N Shield prefix. Stream PC games with GameStream technology
To the editorial board of the portal site the test got a miniature set-top box from the company NVIDIA - SHIELD TV is an advanced media player for gamers that allows you to play and stream movies, as well as run games both through streaming and on your own hardware. But first things first.
Specifications:
- Unit size: 98 x 159 x 26mm
- Weight: 250 grams
- Graphics: NVIDIA Tegra X1 based on Maxwell 1GHz architecture with ARM processors Cortex A57 (4 cores) and ARM Cortex A53 (4 cores), 2.0 GHz
- Memory: 3 GB
- Storage for programs: 16 GB
- Connection: Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, 2x2 MIMO Bluetooth 4.1 LE
- Ports: USB-A 3.0 (2 pcs), Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0b HDCP 2.2 CEC
- Operating system Google Android TV (Android 7.0) with support for Google Cast
- Sound formats: AAC, WMAPro, AMR, DTS, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, WAV, WMA
- Video formats: ASF, AVI, MPEG-4, VC-1, VP8, VP9, WMV9, XviD, DivX, H.263, H.264, H.265, M2TS, MKV, MOV, MPEG-2
- Warranty: 1 year
NVIDIA SHIELD TV comes in two configurations, the main differences of which are in size, amount of built-in memory for storing information and, accordingly, price. In the PRO version, users have access to 500 GB, while the standard models are equipped with 16 GB. At the same time, 5 GB are reserved for the operating system. Additionally, the PRO version has a Micro USB 2.0 port for connecting to a computer, an infrared sensor and a Micro SDXC slot.
Recently NVIDIA announced a new version of the kit for the standard version, without a gamepad, which will cost significantly less (13,500 rubles versus 18,000 rubles for the standard version with a joystick).
We also received the standard version, which included the 16 GB version of the console, the remote control remote control, a SHIELD game controller, a controller charging cable and a cord with an external power supply that is built into the plug. The plug itself is composite and allows you to rearrange the nozzles - depending on which sockets you use (two nozzles are included in the kit).
It is important to note that HDMI is not included in the kit, so in order to display 4K HDR and 60FPS on a new UltraHD panel, you will need to purchase an HDMI 2.0 cable.
The console is neatly packed in a tight, stylish box that reliably protects the contents from external influences.
The new NVIDIA SHIELD TV is very compact. If we compare this version of the device with the 2015 model, then it has become not only smaller, but also two and a half times lighter. The gadget is about the size of a screen. Nintendo switch, but slightly thicker than him. The top of the case is decorated with a three-dimensional relief that resembles the letter N and in front during operation glows green.
All connectors - HDMI, power, 1GB Ethernet LAN and two USB 3.0 - are located on the back, which is very convenient when it comes to connecting the power cable. wired internet, HDMI and memory cards, and it's completely inconvenient when you want to charge a gamepad or connect a keyboard and mouse.
As noted above, there are only two USB slots, which is clearly not enough for comfortable use of the console, especially considering that the free internal memory of the base model is only 11 GB, and some games and applications require a keyboard mouse and refuse to work with a gamepad and SHIELD remote control ... All connectors are located very compactly, so if you use non-standard flash drives, they may not fit in width with other wires.
The joystick design looks funny and unusual - due to the use of cyberpunk-style triangular elements. Despite the ruggedness, the controller lies well in the hands and resembles an Xbox One controller, only with the arrangement of the sticks like that of the PlayStation.
The joystick's unusual features include a built-in microphone for voice commands and a touch-sensitive volume bar between the sticks.
Slightly below the buttons "Back", "Play / Pause" and "Return to the main menu of the console" are densely located. They must be pressed gently, as there is a great chance of missing, especially if you use your thumb.
The remote control also has a touch-sensitive strip and microphone, which turns off to save power when not in hand.
As for the gamepad, the internal battery lasts for a long time. In a month of using NVIDIA SHIELD TV, we charged the joystick only once.
When you start the device, you are greeted with a simple Android TV based menu operating system Android 7.0. Quick setup, which includes creating a profile and choosing an avatar implies connecting the main Gmail mail, but for full use NVIDIA SHIELD TV also needs to link the console to an NVIDIA account.
The design of the main menu is very clear - the operating system sorts the content in three lines: New, Applications, Games. Additionally, at the very bottom there is a line with small icons for settings, monitoring connected controllers and turning off the device. And at the very top of the screen there is a button for calling a voice search, activating the keyboard and time.
