2 gamers, 1 cpu, NO Virtualization!
www.apalrd.net
I’ve been using Linux for a long time. The first distribution I ever installed was Ubuntu 6.06 ‘Dapper Drake’, on which I ran a phpBB server for my school friends. Security was poor. But shortly after, as I learned about Linux desktops (and first daily-drove a Linux laptop around 2012), I learned about ‘Multiseat’. The Wikipedia article has a cool picture of a very 90s looking desktop tower with 4x CRT monitors, and that image was published to Wikipedia in 2005, and I saw it in middle/high school years.

This is a super interesting project, and the video is really well presented and explained, if you prefer that format.

I think this method could be brought even further by using ‘thin clients’ (a cheap laptop or used office mini-PC), making it possible to access the main gaming rig from any room in the house as long as you have access to a good network speed.

Utilizing a ‘dummy’ HDMI or Displayport stick, which simulates a monitor for the GPU, you could then remote into the gaming rig from a thin client-like PC through Moonlight/Sunlight, allowing you to use it as a fully fledged gaming or workstation PC.

If anyone decides to go that route, be aware that AMD GPU’s have pretty notoriously bad encoders, so I’d recommend sticking with Nvidia (Pascal/1000 series or newer) or Intel GPU’s/Integrated Graphics (6th generation 6000 series or newer) for the Host machine. It’s a little less important for the client, I think.

EDIT: AMD did actually improve their encoders in recent years, starting with the Raven Ridge integrated graphics APUs, and the first generation Navi cards (RX 5700 onward, the lower end cards don’t have it).

  • n3m37h@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    AMD GPU’s have pretty notoriously bad encoders/decoders, so I’d recommend sticking with Nvidia or Intel GPU’s.

    Where do people get this idea??

    Here is 1440p 60fps from my 6700 XT

    https://youtu.be/F4mFHM6aAiA

    Ive been using emby for a few years and firefox doesn’t support HVEC where all my content is HVEC and have had 0 issues with my gpu re-encoding the video

    Its just nvidia fanboy bs

  • Trainguyrom@reddthat.comEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    This is actually a project on my to-do list for my kids. Sucks that each seat can’t share a framebuffer (otherwise multiple GPUs would be entirely optional) but to get 2 decent gaming experiences out of a cheap used PC plus an extra GPU is pretty sweet

  • Artopal@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Wasn’t UNIX (and thus Linux) all about multi seat like since the seventies?

    • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      Yes, but mixing in 3D hardware acceleration was apparently quite difficult to achieve until systemd came along to make it somewhat painless.

    • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      I will admit I became a bit giddy at the prospect of using a beefy Linux rig like it’s 1971, as our Lord and Saviors Dennis Richie & Ken Thompson intended. 😌