the manufacturer relies on its own shell without direct access to the Play Store. But it fulfills almost all the wishes that you can present to streaming client- and this at an affordable price.
Smarter: Apple TV 4
Another classic: the fourth generation is the perfect device to reproduce everything that has been made in the Apple universe. The device works excellently with all hardware for iOS, for example, iPhone or iPad, has a clear and beautifully designed shell, and it is equipped excellently. Still, starting at around RUB 9,500, the Apple TV 4 is a relatively expensive player.
| TEST RESULTS | ||
Facilities (20%) |
||
Management (35%) |
||
Streaming (40%) |
||
Power Consumption (5%) |
||
| CONCLUSION The new Shield TV console has proven itself to be an excellent and high-performance media player in the test. Android based TV with a pronounced game functionality, which at the time of testing is easily ahead of all competitors. However, there are not so many real innovations compared to the version released in 2015, so for those who already own the previous model, it is not necessary to buy the updated Shield TV model. | 2 connectors | |
| Fat 32 support | Yes | |
| NTFS support | Yes | |
| USB 3.0 | Yes | |
| Memory card slot | - | |
| LAN | 1.000 Mbps | |
| WLAN | Yes | |
| WLAN (ac) | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| HDMI | Yes | |
| Audio Output: Coaxial | - | |
| Audio Output: Optical | - | |
| Play Store Support (Google TV) | Yes | |
| Support App Store | - | |
| Support third-party store ON | - | |
| Modular application system | Yes | |
| Game availability | Yes | |
| Browser | - | |
| Support Adobe flash browser | - | |
| Amazon Prime | - | |
| Netflix | Yes | |
| Watchever | Yes | |
| Youtube | Yes | |
| Maxdome | Yes | |
| Sky snap | Yes | |
| iTunes | - | |
| Media Library: ARD | Yes | |
| Media library: ZDF | Yes | |
| Media library: Arte | Yes | |
| DLNA | Yes | |
| 4K video playback | Yes | |
| Max. frame rate (4K video) | 60 fps | |
| Amazon Prime: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Netflix: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Youtube: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Airplay | Yes | |
| Miracast | Yes | |
| Voice control | Yes | |
| Keyboard support | Yes | |
| Smartphone control | Yes | |
| Gamepad support | Yes | |
| Power consumption when streaming Youtube | 5.6 watts | |
| Standby power consumption | 3.9 watts | |
| Dimensions (edit) | 9.8 x 15.9 x 2.6 cm | |
| Weight | 250 g | |
At the international electronics exhibition CES 2017 company NVIDIA pleased her fans with the announcement of a new TV set-top box - NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2017)... The SHIELD TV set-top box (2017) was presented in two versions: a basic version with 16 GB of internal memory for data storage and with a set-top box PRO preinstalled with 500 GB storage. The models differ not only in memory size, but also in size, for example, the model with a pre-installed 500 GB drive has not changed its size relative to the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2015) model released earlier in 2015. But the model with 16 GB of internal memory is more elegant and boasts a compact size. As it became known, the hardware responsible for the speed of the set-top box has not been changed: the TV set-top boxes in 2017 have a Tegra X1 processor and 3 GB random access memory.
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV set-top box (2017) has a number of quite entertaining features and functions that we were extremely interested in learning about in practice. We will be happy to tell you about them.
Specifications
- Processor: NVIDIA Tegra X1, 64-bit, 4 cores Cortex-A57 + 4 energy efficient cores Cortex-A53;
- Video accelerator: graphics unit with 256 cores, architecture NVIDIA Maxwell, DX12, OpenGL 4.5, NVIDIA CUDA, OpenGL ES 3.1 and AEP;
- RAM: 3 GB;
- Memory for data storage: 16 GB + the possibility of expanding due to external USB drives;
- Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1;
- Wired interfaces: 1 Gbps Ethernet, 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI (2.0b, HDCP 2.2, CEC);
- Operating System: Android TV with Google Cast based on Android 7.0 Nougat;
- Dimensions: 158 x 98 x 25mm;
- Weight: 250 g.
