Want to unlock the full power of your Steam Deck? With just one clever trick-and a $7 app-you can stream your entire Xbox library straight to your handheld, no browser hacks or complicated setups required. Here’s how gamers are ditching the TV and taking their Xbox adventures anywhere, using a solution so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.
I’ve owned the Xbox Series S, which I affectionately call the Baby Xbox, since launch day. And yet I almost never play any games on it, compared to my other devices. Why? Because until recently, I didn’t have the ability to stream Xbox games to my Steam Deck. Now, thanks to a little app called XBPlay, which costs $7 but is worth every penny, I’m finally going to be booting up my Xbox just as often as my PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Allow me to explain: I simply love to play video games in handheld mode. Sure, I have dual computer monitors and a very impressive television, but handheld gaming has huge benefits – namely, for playing games while also watching TV in the background. (Like a less unhinged version of the three-TV lifestyle.) Especially when it’s a massive RPG with lots of little side quests, like, say Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for the PlayStation 5, I have a much easier time completing and enjoying the experience when I can get through some of it on Steam Deck.
It was a huge pain in the butt to get PS5 Remote Play to work properly on the Deck; it requires using a tool called Chiaki, which I only understood how to get up and running after reading multiple Reddit threads and watching multiple how-to YouTube videos. The end result? Still worth it. I use PS5 Remote Play on my Steam Deck all the time – again, especially for big RPGs.
I recently got Metaphor: ReFantazio for the Xbox, which started off fine with me playing it on a big screen. Soon, however, I realized that this massive (but delightful) RPG would be so much better if I could also get in some play sessions in handheld mode. I remembered how annoying it was to get PS5 Remote Play to work on my Steam Deck, and I figured I’d have to go through a similar hassle this time around.
Nope. Not even close! There’s a $7 app on the Steam store right now called XBPlay, and people, it just works. I can’t believe how well it works, as well as how amazing Metaphor: ReFantazio looks on my Steam Deck. Setting up XBPlay took maybe five minutes, tops. The hardest part was that Steam didn’t list XBPlay in my games library, so after purchasing it, I had to search for it manually on my Steam Deck and create a shortcut for it so I could easily find it in the future.
What innovations are transforming the way desktop computers perform?
Innovations Transforming Desktop Computer Performance
Recent advancements in desktop computer technology have significantly enhanced performance, efficiency, and user experience. Here are some key innovations:
1. 3D VLSI Technology
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Stacked Architectures: Companies like Intel and TSMC are developing true 3D Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) technologies, which involve stacking multiple layers of circuits to improve performance and efficiency. This approach allows for more cores to be packed into a smaller space, enhancing parallel processing capabilities similar to those found in GPUs.
2. Advanced Processors and Graphics
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High-Performance CPUs and GPUs: The integration of powerful processors like the AMD Ryzen R2000 series and the latest Intel i7 and i9 CPUs has significantly boosted desktop performance. Additionally, GPUs such as NVIDIA’s RTX 4080 Super offer high frame rates and superior graphics for gaming and professional applications.
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Apple’s M-Series Chips: Apple’s M4 and M4 Pro chips in the new Mac mini provide impressive performance, combining power with energy efficiency in a compact form factor.
3. Energy Efficiency and Compact Design
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Energy-Efficient Designs: The trend towards more energy-efficient processors is evident in the development of compact PCs that deliver high performance while consuming less power. This is crucial for applications like edge computing and AI vision systems.
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Compact Form Factors: Devices like the Core Innovations All-in-One Desktop PC offer a sleek design with integrated components, optimizing space while maintaining performance.
4. Enhanced Connectivity and Storage
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Fast Storage Solutions: The use of NVMe SSDs provides rapid data access speeds, reducing load times for applications and games.
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Improved Connectivity: Modern desktops now feature advanced connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C ports, and Thunderbolt ports, facilitating faster data transfer and better peripheral support.
These innovations collectively contribute to transforming desktop computers into more powerful, efficient, and versatile machines suitable for a wide range of applications from gaming to professional work environments.
How will 3D VLSI impact future desktop computer designs
3D VLSI technology is poised to revolutionize desktop computer designs by addressing critical bottlenecks in performance, power efficiency, and component integration. Here’s how this innovation will reshape future systems:
1. Enhanced Performance Through Vertical Stacking
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Reduced Interconnect Delays: By stacking CPU, GPU, and memory layers vertically with Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs), 3D VLSI cuts wire lengths by up to 60%, slashing signal delays and power consumption. This enables faster data transfer between components, particularly beneficial for latency-sensitive tasks like gaming and AI inference.
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High-Density Compute: Stacking multiple processor cores or memory layers in 3D configurations allows desktops to achieve higher core counts without increasing physical footprint, enabling teraflop-scale performance in compact form factors.
2. Energy Efficiency and Thermal Innovations
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Lower Power Consumption: Shorter interconnects reduce resistive losses, while optimized layouts minimize idle power leakage. This could cut total system power by 20-30% compared to traditional 2D designs.
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Advanced Cooling Solutions: While 3D stacking increases thermal density, desktop systems are adopting hybrid cooling strategies like microfluidic channels and vapor chambers to dissipate heat from stacked dies.
3. Heterogeneous Integration for Specialized Workloads
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Mixed-Technology Stacks: Future desktops may integrate silicon photonics, AI accelerators, and legacy CPU/GPU cores in a single 3D package. For example, HBM memory stacked directly on GPUs could boost bandwidth
