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Shield's Console Mode And Benchmarks

Nvidia's Shield Revisited: Console Mode, Streaming, And More
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As we mentioned, Shield's Console Mode lets you connect a third-party Bluetooth wireless gamepad, shut off the device's integrated 5" screen, and output a 1920x1080 resolution to a big-screen television.

Based on the company's presentations, Nvidia's emphasis is on the benefits this offers to gamers streaming PC games from another room (a feature that is now branded GameStream). Unfortunately, that combination of features can't be achieved yet; streaming at 1080p from a PC to the Shield requires an Ethernet adapter that isn't available yet. Until we can get our hands on that adapter and the next Shield software update, PC-to-Shield streaming is limited to 720p, just as it was in our Shield launch story from last July, Nvidia Shield Review: Tegra 4 Powered Gaming.

Personally, I have very little interest in GameStream, if only because I'd never pick a gamepad and 5" screen over a mouse, keyboard, and full-sized monitor if I was in Wi-Fi range of my PC. If I want to game on my TV, I'll use my HTPC. On the other hand, we toted a Shield along to an event we recently ran, and attendees happily picked it up and streamed PC games from the pub we were in. It seems like the utility of GameStream is largely personal preference.

I am more interested in Console Mode, though. It offers something almost completely overlooked in Nvidia's briefing: you can play Android games at 1080p on a television instead of the Shield's 5" screen. Not only is it extremely gratifying to play Android-based games at 1920x1080 on a TV, but it's also unexpectedly breathtaking to see Unreal Engine 3 and other demanding graphics engines pump out true HD visuals at over 50 FPS. The experience hammers home that Tegra 4 is a capable SoC.

To better evaluate its performance, we benchmarked the Shield in Console Mode at 1080p, and compared those numbers to the results achieved on the integrated 5" display. We're also including the new Nexus 7's performance at 1920x1200 for reference.

As you can see, the Shield holds its own at 1080p, significantly outpacing the Qualcomm S4 Pro-powered Nexus 7 in every test except for one. What we're hoping is that the complexity of mobile games continues to increase, yielding a more immersive experience. Powerful hardware like Shield will play a role in enabling those more demanding graphics.

Finally, let's take power into consideration. Although Console Mode disables Shield's integrated screen, the taxing workload at 1080p is expected to shorten battery life compared to gaming on the mobile platform directly.

And there's the downside to wringing out maximum performance from a console intended for mobile gaming. The battery life we measured drops by almost half. The silver lining is that, when you're playing a game next to your television, it should be easy to keep Shield plugged into a wall outlet, too.

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  • -5 Hide
    Jordan Nwokolo , October 28, 2013 7:34 AM
    This is The Real Next Gen Gaming System..Stream,Cloud and A.R.S.E(Android Revolutionary System Entertaiment) Based Console,No Doubt about it !!
  • 0 Hide
    rwinches , October 28, 2013 8:07 AM
    Here is some competition just in case, you know, you happen to own a smartphone or Tab.
    http://www.phonearena.com/news/10-game-controllers-for-smartphones-and-tablets_id39901#10-iControlPad-2

    And, with Miracast you can send 1080 to your TV too.
  • -2 Hide
    Peacelol , October 28, 2013 8:27 AM
    Where exactly are these reduced prices linked from? As of 0800 Pacific I don't see any reduction in pricing from any of the major retailers. All I've seen are updates regarding the holiday game bundle deal.
  • -1 Hide
    damianrobertjones , October 28, 2013 8:35 AM
    Still won't buy it as I'd then have yet another device.

    Hey Tom's hardware... Microsoft, one of the biggest companies in the world, recently released a Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro... No article?
  • 1 Hide
    cangelini , October 28, 2013 8:37 AM
    @ Peacelol: The prices will be in effect starting tomorrow morning
    @ damian: We have one and are in the process of reviewing it!
  • 0 Hide
    Peacelol , October 28, 2013 8:50 AM
    Thank you Cangelini
  • 0 Hide
    Zachasaurs , October 28, 2013 10:01 AM
    i love these bundles im getting a 760 withing the week
  • 0 Hide
    rwinches , October 28, 2013 11:01 AM
    Price Drop For Nvidia!!!!
    http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-gtx-780-price-drop,24886.html
  • 0 Hide
    funtasticguy , October 28, 2013 11:02 AM
    I have a question. Does the mapping software work when you're in "console" mode and using a Bluetooth controller?
  • 0 Hide
    BranFlake5 , October 28, 2013 4:28 PM
    Good to see Nvidia really working on the Shield. It has potential.
  • 0 Hide
    SWEETMUSK , October 28, 2013 4:37 PM
    OMG the new shoadowplay is so awesome!use more less energy then fraps!!!
  • 0 Hide
    bigcyco1 , October 28, 2013 5:17 PM
    Thanks for the review.
  • 0 Hide
    whyso , October 28, 2013 9:49 PM
    Are you using a 4170 on the titan system? How about testing on a less CPU bound platform.
  • 0 Hide
    gopher1369 , October 29, 2013 6:09 AM
    "Personally, I have very little interest in GameStream, if only because I'd never pick a gamepad and 5" screen over a mouse, keyboard, and full-sized monitor if I was in Wi-Fi range of my PC."