Packaging and equipment
Supplied by NVIDIA SHIELD in a box made of thick cardboard. The contents are packaged in several zones and tightly fixed with soft inserts, which excludes the possibility of damage during transportation. The package contains a brief description of the device and its capabilities.
The package includes: NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2017 set-top box, remote control, wireless gamepad, USB cable, power supply unit with 2 adapters for different types of outlets and documentation.
Appearance and features
NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2017 in the version with 16 GB of internal memory is truly very compact, there will definitely not be any problems with its placement. The body of the device is detailed and has a multifaceted shape, which gives it an unusual look and, in our opinion, the most important thing, makes it stand out against the background of nondescript and austere black boxes. The green stripe on the case, which is an indicator of the device's activity, is softly and unobtrusively illuminated during operation. The only thing that spoils this beautiful picture are cables, which simply cannot be hidden, no matter how hard you try.
Now let's take a closer look at the prefix itself. All interfaces are located at the back, here you will find: 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet and a power supply connector. There are ventilation holes to the left of the interfaces and on the bottom of the case.
A small remote control is supplied with the attachment. The thing, as it turned out, is very useful, but not very convenient and requires getting used to. So, for example, it was difficult to get used to the location of the voice assistant's call button; instead of the top navigation ring, you constantly find yourself on it. Behind a small slot at the top front panel, a microphone is located. It is also worth noting the presence of a narrow touch strip used to adjust the sound volume. It is located in the lower half exactly in the center. As a battery of the remote control, 2 CR2032 batteries are used. The disadvantages of the remote control also include the presence of glossy surfaces, which, with active use, will quickly lose their appearance.
But the situation with the gamepad is completely different, its ergonomic qualities and design make it not only a convenient device for controlling the console, but also a really good solution for games. Also, one cannot fail to note it. appearance, in which, as in the case of the body of the console, versatility prevails. It is assembled with high quality, excellent materials. It lies well in the hands and does not strive to slip out. The location of the main buttons and controls is standard, in addition to them there is an additional row of buttons located under the sticks - "back", "start / pause" and "home / activation of the broadcast menu". There is a touch strip between the sticks, exactly the same as on the remote control - to adjust the sound volume. The large NVIDIA logo button is used to activate the voice assistant. There is a microphone above it. At the bottom of the gamepad there is a standard audio output for connecting a headset, and on the top there is a microUSB connector for connecting a charger. We also note the presence of vibration feedback in it. In short, the experience of the gamepad is purely positive.
Operating system and capabilities
As mentioned above, the operating system of NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2017 is Android TV with Google Cast based on Android 7.0 Nougat. The shell itself is pleasant, control is equally convenient with both the remote control and the gamepad. The OS works smartly and flawlessly.
When you turn on for the first time, you will need to connect one of the control devices (remote control or gamepad) by pressing the corresponding button. Then go through the registration and account activation procedure. If necessary, you will have to update the STB software. You may also need to update your remote control and gamepad software.
There are not so many pre-installed applications - YouTube, Netflix, Plex, which, in our opinion, is more a plus than a minus. Everyone decides for himself what to install and what to use.
Google Play primarily offers applications focused on video and TV viewing. Unfortunately, Android TV has some limitations, for example, to download and install the usual Chrome browser will not work. Any other browser too.
Then we decided to check the work Google Assistant, which first appeared among similar consoles right here. There were no problems with him. Find out the weather? - Easy. What is the easiest way to get to the other side of the city? - Here is a list of routes. But this is not all, but only a small part of its capabilities. In the future, as far as we know, it is planned to expand the capabilities of the assistant through integration with technology " smart House", and this is already a completely different - higher level. The official NVIDIA website has demonstrated some devices that will help in managing a" smart home ", for example, NVIDIA SPOT.
Keep in mind that SHIELD TV does a great job with 4K images. The gaining popularity of 4K TVs and monitors are becoming more and more affordable, in the top segment there is no longer a model with FullHD resolution, and this tells us that there is no way to miss the support of such an important resolution today, otherwise you can lose a huge audience.
Looking at this table with a comparison of prefixes, you understand how wide NVIDIA capabilities SHIELD. And this is not the limit. Their number will only increase due to innovations, because this console still has potential. Already now it can be called an All-in-One type device that successfully copes with work in various scenarios, for example, as a media player, game console or voice assistant performing simple but useful actions.