It should be noted that for quick access to voice search you can simply press the center button on your controller or remote control. Speech recognition is at a high level, so there are no problems with search.
Detailed settings slide out from the right side of the screen in the manner of panels quick menu Xbox One and PS4 and allow you to display images of any quality level, check network status, connect to accounts, and much more.
The menu is very fast and fluid - even in 4K resolution. Launching applications and navigating through tabs occurs either instantly, or almost instantly - depending on the application.
The only thing that saddened us was the absence of a gift card activation item in the store menu (because of this, you have to use a smartphone), as well as a pixelated standard background and the inability to replace it. You can choose from three options for the screensaver, but the picture in the main menu cannot be changed - you will see a low quality image that shines with pixels and compression artifacts - especially noticeable on UltraHD displays. Hopefully NVIDIA will change this in the next updates.
And there will definitely be updates. After unpacking and connecting to the network, the console prompts you to go to new version firmware. Also patches for controller and remote are available. The company has already announced the integration of technology Google Assistant, which allows you to control your smart home through voice commands using microphones built into the remote control and gamepad, as well as special sensors that can be purchased separately. The technology is not available at this time. NVIDIA promises to reveal more details in the future.
SHIELD TV accepts all known video codecs, so it copes seamlessly with playing movies from a flash drive or through the cloud in 4K HDR format at 60 FPS. It no longer plays 8K videos.
The built-in Android and Plex players either take a long time to load videos or may freeze for a moment when playing 4K HDR content at 60 FPS (similar videos at 30 FPS run smoothly, but also take a long time to load in PLEX). Therefore, it is highly recommended to immediately download VLC Player from the Google store built into the console menu. This player loads instantly, has more convenient menu while smoothly displaying heavy videos at 60 FPS.
As for lovers of high-quality sound, NVIDIA does not have licenses for decoding multi-channel Dolby, so you will have to use an external receiver or DAC.
For those who do not want to strain, the SHIELD TV menu has NETFLIX and Amazon Video applications, and from the Google store you can download ShowJet, ivi and other services for streaming movies and TV series, including those that have Russian audio tracks.
Funny observation: YouTube channels with supposedly HDR / Dolby Vision content don't actually have real HDR / Dolby Vision - even though high brightness and powerful contrast - and even if you download the original files with a special program 4K Downloader. This is evidenced by the absence of a pop-up window with the inscription HDR / Dolby Vision when the file is included.
At the same time, recordings with real HDR can be found on the gaming site GamerSyde, which from time to time posts them in its news.
First of all, we tried NETFLIX, which has a simple interface and quick registration with free first month of use. The main advantage of the service is a huge library of excellent quality. There is not only UltraHD movies and TV shows, but also in some cases, HDR support. In this case, you will receive a crystal clean picture with bright light where you need it and more detail in dark scenes.
Unfortunately, in the service menu there is still no option to display only 4K HDR content - you have to search for lists on the Internet.
The connection is not always stable. We did not find the hang-ups typical of cheap TV boxes, but sometimes the signal quality drops temporarily and details are lost. Obviously, the whole point is not in the console, but in the heavy weight of 4K files that are streamed from Western servers and which even the fastest Internet cannot handle. Fortunately, this rarely happens.
It's important to note that NETFLIX offers Russian users only subtitles in Russian, but sometimes not even them (there are, for example, Finnish). We did not find any voice acting in Russian. Moreover, there is no option in the menu to change the subtitle color from white to gray. Because of this, when HDR is on, the subtitles shine too brightly at you from the screen, which is not very pleasant when watching dark scenes with the lights off. With the lamp on, there are no such problems.
We tested the performance against the performance of LG's premium OLED 55C6V TVs and found that both SHIELD TV and LG's built-in hardware do a great job of handling 4K HDR 60 FPS video. At the same time, LG can display videos in the premium dynamic range of Dolby Vision, while NVIDIA SHIELD TV displays the same videos, but only in a simpler HDR.
We also checked out the less expensive Samsung MU6470, which was also capable of displaying 4K HDR content at 60 FPS without any problems.
As a result, we came to the conclusion that streaming and playing videos on SHIELD TV, provided that you have an advanced TV with Smart TV functions, does not make any sense. The TV itself does an excellent job with these functions (although SHIELD TV has many times more convenient menus).
The only exception can be video in not the most popular formats which the TV may not support. In this case, SHIELD TV with its ability to “have” everything comes in handy. But this is a rather rare case that only applies to local playback and does not apply to services like NETFLIX.
