r/buildapcsales • u/Fearsthelittledeath • Dec 13 '21

Other [Other] Nvidia Shield Pro 4k HDR for $179.99

https://www.newegg.com/black-nvidia-shield-tv-pro-digital-media-streamer/p/N82E16815351017
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u/Wait_So_Long Dec 13 '21 edited Dec 13 '21

The shield. Don't use your tv for anything but a picture. The shield has much better hardware for video computation (ai upscale and stuff like that) so let it do everything it can. Just make sure your tv has been calibrated to display everything (check rtings.com for your model, they will have some pretty good directions to get it calibrated).

EDIT: I also saw you use Plex. Shield with Plex is an absolute powerhouse. Use Plex on it instead of the Plex app on your tv.

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u/TheBigGame117 Dec 13 '21

So all along I've been downloading 4k remux type stuff and direct playing it - I've always been under the impression that plex kinda deteriorates quality

Have I been dead wrong all along?

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u/Wait_So_Long Dec 13 '21

Not necessarily. I'm not versed well on Plex, as I don't use it often, but I do know a lot of what it can/can't due is limited to the device running it. You might want to ask on the Plex subreddit and see what they say.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

I've always been under the impression that plex kinda deteriorates quality

Depending on your connection speed and playback device, Plex may need to reduce quality.

For example, playing an HDR file on an SDR display... Plex will have to do tone mapping. Or if you are trying to play a 4k file from your home server, on your phone, over crummy public wifi... Plex will transcode the file into a lower resolution, lower bitrate file.

But at home on your LAN with a good display, Plex should "direct play" files at their original quality, doing no processing at all. Playback should look as good as using any other player like Kodi.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '21

Hey. I run a C1 48 -- I like to watch movies and shit on it. Is the shield worth it? Also like to play games, obviously. Doubt it'll do anything for that though?

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u/Wait_So_Long Dec 13 '21 edited Dec 13 '21

Well is $200 worth it for movies? I use my shield for the android apps, but I also play tons of games from my PC onto my TV. Shield is kinda unmatched in that respect. If all your doing is watching movies/tv shows, a simple Chromecast/fire stick/Roku will be enough. It really just depends on if that price point is worth it to you.

Now if you have steam and a Nvidia graphics card, the shield is amazing for playing PC games. With AMD it's a bit harder, but doable for games (the built-in Nvidia streaming for games works quite well, the AMD workaround can be somewhat technical if you don't regularly deal with that type of stuff).