The main feature of this console is, of course, the streaming of compatible games from your PC using the technology NVIDIA GameStream(60 FPS, with support for 4K HDR) or even from NVIDIA servers via the Internet. Yes, that's right, now it is not necessary to have a powerful PC at home in order to play this or that creation of the modern gaming industry. It is enough to have a fast connection to worldwide network and subscribe to the service GeForce NOW, which will provide access to a huge variety of games (the list is constantly expanding). But the most top-end offers, of course, are offered for a fee. Top-end includes, for example, The Witcher 3 and such hits of past years as Half-Life 2 or GTA Vice City. Also, do not forget about ordinary Android games that support a gamepad - it becomes much more convenient to play such games. And you can forget about low settings in them - the performance of NVIDIA Tegra X1 is enough in abundance.
/1.jpg)
/7.jpg)
/9.jpg)
/10.jpg)
/12.jpg)
.jpg)
/2.jpg)
/4.jpg)
Well, let's say you've signed up and selected the game you're interested in on the GeForce NOW service. The connection is as follows: first, the network is analyzed, the connection speed and delay between you and the server are measured, and recommendations are made based on this. Undoubtedly, wired connection to work with this service, it is preferable, the connection via Wi-Fi in some cases will not be able to work properly, since there are too many factors affecting the quality of this type of connection.
/14.jpg)
/15.JPG)
That's all, if the connection fits in all parameters - the game turns on (by the way, if the connection does not meet the requirements, the game will start anyway, but you can immediately forget about smooth gameplay), all control is carried out from the gamepad. And more you don't need to do anything - neither download anything, nor allocate space for saving or something else. All data is stored on NVIDIA servers.
For example, this amount of FPS was shown to us by the built-in game Tomb raider benchmark:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The same settings, only in FullHD resolution:
Here are some more examples of how good equipment is used by NVIDIA to provide the best gaming performance.
Batman: Arkham Origins:
.jpg)
.jpg)
Sleeping Dogs:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Gameplay example in Hitman Absolution:
Gas Guzzlers Extreme:
Sleeping Dogs:
When purchasing such a set-top box, it is extremely important to have a good Internet provider that provides fast Internet access. Otherwise, one of the most important features of this set-top box will remain unused. A connection with a speed of no less! 25 Mbit / s, and preferably from 50 Mbit / s or more. Therefore, residents of districts remote from the city, where there is no way to connect a normal high speed internet, remain out of work.
But even a high speed and wired connection does not always save you from frame loss. Unfortunately, this is not common, but it does happen, at this time an unpleasant tear occurs on the screen, microfreezes or pixelation of the picture.
Conclusion
NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2017 is a unique device today that allows you to experience the possibilities modern technologies entertaining character, leaving an extremely pleasant experience after working with him. Let's start with control devices: here you are given 2 options, both of which are very convenient for performing their tasks, but this does not take away from you the ability to exercise all control, for example, only from a gamepad. The software shell built on the basis of Android 7.0 Nougat is convenient and easy to learn, even a novice user is unlikely to have any difficulties - everything is neatly laid out on the shelves, here are your applications, here are games, and here are settings. Unique opportunities in the form of streaming services will undoubtedly attract attention and will be in demand. Considering permanent job on them, we hope that soon everything will work even better. It's amazing that NVIDIA engineers were able to fit all this into such a miniature and cute case: this is what the 21st century means - the age of information technology!
As always, do not forget about the price issue - NVIDIA SHIELD TV 2017 with 16 GB of memory on board in Russia is available at a price of ~ 18,000 rubles, a model with a PRO prefix, in which a 500 GB drive is preinstalled, can be purchased for ~ 26,000 rubles.
Pros:
- The device has a number of features, some of which are exclusive;
- Competent implementation of the shell and additional services, intuitive control;
- High-quality peripherals;
- Nice design and compact size of the console body.
Minuses:
- The lack of a full-fledged browser, which in such a device will obviously not be superfluous.
IN WHAT COUNTRIES CAN I BUY NVIDIA SHIELD TV?