On the other hand, some screens, such as 4K monitors (for example, the Viewsonic XG2700-4K, which we tested a year ago), do not have the filling necessary for independent video playback. Obviously, SHIELD TV was created for users of such relatively budget options.
Games are also an important feature of the console. NVIDIA SHIELD TV works with Android games from the Google Store and - interestingly enough - supports game streaming from PCs and offers the GeForce Now streaming service. The latter is worth mentioning separately, but a little later.
We tested the capabilities of the system using the 3DMark program available in the Google store built into the console menu.
The Sling Shot Extreme Unlimited test gave 4059 points (maximum - 4120 points) and the rating “ Good news! It is one of the most powerful devices and everything works fine. ”
The Ice Storm Extreme test gave 14160 points (maximum reached) and the rating “Good news! It is one of the most powerful devices and everything works fine. ”
The console's stand-alone graphics rating in this test was 13663 points (maximum reached) with 59.9 and 58.9 FPS in the two graphics tests. Physics processing rating - 16223 points with an indicator of 51.5 FPS in physics test.
In a separate table of records, NVIDIA SHIELD TV is in second place, behind only the new iPad Pro 2017 in the 12.9-inch version.
The system is potentially quite interesting as a standalone console, as it is based on the latest version of the NVIDIA Tegra GPU - X1. This GPU is the heart of the Nintendo Switch system. Moreover, the lack of a portable mode - SHIELD TV must be constantly connected to the power supply to function - allows the set-top box to work at maximum frequencies at any time, which simplifies optimization and, in theory, allows you to achieve a better picture.
Unfortunately, major publishers don't release their own big games on it - most of the products in the store are dedicated Android ports created by NVIDIA's in-house Lightspeed Studios.
The store has Portal, Half-Life 2 and two episodes for it, Resident Evil 5, Super Meat Boy, Doom 3: BFG, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Tomb Raider 2013, Q.U.B.E., The Witness and other projects.
We tried to play The witness, a concept adventure from Jonathan Blow, but ran into trouble launching the game. When enabled, the port takes a long time to load, and then reports that it was not possible to check the license. When you try to repeat or close the application, the console freezes and does not allow you to go to the main menu. Due to the fact that SHIELD does not have a physical on / off button on the console body and the only way to turn off the system is to press the virtual button in the main menu of the system, we had to unplug the power cable ... After rebooting and checking the network connection and Google / NVIDIA accounts, we tried again and ran into the same problem again ...
Fortunately, neatly carried over Doom 3: BFG Edition works great on NVIDIA SHIELD TV. We did not find any technical jambs. The game is rendered at 1080p at 60 frames per second, so it looks crisp and offers fast and responsive gamepad controls. Moreover, in this version, you can flashlight and shoot at the same time, downloads are very fast and there is no terrible PC version soap filter on SHIELD.
But we were disappointed with the very noticeable texture compression artifacts. Some objects are extremely sharp, while others look very “pixelated” - clearly worse than in the PC version.
Obviously, the problem is not at all in the power of the console, which is more than enough to handle graphics of the Doom 3 level, but in the need to cut the weight of the files so that the game takes up as little space as possible on the 11 GB of the device's internal memory. Doom 3: BFG Edition weighs roughly 2GB on SHIELD versus 11GB on PC and 7GB on PS3 / Xbox 360. The incredibly pixelated loading screens support this theory.
As for the publicly available Android applications, the storefront, as it turned out, does not adapt to the console, so we are offered to download games that cannot be played without a touch screen ... Fortunately, projects that work with the pad are marked with a special tag. You cannot play World of Tanks: Blitz on NVIDIA SHIELD TV. This is sad.
Works great on SHIELD TV on gamepad on maximum settings graphics, delighting with an excellent frame rate and the clearest picture of all the projects we tested.
Nevertheless, the mobile origin still makes itself felt - due to the weak elaboration of some details, such as car windows, small objects and characters' hands. It was not conspicuous on the smartphone screen, but is clearly visible on the 55-inch OLED panel.
Aim control with the right trigger works with a slight delay, which is compensated for by moving the character using the left trigger. This allows you to aim more accurately. As a result, you can quickly get used to playing on TV and, after 10 minutes of playing, give your enemies headshots.
And here Modern Combat 5: Blackout for some reason, it does not allow you to change the definition settings, which are set to 80% by default, which is why the image is full of pixels. You can raise the frame rate up to 60 frames per second, but the pad controls are very crooked. As a result, we turned off the game at the second level.
