[ekimekim]

This isn't all that different to how I use my gaming PC - it's off in another room, with a monitor that is plugged in but almost always off (I don't think Windows will boot without at least something plugged in?), Steam set to start on boot, and then I entirely use it via Steam Remote Play from my main PC.

[daemoens]

You could get a dummy HDMI plug for $3 on Amazon and free up that monitor if you need it. [1]

[1] https://www.amazon.com/BKFK-HDMI-Dummy-Plug-3840x2160/dp/B0C...

[ekimekim]

I do use it occasionally - mostly when Windows has thrown up some issue stopping Steam from working properly.

eg. I need to dismiss a dialog that is invisible over remote play, or it won't finish logging in until I close a "finish setting up your windows install" screen.

[reddalo]

I still don't understand why operating systems can't properly work without a screen.

I have a Linux "home server" and I haven't found a way to boot up a graphical session with everything working (there were bugs in some applications, like menus not showing up, you couldn't change resolution, etc.).

A dummy HDMI plug fixed it, but still. It's 2025, come on.

[mgrandl]

There is also this: https://github.com/VirtualDisplay/Virtual-Display-Driver

Never used it, but I heard great things!

[thesuitonym]

Windows will boot without a monitor, or at least, it used to, not sure about Windows 11. But Steam Link mirrors your display, and so doesn’t work without one.

[gaudystead]

I built a NUC running Windows 11 into a tiny portable server for a project I was building and can confirm it boots and functions just fine without being plugged into a monitor.

I just plug it into a power source and it does what I need it to do, but I can plug a monitor and keyboard (and sometimes a mouse because keyboard-only navigation seems to be getting less and less supported/intuitive...) if I need to perform troubleshooting.

[TiredOfLife]

https://github.com/timminator/Enhanced-GPU-PV or https://github.com/ClassicOldSong/Apollo (sunshine fork with auto virtual display)

note that RDP works without plugs/virtual displays.

[wongarsu]

Can confirm. I boot Windows 11 without screen, then connect via RDP without issue

[S--M]

Have you tried sunshine + moonlight? I've heard it has lower latency and better streaming quality.

[nottorp]

Can confirm that. Using both to connect to the same windows box and sunshine+moonlight is better latency wise for fast paced games. And for games bought from GoG unless you want to configure Steam to launch them :)

Steam streaming is more convenient if the game is on steam and it's turn based or something like that. Also if the (mac) box you're streaming to has multiple monitors, Steam will continue to show the game if you cmd-tab out of it, while moonlight will minimize from the start.

[izacus]

Yep, I found that combination to be better when it comes to lag, stability and quality as well.

Especially now that they added a 4:4:4 chroma subsampling option which fixes things like text edges in some cases.

[papichulo2023]

A then you can use lossless scaling on moonlight for a real amazing distrubed gaming experience.

[moffkalast]

I prefer indoor lighting myself.

[bhaney]

This is one of many reasons why I just don't let Windows touch bare metal. My old gaming rig was a Linux machine that would boot a Windows VM with GPU passthrough, and the control I had over the virtual hardware that Windows thought it was attached to was really helpful for working around a lot of Windows bullshit. Won't boot without a screen? Virtually attach a fake one. Recognizes a device and tries to auto-install the garbage manufacturer-provided driver? Run the better Linux driver (if one exists) and have qemu present Windows with a generic version of the device. Want to debug some issue that requires disconnecting a piece of hardware? Just take it out of the qemu command instead of needing to go physically disconnect it. Want some remote peripheral attached that Windows has no idea how to talk to? Proxy it over the network in Linux and just present it to the Windows VM as a USB device. Having full control over the world that Windows lives in makes it much more manageable.

[genewitch]

Same. I only stopped because managing storage became a problem - three huge games came out that I wanted to play.

Were I to do this again I wouldn't do ryzen I'd do at minimum a threadripper, so that the guest can get a USB pcie card and a GPU, so literally every device windows sees and talks to is virtualized. Usb keyboard, mouse, soundcard, etc.

I think LTT did an epyc build where 1 epyc ran 3 full "Desktops" with GPUs, nvme, for each virtual machine dedicated. I just need the one!

[jokethrowaway]

Since a few years, I just play on Linux

Almost anything works with proton - unless you're playing competitive online games with anti cheats software

[maxglute]

Ditto I grabbed a few clearance steamlinks and have all the TVs remote play to my single high power desktop and use a normal browser for media.

I had it running on ASTER at one point, a multiseat windows software so I can be on main computer and others can use steamlink on alternate windows profile and few issues.

Performance was rarely issue, especially even on wireless, and it's nice to have everything happening in 1 box.

[prmoustache]

I find it rather funny some people are completely fine playing remotely while others are obsessing over milliseconds of input or output lag.

[soyiuz]

I did that for while, but recently switched to Bazzite. It's a much smoother experience.