SHIELD TV is currently available in the following countries:
- - USA
- - Canada
- - Great Britain
- - Germany
- - France
- - Italy
- - Spain
- - Austria
- - Norway
- - Netherlands
- - Switzerland
- - Russia
- - Poland
- - Czech Republic
WHAT SOFTWARE IS SUPPLIED ON NVIDIA SHIELD TV?
NVIDIA SHIELD TV comes preinstalled with Android TV ™ and some google apps including Google Play, which provides access to hundreds of apps and huge choice streaming content. SHIELD TV also comes preinstalled with:
- Netflix - Watch thousands of Netflix TV shows, movies and shows on your TV in up to 4K HDR.
- Amazon Video - Stream thousands of popular movies and TV series in up to 4K HDR to your TV.
- PLEX - Transfer videos, music and photos from your PC to your TV screen.
- PLEX Media Server- access your digital media content catalog from anywhere in the world.
- NVIDIA Games is a new app that lets you find and open games on SHIELD TV, including exclusive Android games, GeForce NOW games, and PC games streamed using NVIDIA GameStream technology.
- NVIDIA Share - Stream and stream your favorite games.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO INSTALL NVIDIA SHIELD TV?
All you need is a TV that supports HDMI and Internet connectivity (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and an HDMI cable. To connect to a 4K or HDR TV, you need an HDMI 2.0 compliant cable.
WILL SHIELD TV WORK WITH MY TV?
SHIELD TV works with virtually any HDMI-enabled TV or display. SHIELD TV can be connected directly to your TV or receiver.
Please note that your display must support these formats in order to play 4K Ultra HD or HDR content. If you are connecting SHIELD TV to a 4K HDR TV via an AV receiver or soundbar, the latter must support HDMI 2.0 (with HDCP 2.2).
HOW DO I TURN ON THE SHIELD TV MEDIA PLAYER? DOES IT HAVE A POWER BUTTON?
SHIELD TV turns on immediately after plugging into the supplied power source and automatically enters sleep mode to save power. There is no power button on the console.
HOW CAN I UPDATE ON SHIELD TV?
We made this process simple and fast. All SHIELD TV software updates are released directly by NVIDIA. You will receive a notification, which can be found under the "Recommended Content" section of the home screen, when an update is available. After your confirmation, the system will automatically download and install the update. You can manually check for a software update. To do this, go to Settings> Device> About device> System update.
WHAT ACCESSORIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SHIELD TV?
At the time of release of the media player, three accessories are available for it: additional controllers SHIELD, branded vertical stand and optional SHIELD remotes (including remotes with headset jack). Please note that SHIELD TV comes with one game controller and one remote.
All accessories can be purchased from NVIDIA.
CAN I CONNECT SHIELD CONTROLLER AS A CONTROLLER TO OTHER ANDROID DEVICES OR GAMING PC?
Yes. You can connect your new SHIELD controller to other Android devices as a Bluetooth controller. It can also be used as an Xinput game controller with computers equipped with GeForce video cards GTX.
WHICH APPS SUPPORT 4K ULTRA HD CONTENT?
4K TVs are becoming very popular and the volume of 4K content is constantly growing. The following are the most popular apps that support 4K streaming:
- Netflix (TV series such as House of Cards, Daredevil, Breaking Bad, Marco Polo, and many others)
- Amazon Video (TV shows and series such as Grand Tour, Bosch, Goliath, and many others)
- YouTube (4K movie trailers and channels like RocketJump, GoPro, Devinsupertramp, and many more)
- Ultraflix
- Vimeo
- Media players such as Plex, Kodi, VLC, MX Player, and preinstalled app Photo and video
Make sure your subscription plan supports 4K streaming. On Netflix, this requires a Premuim subscription.
Check out the settings on some standard TVs that need to be enabled for HDR support:
- For Samsung HDR TVs: Menu-> Picture-> Picture Options-> HDMI UHD Color-> Enable-> Restart
- For LG HDR TVs: Home-> HDMI-> Settings-> Advanced-> Image-> HDMI ULTRA DEEP COLOR-> Enable-> Restart
- For Sony HDR TVs: Home -> Settings -> External Input Device -> HDMI Signal Format -> HDMI [Select SHIELD TV Input Device] -> Enhanced Mode (TV will reboot)
WHAT HDR CONTENT AVAILABLE TODAY?