It looks good from EA and runs smoothly. But the simple, albeit clean environment is replete with huge ladders, and in the options we did not find the settings for increasing the resolution.
It is worth noting that all three games have problems with adapting the menu to the gamepad, since they were created for touch screens of smartphones and tablets.
The best TV experience in Android apps left the Telltale Games projects, which look like real kings against the background of a mobile trash can and immediately absorb into history, delighting with interesting characters and cinematic production.
Works great on SHIELD and is perfectly adapted to the controller. At the same time, the game looks nice - not only due to good clarity, but also great job with style.
Perhaps the most interesting feature NVIDIA SHIELD TV is still a game streaming from a computer and specifically the GeForce Now service. The first works provided that you are using an NVIDIA graphics card. To get the best picture quality with 4K and HDR, you need a top card like a GTX 1080 or 1080 Ti and GeForce Experience. You can connect SHIELD TV to your computer either by air or by wire. The second option is preferable, but in general, Wi-Fi at 5 GHz is also suitable.
It is only natural that SHIELD TV allows you to play your games even when you are far from your computer - and this is the main reason for streaming on SHIELD TV in our opinion. In this case, the main thing is to leave your PC on.
For those who do not own a powerful PC or do not have a computer at home, NVIDIA has created a special service - GeForce Now. The preinstalled application allows you to stream computer games at the maximum detail settings. Graphics are processed on NVIDIA servers and sent to SHIELD TV over the Internet. The picture can be of any resolution - depending on the game itself. Some projects do not support resolutions higher than 1080p. Others support it. You can change the graphics level manually in the options if available.
It's important to note that most games have an HD 1080p icon, but that doesn't mean you will be limited to that resolution. Some projects with this tag are only misleading - and in fact, these games can run in a higher resolution. For example 1600p in Ultra street fighter iv... However, to be honest, we did not notice any special difference in picture clarity between 1080p and 1600p.
The subscription for the first month is free. Then they will ask you 650 rubles a month. For a subscription, you will get free access to a large number of projects, such as Tomb Raider 2013, the re-release of the original BioShock, The Witcher 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Saints Row IV, Borderlands, Batman: Arkham City, Spec Ops: The Line, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and the aforementioned Ultra Street Fighter IV.
And for some games, like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year and Batman: Arkham Knight, you will have to pay separately. The cost of paid games varies from project to project. Simple arcades like Snake Pass or Lumini can be bought for 250 - 450 rubles. Large projects cost from 900 to 2000 rubles. The most expensive games of the service at the moment are The Surge and No Man’s Sky, for which they ask for 2,000 rubles. The full version of The Witcher 3 costs 1,500 rubles.
All paid games come with a Steam download code. Except for The Witcher 3. If you buy it from GeForce Now, you will receive a GOG version key. Unfortunately, the versions are not related in any way. You won't be able to use your saves from Steam or transfer saves from GeForce Now to it.
Ubisoft games and uPlay service integration are coming soon to GeForce Now.
We have tested several projects. The first turned out to be a MOBA from Epic Games with incredibly beautiful graphics that runs on the latest version of the Unreal Engine 4. The game supports a gamepad, but only after you complete registration, which can be done by connecting a keyboard to the console. The gameplay is superbly optimized for the pad.
We couldn't find the graphics settings, but it looks like the game in the version for the GeForce Now streaming service runs at maximum detail and pleases with excellent textures, luxurious character models and beautiful lighting.
However, the quality of the video stream is far from perfect - you can clearly see compression artifacts - especially in dark silhouettes. And there is a slight lag.
The lag is felt and Ultra Street Fighter IV. Characters perform actions with a slight delay of about half a second. At the same time, the picture in this game looks much cleaner. Compression artifacts are not visible, although the image looks a little “soft” relative to games that are rendered on the console itself. At the same time, at maximum graphics settings, the game runs at 298 frames per second.
Ultra Street Fighter IV also lets you discover the inside of the GeForce Now server. As it turned out, this is a 64-bit system on Windows 8 Datacenter Edition with an Intel Xeon CPU E5-2697 v4 @ 2.30 GHz processor with 15251 Mb of memory and an NVIDIA Tesla P40 video card. The price of the latter is 400,000 rubles ...
We also tested Tomb raider 2013, which in GeForce Now produces a stable 60 frames per second at maximum graphics settings in 1080p resolution. It is impossible to raise the resolution higher. If you turn off vertical sync, then the NVIDIA server will process the game at an average speed of 107 frames per second, walking in the range of 76 - 134 FPS.