    Try using a mouse, keyboard and full sized monitor whilst on the loo, in the bath or in bed, for example.

    Try gaming when your wife is using your HTPC to watch Eastenders on iPlayer and your daughter is using your desktop to stream Dora the Explorer on Netflix.

    In short: I love my 3DS and would also absolutely love Shield, if it was about £100 cheaper.
  • 0 Hide
    awesomedude911 , October 29, 2013 8:42 PM
    Sony and Nintendo make bad portables with small amount of good games. Glad Nvidia has come to the rescue!
  • 1 Hide
    xbins00 , October 29, 2013 10:40 PM
    Thats depressing...I paid 400 for a 770 in the middle of august and only got splinter cell. If i waited I could have had three games and 100 off a shield while saving 70 bucks on my card.
  • 1 Hide
    cleeve , October 30, 2013 6:26 AM
    Quote:
    "Try using a mouse, keyboard and full sized monitor whilst on the loo, in the bath or in bed, for example.

    Try gaming when your wife is using your HTPC to watch Eastenders on iPlayer and your daughter is using your desktop to stream Dora the Explorer on Netflix.

    In short: I love my 3DS and would also absolutely love Shield, if it was about £100 cheaper.


    Try playing Android games on Shield if you need portability instead of a half-assed and frustrating PC-ish experience without a mouse and keyboard.

    You miss my point. I'm not saying there's no place for a portable console. I'm saying I'd rather play Android, or 3DS instead of futzing around with the limitations of gamestreaming from a PC.

    Speaking of which: streaming Dora from Netflix... GameStream doesn't work with that. The PC has to be dedicated to the task of gaming.

  • 0 Hide
    gopher1369 , October 30, 2013 7:28 AM
    Hello Cleeve, thanks for replying.


    Quote:

    You miss my point. I'm not saying there's no place for a portable console. I'm saying I'd rather play Android, or 3DS instead of futzing around with the limitations of gamestreaming from a PC.


    You're right, I misunderstood you. I thought you were talking about handheld gaming in general. Apologies.


    Quote:
    Try playing Android games on Shield if you need portability instead of a half-assed and frustrating PC-ish experience without a mouse and keyboard.


    I play most of my games with a 360 controller! Currently playing Darksiders (thanks Humble Bundle). Deadly Premonition and Enslaved have just been released on Steam so they will be my next 2 games. I can't imagine using a KB and mouse for any of them. Does Shield work well for these kinds of games?
  • 1 Hide
    cleeve , October 30, 2013 8:05 AM
    Quote:

    I play most of my games with a 360 controller! Currently playing Darksiders (thanks Humble Bundle). Deadly Premonition and Enslaved have just been released on Steam so they will be my next 2 games. I can't imagine using a KB and mouse for any of them. Does Shield work well for these kinds of games?


    Yes, absolutely. If it's a game that uses a 360 controller, it's an ideal Shield candidate. In some cases there are still limitations, you may have to launch with your PC, but if you control it with a game controller exclusively, it's ideal.

    Different strokes for different folks. Granted, my opinion is subjective, hence the word "personally" in my quote. Others may feel differently. But As a PC gamer who prefers a mouse/keyboard combo even for console ports, and only uses a gamepad for racing titles, I will always choose the PC for PC games, and mobile games for a mobile platform *when I'm at home*.

    Should the day come when Nvidia has a cloud-streaming service that works over, say, an LTE connection from my smartphone... well, that'd be a different story altogether. If I'm out of the house, and I don't have direct access to my PC, I may appreciate the Shield's gamestream capabilities more.
  • 0 Hide
    navas22 , November 21, 2013 3:47 AM
    Since it takes at least a GTX650 to enjoy the stream function, I understand better why they come to renew their offer by including a discount for buying a Shield.

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