Netflix and Amazon Video have large libraries of 4K HDR content. Look for the HDR icon on the description page for a movie, TV series, or show. On Netflix, this icon will only appear when it detects an HDR-compatible display (Premium subscription also required). Amazon Video displays this icon regardless of whether your TV is HDR-capable or not.
HDR games are now also available with NVIDIA GameStream ™ technology.
WHICH TVS SUPPORT HDR10?
WHY DOES MY TV OR RECEIVER TURN ON / OFF WHEN NVIDIA SHIELD TV TURNS ON / OFF?
By default, SHIELD TV is set to send signals to your TV or receiver to enter or exit sleep mode. You can disable these features by going to Settings -> Display & Sounds -> Power Management.
WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE MEMORY?
The new version of SHIELD TV supports external USB flash drives and hard drives. NVIDIA recommends the drives listed below for maximum speed and performance. You can connect SHIELD TV to your network storage(NAS) over the network to access content.
To expand the SHIELD TV's internal memory for storing games and applications, the USB drive must be installed as internal storage. Go to Settings -> Storage & Factory Reset -> Select a drive name and then click "Set as Internal Drive".
NVIDIA recommends using the following USB flash drives for SHIELD TV.
HOW DO I ADJUST THE VOLUME ON MY TV OR RECEIVER USING THE SHIELD REMOTE CONTROLLER OR SHIELD CONTROLLER?
You can set up your SHIELD remote to send an IR signal to adjust the volume on your AV receiver or TV. Go to Settings -> Display & Sound -> Volume Control -> Enable IR Control
Earlier this year, Nvidia introduced a new device to its Shield product line. The Shield TV compact media box is based on the high-performance Nvidia Tegra X1 SoC and runs Android TV. The company calls the key features of the platform fast graphics (256 Maxwell cores operating at 1 GHz) and full support for 4K formats, including a mode with a frame rate of 60 fps and HDR technology.
The rest of the device's hardware characteristics are as follows: two clusters of four computing cores (Cortex A57 and Cortex A53) with a frequency of 2 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of built-in flash drive (11 GB available to the user), gigabit Network Controller, dual-band wireless controller with support for 802.11ac and a maximum connection speed of 867 Mbps, Bluetooth adapter, two USB 3.0 ports.
Video viewing, including local files, network sources and online streaming, and several game scenarios are listed as the main use cases. More information about the device itself, benchmarks and work in media player mode is described in the article on the website iXBT.com... Here we will share our impressions of the games.
Formally, the device is a mini-computer running Android TV. However, some of its characteristics allow us to speak of a unique combination of a powerful platform and convenient management for implementation. modern challenges viewing multimedia and games. Moreover, the first impression of a "small box" is deceiving - thanks to the built-in support for streaming services, the device can be used with modern resource-intensive projects.
Implement game scenarios on big screen TV is impossible without a convenient controller. So the company included a very good gamepad with a set of buttons, joysticks and triggers, which is traditional for game consoles, equipped with vibration motors, a panel for controlling the media player mode, and a headset jack, in the Nvidia Shield TV package.
Game console for Android
Perhaps the only option for which the resources of the graphics blocks of the used SoC will be required is local launch games. There are many interesting projects for Android today, so for sure you can pick something for yourself. However, one must remember that the set-top box, unlike tablets and smartphones, does not have a touch screen. Instead, a handy gamepad is offered. Plus using android TV is the unification of the settings of this game controller, which greatly simplifies its application. In addition, you can connect a second gamepad (maximum four), and not necessarily from the same manufacturer, for games in the company.
On the other hand, it is unlikely that any projects from this mobile segment will support 4K or use a complex, comparable to desktop computers or modern consoles, graphics. Sometimes there are even doubts about rendering in FullHD.