The picture looks very clear and pleases with high details. The realistically flowing hair of the main character looks especially beautiful.
In this game, the “softness” of the video stream is almost imperceptible, artifacts are visible only if you take a good look at the dark parts of the picture, and there is no delay in control at all.
It is important to note that during the entire period of using the service, there have never been any technical problems or errors. NVIDIA servers are stable and games are always smooth.
After a month active use NVIDIA SHIELD TV is a mixed bag. On the one hand, this is a high-quality, feature-rich device with support for 4K HDR 60 FPS, which in terms of performance and playback capabilities various video formats is ahead of all other similar solutions on the market, can perform the most different tasks and is perfect as a set-top box for those who do not have a screen with Smart TV functions.
On the other hand, most modern UltraHD panels already have the ability to play 4K HDR 60 FPS content and have built-in video streaming services like NETFLIX.
From the point of view of games - the library of Android applications is severely limited on SHIELD TV by the lack of a touch screen, most projects from smartphones are still rubbish, and looking for pearls that are optimized for a gamepad is a rather thankless task. Although for the same games from Telltale Games, the device is great. There are still too few ports from NVIDIA for large projects, and there are no interesting exclusives at all.
The main trump card of the device, as we see it, remains the streaming of games from the PC and the GeForce Now service, which works perfectly, which can be an excellent solution for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on buying a new computer or want to have access to games from their PC in anywhere in the world, subject to the availability of a high-quality Internet channel.
And, of course, it will be very curious to see the potential of the gadget to become the center of the smart home when NVIDIA launches the system in conjunction with Google Assistant and SmartThings Hub.
Nvidia is known for its graphics systems, however, the company has looked towards Android boxes for a while. The area is interesting, because Apple already not a cake for a long time, which means you can fight for a piece of the pie. However, Nvidia has introduced more than a typical set-top box, it can turn a regular TV into the center of mobile entertainment with multimedia and PC games. The secret is in the unique cloud service GeForce Now. The latter, recently, has evolved from a closed service with a fixed list of games into something more. About what has changed and what opportunities it has acquired attachment Shield TV, in our review.
Specifications
- Image resolution: 4K HDR, 1080P, 720P.
- Image frame rate: up to 60 Hz in any mode.
- Operating system: Android TV based on 8.0.0 Oreo.
- Chipset: Nvidia Tegra X1.
- CPU: Cortex-A57 (4 x 2 GHz) + Cortex-A53 (4 x 2 GHz).
- GPU: Nvidia Maxwell, 256 compute units at 1 GHz.
- RAM: 3 GB LPDDR4, 1600MHz, 64-bit.
- Built-in memory: 32GB eMMC 5.1.
- Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0b, Ethernet, power connector.
- Dimensions: 98 x 159 x 25 mm.
- Weight: 250 grams.
- Communication: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (Dual-Band, MIMO 2x2), Bluetooth: 4.1.
Packaging and delivery set
The set-top box is delivered in a box made of thick cardboard white... Under the cover there is a console and a control panel. One level below: Shield wireless controller, microUSB cable, power adapter (19 V, 2.1 A) with adapters for European and English plugs, as well as some waste paper. They did not put in an HDMI cable, since it is a common thing.
Appearance
The body of the console is wedge-shaped and combines matte and glossy plastics. The bezel features a green LED strip and the Nvidia logo. All ends, except for the rear, are glossy. Shield TV mounts horizontally on a table, and a Shield Stand is also available for vertical installation. The design is extremely unusual and self-sufficient, the console fits perfectly into any environment.
The rear end is occupied by interfaces. Among them: two full-fledged USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0b with support for HDCP 2.2 CEC HDR, Ethernet and a power connector.
In addition, there are ventilation holes at the back through which the active cooling system draws in air. The withdrawal takes place through the grill on the back. The shape of the case has been played out so as not to impede air discharge. The cooling system is inaudible even under load. Stable operation without throttling is guaranteed.
Remote control and Shield controller
In the media player mode, it is more convenient to use the remote control, which is compact and lightweight. On the glossy case, they placed: a navigation cross and keys for back, home, activation of the search assistant. In the lower part, the gloss is diluted with matte plastic. The area between the inserts is a touch panel for volume control and playback controls. From the functional elements - a microphone on the front side.
The remote is wireless, connects via Bluetooth and does not require a line-of-sight console. An additional IR transmitter at the top is designed to control third-party equipment. The remote is powered by a pair of CR2032 batteries hidden in a tray at the bottom.