Still, there are not so many high-performance products with Android, so developers have to focus more on the middle segment. However, in any case, from a technical point of view, ensure good picture the platform in the considered solution allows. This is especially true of exclusives created specifically for Nvidia SHILD. You can find them, for example, through the Nvidia Games program or simply refer to the products of the developer Nvidia Lightspeed Studios in the Google Play Store.
Android apps are loaded into the built-in flash memory of the set-top box. Here you can face the fact that the standard flash is not enough for you (for example, 5.5 GB is required for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance) and you will have to invent something, for example, use an additional external storage as a system one. Programs are launched in the standard way - in full screen mode and in their own resolution. It is worth noting that the rendering resolution may differ from the video output resolution.
The list of games available in the store for Android TV is limited to specially adapted applications for the console, but it is still extensive. Games of the Free to Play format prevail, i.e. they are free, but if you want to play without restrictions or develop quickly, you have to pay. Limitations usually relate to the time of continuous play. In other words, to play, you need to expend energy, which accumulates for a long time. However, free energy is often enough for an hour or two a day. It is convenient to play games on the big screen using a gamepad.
There is no need to pay for a subscription or games, but the projects of Nvidia Lightspeed Studios, with the exception of one strategy, are paid. The maximum cost at the time of preparation of the article reached 1,290 rubles, which is quite a lot.
From the point of view of performance, there are no complaints and cannot be. The SoC used is clearly one of the fastest solutions of this class for Android.
However, if you've played on PC or consoles before, Android projects are likely to disappoint you in terms of beauty. graphic design... Attempts to achieve realism are not impressive. So, it is likely that games in fictional cartoon worlds will be more in demand for this platform.
Separately, it is worth noting multiplayer games on one device, which will be interesting to run in a company on a large TV screen or projector.
By the way, in addition to games for Android, this model can be used with numerous emulators of old consoles. At the same time, support for the game controller can also be provided "out of the box" without tedious settings.
Streaming games from the GeForce Now service
If you do not have a gaming computer, pastime in the format of games is not included in the circle of priority interests, or if you want to try new projects without significant investments, it makes sense to look towards GeForce Now - cloud service company Nvidia, which on a subscription basis offers access to over a hundred gaming projects. The scheme of work is simple - the game itself is launched in the company's data center, the rendered picture and sound are transmitted to the console via the Internet, and in reverse side information about your actions with input devices (gamepad, keyboard, mouse, etc.) is sent. Moreover, especially for those who work only with a gamepad, there is a mouse and keyboard emulation mode for navigating the menu and entering text data. In addition, feedback is provided for the vibration motors in the gamepad.
The service works on the basis of Pascal video processors and provides quality level GeForce GTX 1080 at 1080p or 720p and frame rates up to 60 fps. In particular, this performance is promised for games like The Witcher 3, Batman: Arkham Knight, Watch_Dogs 2 and No Man's Sky. The company also notes very low latency during the service and support for multi-channel audio.
The cost of the service in our market is determined at 649 rubles per month ($ 7.99), but you get the first month for free. Some games (for example, popular new projects) require an additional purchase, while along with it you will also provide you with a key for playing on a PC. At the same time, the company announced that it will soon integrate with the Uplay account, which will allow you to play games already purchased in this service through GeForce Now.
Note that the solution supports multichannel audio, and many projects are translated into Russian. Judging by the menu, we are talking about launching conventional versions games using virtualization technologies, and not special options for a cloud service. Although at least the points related to maintaining progress and other parameters clearly needed to be adapted.
To work with the service, of course, you need a fairly fast Internet access. To check the quality of communication in the Nvidia Games utility there is special item... According to the recommendations, the speed of receiving data should be more than 50 Mbps. In addition to it, losses and delays are estimated. The latter may not depend so much on your provider as on the channel to the company's servers.
You can also find several settings here - server selection (currently there are five options - two in the US, two in Europe, one in Asia), video mode selection (720p30, 720p60, 1080p30, 1080p60) and stream limiting for broadcasting. The servers are the same and the account information is synchronized between them.
To select games, the Nvidia Games utility is used, in which you will need to use a user account to save his data and settings in the cloud. Games are presented here in a convenient menu, broken down by genre and other criteria. Selected projects are launched almost instantly - from pressing the "Play" button to launch, it takes no more than 20 seconds (of course, if you have fast Internet access). At the same time, projects occupy no more than 100 KB on the built-in drive of the set-top box, so the volume of the drive will not limit their number.
Testing has shown that server latency significantly affects latency. In particular, the test built into the set-top box showed values at the level of 40-50 ms to European servers, while the used Internet channel itself was up to local resources provided 2-3 ms.
Real requirement for bandwidth which we noted during tests is about 35 Mbps at settings maximum quality... The check showed that the GeForce Now service actually turned out to be less demanding on the quality of the Internet channel before remote server... We played without any problems even when the indicator did not show a single division. Yes, sometimes visual artifacts were visible, but in general gameplay it didn't bother.
In addition to well-known single-user projects (see the full list here), the service can be used for multiplayer, both local (for example, in the LEGO series) and online. Using the example of the game The Witcher 3, we checked that from the GeForce Now service the game is broadcast in 1080p at 60 fps and ultra-high graphics quality settings - it's impressive. Unfortunately, the list of games available in the service as part of a subscription is actually small and even among paid games the choice is limited. You will not find all the latest and most modern games there. But there are quite significant and interesting games such as Just Cause 2, Resident Evil 5, Tomb Raider and Witcher 3. Unfortunately, the service does not include Far Cry, Dark Souls and many other popular products. Apparently, the process of adapting applications for broadcasting from the cloud is not easy and takes time. In addition, other factors may play a role here, including financial relationships with developers. We also note the absence of games with an online competitive mode in the service.
Stream PC games with GameStream technology
If you already have a modern and powerful enough gaming computer (of course, with an Nvidia video card), then you have the opportunity to broadcast from it to the Nvidia Shield set-top box for playing on a big screen without having to move the computer or rewire the wires. The service supports modes up to 4K 60 fps, HDR, multichannel sound, feedback for vibration motors in a gamepad, transmission of audio information from a headset to a controller. Note that some of the functions also require support in the game. The number of games supported is stated as “hundreds”.
The official minimum gaming PC requirements are: GeForce GTX 650, Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz or AMD Athlon II X4 620 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, Windows 7. Scenario requires latest GeForce drivers with GeForce software Experience and actual updates game services. From additional equipment in the case of a wireless connection, a fast high-quality router. If both the computer and the set-top box are connected with a cable, then the network equipment can be any, but preferably gigabit, especially if there is another load on the network. To work in 4K format, a video card is needed from a GeForce GTX 960 (GeForce GTX 1080 or Titan X is recommended), and an Intel Core i5 processor. If you also want HDR, then the minimum required is a GeForce GTX 10-series.
Next, in the GeForce Experience utility, you need to enable the GameStream service to Shield attachments... On the next step you need to link your computer and set-top box. There are two ways to do this - either use the same Nvidia account in the program and on the set-top box, or use the PIN code entry. For convenience, it is advisable to first run the installed games on the computer at least once to check that everything has loaded and started.
Like GeForce Now, there are settings to choose from. optimal parameters broadcasting a video stream, including 4K 60 fps, a test to check the network speed and a couple of other options. The test showed that for the FullHD mode and with automatic settings, the service uses a bandwidth of 30-60 Mbit / s when placing devices in one local network and connecting them via cable to the network switch.
The company also indicates the possibility remote connection to a computer via the Internet, but does not provide details on the settings of the router. On the whole, such a scenario looks quite unusual, although it may be interesting in some situations.
The program on the computer side is able to automatically find most of the games installed on it, including those presented in the Steam and Uplay services. You will see a list of them from the console when you select the corresponding item to Nvidia Games. If necessary, it will be possible to add links to those games that the service could not find on the computer. Or, you could even use this scenario, say, to view photos or websites on a large TV screen.
More importantly, this scenario, like the GeForce Now described above, has an obvious drawback - a time lag between the player's actions on the controllers and receiving a response to them on the screen, the so-called lag. The delay is small and in many cases not critical, however, for situations where you need an accurate reaction to the actions of the enemy or the environment, it can be noticeable, and in such a way that it is uncomfortable to play. The presence of a lag is clearly visible if you put the monitor from the PC next to the TV to which the broadcast is going. If you look at the TV using a gamepad, then the delay and loss to the bot are obvious. If you look at the monitor, then there is no problem. It is possible to imagine a scenario where such a broadcast would be useful, but it is unlikely that the console will be chosen due to the presence of such a mode.