The gamepad is predominantly made of matte plastic with a rough finish. The shape of the controller is anatomical, the palms instantly clasp the rounded body. The controller is comfortable to hold in your hands, you don't feel tired even after hours of gaming battles.
The gaming keys are in the expected places, you don't have to reach for them. The layout is familiar, the sticks are located in the center. On the ends on the button and analog trigger. All gaming keys are glossy.
The block at the bottom of the three keys: back, start and home, is responsible for managing the system. The glossy panel between the sticks replicates the functionality of the touch area on the remote. And the Nvidia key calls up the voice assistant, the microphone is located a little higher on the gray insert. Hidden at the bottom standard connector for headphones, I'm not sure if wires are relevant in our time, it is much more convenient to use wireless headphones.
The controller connects via Bluetooth, the built-in battery is recharged via microUSB at the top, the cable is conveniently connected directly to the USB ports of the console.
Iron
Shield TV is based on the powerful Nvidia Tegra X1, which combines 4 Cortex-A57 cores and 4 Cortex-A53 cores. Both clusters operate at frequencies up to 2 GHz using the big.LITTLE scheme. The technological process level is 20 nm. The 256-core NVIDIA Maxwell graphics engine is compatible with DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, NVIDIA CUDA, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan API and AEP suite of extensions, an extremely powerful solution.
RAM type LPDDR4 operates at 1600 MHz. The total volume of 3 GB is divided between the system and the graphics subsystem, the communication channel is 64-bit. Built-in memory 16 GB, available about 11 GB, eMMC drive type 5.1. There is no slot for a memory card; you can expand the memory only with the help of external USB drives.
Software
The console runs Android TV based on Android 8.0.0 Oreo. The shell modified by the company was named SHIELD Android TV. The interface is divided into sections with vertical scrolling inside. You can display your favorite applications on the home screen. Access to the rest is opened by holding the home button.
Data entry using on-screen keyboard or by voice, if desired, you can connect an external keyboard via USB or Bluetooth. The system is fully adapted for a large TV screen and control using a remote control or gamepad.
The set-top box copes with viewing media content with a bang, the interface is smart and smooth. Navigation through applications and sections is intelligently optimized for the remote control, control is intuitive. It is also worth praising the variety of pre-installed services: YouTube, Google Movies and Music, Netflix, Prime Video. But in Google play There are plenty of third-party apps optimized for Android TV. If necessary, the video can be viewed from an external storage connected via USB or from a network storage. With Google Cast, you can stream content directly from your smartphone. The Nvidia Tegra X1 decodes videos up to 4K resolution at 60 FPS, the highest available today.
Game possibilities
First of all, Nvidia Shield TV is a game console. But before us is not a bulky piece of iron, but a compact TV set-top box with minimal electricity consumption. Secret in cloud technologies, games are aggregated in the Nvidia Games app, full list compatible is available on the official website.
Games from Google Play
The app store contains several dozen games adapted for Android TV. Among them are not only casual games, platformers, racing arcades and shooters that are familiar to smartphones. More serious games are compatible with the platform: the classic Rockstar series, several parts of Final Fantasy, sports simulators, Minecaft, Goat Simulator and other titles of various calibers. Exclusives include the classic Valve series, several Borderlands titles, Metal Gear, Resident Evil and even DOOM 3 - over 20 games in total. The entire library is fully adapted for the gamepad, there are no control problems.
Google Play has a wide range of emulators for old consoles and computers adapted for Android TV. Emulation is one of the uses of Shield TV, but to store many games you will have to connect a flash drive via USB 3.0, since the built-in 16 GB, of which only 11 GB is available, is hardly enough.
Any of the games presented works smoothly and without brakes, but the resolution does not exceed 1080P, or even 720P. Initially Android games they are not designed for more, and serious projects like Metal Gear or Borderlands rest on the portability of the solution. In general, the library of games will not let you get bored, Nvidia has created the desired variety. But there are still a few trump cards up the sleeve of the company.
Streaming games from a personal computer
First of all, we are talking about broadcasting games from a PC that is located in the same local network. Thus, you no longer need to sit in front of the monitor with a mouse and keyboard, PC gaming is transferred to a soft sofa with a comfortable gamepad in hand. You will need to install on your computer NVIDIA program GameStream and choose the games of interest. Some of the names are incompatible with the Shield controller and require a keyboard and mouse connection.
Important note, the computer must be equipped with an Nvidia video card, in our case - GeForce GTX 1050. Streaming over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, requires 5GHz 802.11n or better. At a maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz, the broadcast works stably even when the console is connected via a loaded Wi-Fi, and the computer is via a wire. At the same time, Steam did not allow you to select a resolution higher than FHD, moreover, the GeForce GTX 1050 is not able to simultaneously play and encode, for example, GTA 5, sometimes there were slowdowns.
GeForce Now Cloud Service
Previously, GeForce NOW was compatible with a fixed number of games, but after a recent update, the company has radically changed the approach. From now on, the service supports such popular game distribution services as Steam and Uplay, which radically changes the situation. It is enough to log in to the listed services and access to your personal library of games opens. The list of at least 225 items tested by Nvidia is constantly growing. If the game you want is not in the user's account, you can buy it through the console, you do not need to log in to the computer. What's more, exclusively on Shield, over 50 games are offered for free for all tastes.
The service is designed so that synchronization game progress happens automatically, the data is stored in the cloud account. Coupled with the fact that GeForce Now is compatible with Windows and Mac, the player is not tied to a specific device and place, you can play wherever it is convenient.
Another plus of GeForce NOW is that you don't have to mess around with patches and updates. To start, you just need to press one key and the download will start at the same second. Games only take up a couple hundred kilobytes of console memory, instead of the tens of gigabytes that need to be stored on computers and conventional consoles. Isn't that wonderful?
The performance of game servers is comparable to a GTX 1080 video card. The image is compressed by the H.264 codec and transmitted over the Internet, all control is transferred from the console, the broadcast resolution is limited to 1080P with 60 frames per second. Tested games were displayed in ultra quality, server side brakes were excluded.
The service is more demanding on signal quality, the minimum allowable connection speed is 25 Mbps, and the recommended one is 50 Mbps. But speed is not a determining parameter, ping is much more important. Nvidia data centers are located in different parts of the United States and Europe, only about 15 pieces.
During the broadcast at 1080P 60 FPS, artifacts are noticeable on a busy Wi-Fi network, the movements cease to be smooth, and an indicator of the network quality appears in the upper right corner of the display. Screenshots from Just Cause 2 and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed convey broadcast flaws. If you disconnect other smartphones and laptops from Wi-Fi, or connect the console via Ethernet, the problem disappears.
GeForce Now is in beta and is available free of charge. Despite this, the service works efficiently, the noted problems arise due to the poor quality of the Internet. No complaints about the operation of Nvidia servers have been identified for the entire testing period.
Let's sum up
Nvidia Shield TV takes a fresh approach to the gaming industry. The lightweight and compact console does not take up much space and, most importantly, does not make noise. At the same time, it supports a complete list of modern hits. Moreover, it does not matter at all whether the games are played on the hardware of the console, on a computer in a local network or on a remote Nvidia server - the quality of the gaming experience is equally good. The transfer of computing tasks to an uncompromisingly powerful server through the GeForce Now service looks extremely promising and solves the problem of constant obsolescence of user hardware.Don't forget that Shield TV is an advanced media player. The user has a video and music apps adapted for Android TV, and there are a lot of them. In case of a shortage, you can use the broadcast from the smartphone screen via Google Cast.
For those interested, free demo zones have been created in three cities of Russia, only five pieces, detailed information presented on the company's website. From myself, I note that it is definitely worth trying Shield TV, the console breaks the idea of the gaming industry by the fact that it is not necessary to have the ultimate hardware for full-fledged gaming.
Pros:
- Stunning design.
- Powerful hardware platform.
- Quiet cooling system.
- Sophisticated control with a remote control and controller.
- Nice set of interfaces.
- Android TV on board.
- Rich library of games.
- Insufficient internal memory.
- No HDMI cable included.
- Lack of a slot for misroSD memory cards.
- Problems with streaming games over Wi-Fi.
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV: a media box with gaming services
Today there is a huge selection of produced TV boxes that operate on the Android OS. They are mainly represented Chinese brands... Nvidia Shield TV is a product of an American company. This device is highly versatile. It is positioned as a multifunctional TV set-top box. Its main feature is support for 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range Imaging technology. Among other consoles, this model stands out for its powerful graphics subsystem and voice control.
Specifications
There are two versions of the presented TV box. They differ only in the amount of internal memory. All other characteristics are identical.