Testing on a mid-range system (low-power Intel Core i5 with GeForce GTX 970) showed that in the case of using not the most complex projects, the load on the computer due to the broadcast to the set-top box increases slightly. But if the game requires a lot of resources, then the rendering speed of the picture can be noticeably reduced. The delays are about five frames out of sixty, which corresponds to about 0.1 seconds. The use of a more powerful computer (Intel Core i5 6600K with GeForce GTX 1060) did not fundamentally change the situation.
In addition, here it should be borne in mind that setting up games for control from a gamepad does not always take place automatically. And some games themselves require a mouse and keyboard. However, this can be done by directly connecting the appropriate devices to the set-top box. If these capabilities are rarely required, there are modes for emulating a mouse from a game controller, as well as calling the on-screen keyboard.
Service Nvidia Share
Nvidia gaming graphics card users will probably know that the GeForce Experience also includes the Nvidia Share service, which allows you to record and stream your game in real time. A similar solution is implemented in the Nvidia Shield TV.
The top line contains three icons - microphone mute, chat access, Twitch settings... If a web-camera is connected, then there will be an option to control it. Below are the icons to enable instant viewing the last minutes recorded (the duration is selected in the options), video recording and the start of the broadcast. There is also an opportunity to take a screenshot of the current picture on the screen. "Instant replay" and "Record" did not work from the above. The system gave an error of lack of disk space, although in fact there were several gigabytes there. There were no problems with screenshots. They persisted in standard folder Android in png format.
Diagnosis
So, let's try to evaluate what might be interesting for the Nvidia Shield TV in terms of games. The undoubted advantage of this product is its compact size, high-quality gamepad, support for 4K / HDR video output and multi-channel audio for connecting to a TV, projector or receiver, as well as a fast built-in wireless controller. However, the question of how to apply all this and for what purpose is very difficult to answer unequivocally.
We tried three possible scenarios in work, and all three can hardly be called ideal. Games for the Android platform today are clearly not able to use the full potential of the chip created two years ago. Yes, of course, some projects look relatively good on a large screen and are conveniently controlled from a gamepad, but approximately the same can be obtained on much more affordable media consoles (with the exception of a couple of dozen exclusive projects for Nvidia Shield).
The implementation of the GeForce Now service is perhaps the most interesting option in this case. In fact, the user gets a large library of "real" games, which in the original version are available on powerful enough gaming computers. At the same time, he does not need to invest in the purchase of a gaming system, in the purchase of games (partially), as well as allocate in the apartment extra space to organize a play area. The mobility of the solution can be considered an additional plus. The competitors of this scenario can be considered traditional game consoles but it's hard to find clear benefits. Here it is up to you to decide for yourself - what specific games are you interested in, how much you are willing to pay for it, and so on. Still, the cost of Nvidia Shield TV is relatively high (at the time of writing - 17,990 rubles), so the option "let it be like this" is clearly not available to everyone. Well, do not forget about the need for fast and stable Internet access to implement this scheme.
The third scenario with broadcasting GameStream from a gaming computer in the current implementation looks controversial. Compared to GeForce Now, here one could count on more high quality graphics in the same projects, but invest in powerful system and then getting delays when playing on a console near the TV is very strange. It will be easier for maximalists to install a computer near the TV, and for the rest it will be easier to play from a cloud service.
All this leads to the logical conclusion that the so-called hardcore players are unlikely to be interested in the solution. But for casual players, this is a great option. You will not need to buy and install an expensive gaming computer somewhere. It is enough to buy a console, connect it to an existing TV and, in addition to the ability to play games from the GeForce Now service and the Google Play Store, you can watch various video broadcasts, including films, TV series, sports and popular science programs, which is described in detail in the above mentioned article material. So Nvidia Shield TV should be viewed precisely as a universal multifunction device capable of effectively solving popular home entertainment tasks. Finding him competitors in this case will not be easy.