The console is powered by SoC Nvidia Tegra X1
Basic parameters of Nvidia Shield TV:
- support for HDMI 2.0 interface standard with HDCP 2.2 content protection system;
- CPU - 64-bit Tegra X1 chip;
- OS - Android 7.0 (based on Android TV);
- the amount of RAM - 3 GB;
- standard for wireless local area networks - 802.11ac;
- support for Bluetooth 4.1;
- 16GB (Shield) and 500GB (Shield Pro) storage
- frame transfer technology - Gigabit Ethernet;
- there are connectors for USB 3.0 x 2, micro-USB 2.0 and micro-SD.
Extra options:
- voice assistant, which is already available on consoles from other manufacturers;
- a new standard that supports 4K resolution (30 and 60 fps), created for digital TV and graphics (the highest image quality is provided);
- NVIDIA GRID cloud technology for games, which allows streaming video games from the Internet;
- a large selection of entertainment applications;
- the ability to install Android games;
- over-the-air updates available.
Equipment
The TV box from Nvidia comes in a box with the classic black and green design for the devices of this manufacturer. The characteristics of the device are indicated on the side of it.
In a box in special inserts all the components are located: the device itself, a proprietary power supply unit for it with replaceable blocks for sockets of different standards, minimum documentation, a remote control and a gamepad with a charging cable
The set includes the following items:
- power unit;
- wireless game controller Shield Controller using the Wi-Fi Direct standard;
- cable for high-definition multimedia (HDMI) and USB 3.0 interface.
The standard kit is not large, but it is enough for the full-fledged operation of the device. But if you wish, you can purchase additional accessories, for example, the Shield remote control. It has a stylish design, a headphone port, support for voice commands and is easy to use. However, its capabilities do not apply to games. This accessory communicates with the main device via Bluetooth. Its price ranges from 4500 rubles.
There is one more accessory - a stand for the Smart-Box, which is purchased separately. Its cost on the official website is 2.5 thousand rubles. It allows you to mount the Nvidia Shield vertically (the device has a very thin body). The demand for this device is low, since not everyone is ready to purchase this expensive auxiliary element.
The appearance of the console
Both versions of the multifunctional device have the same design, which combines glossy and matt surfaces... It is made in a futuristic style. The compact body has a large number of sharp edges and lines. The small size of the set-top box allows you to place it anywhere. On the front of the case there is a touch button, decorated with the manufacturer's logo. When the device is turned on, a green V-shaped indicator lights up.
The plastic is mostly matte, but the sides and the insert on the top panel are glossy
Remote Control
The gamepad comes in one set with the console. It is one of the key elements of the device. The Controller has a stylish design, but it is not compact. It contains triggers, 2 analog sticks, a 4-way button and 2 buttons on the front. In addition, there is a location on the body with navigation touch keys. A headphone jack is also provided. Autonomous work the device is possible for 40 hours due to the built-in battery. It is rechargeable via a micro-USB port.
The technical component of the attachment
Nvidia is a giant in the graphics accelerators, processors and kits industry. system logic... Therefore, the manufacturer did not skimp on the technical component of the new smart set-top box. The device is based on a powerful sixth generation Tegra X1 processor. It was released in 2015 and has 8 cores split into 2 parts. One half is designed for high loads, it consists of 4 cores and is made on the Cortex-A57 architecture. The other half is used at times of low load and is more energy efficient. It is based on the Cortex-A53 architecture.
A similar method of dividing cores in a processor into classes has long been practiced in chips of mobile devices. This allows you to reduce the consumption of battery power, which does not matter for the presented set-top box, since it functions only when connected to the network. These characteristics make it possible to play games with high system requirements.
The set-top box uses a proprietary Android TV-focused google launcher, which is somewhat unusual for users of "regular" Android
Another important technical component of the system was the microarchitecture for the Maxwell GPU. It operates at 1000 MHz, which is superior in performance to devices from Qualcomm.
The Shield TV game console is equipped with 3 GB of RAM. The memory size on the storage device is different for the two device versions. So, in the Shield it is 16 GB, and in the PRO - 500 GB. The graphics subsystem supports the 4K image resolution standard (30 and 60 fps), developed for digital cinema and computer graphics. It provides the highest image quality.
The set-top box from Nvidia works under the control of a specially adapted OS "Android TV". The system is updated regularly. But there are not many apps for it in the store. Not all browsers are adapted for this OS, so you have to install programs from third-party resources or resort to installing the standard Android system. The Shield PRO model runs on Android Nougat OS, which appeared in 2016 and is constantly being improved.
Device performance
The presented set-top box, due to its performance, creates competition with similar devices from other manufacturers. In addition to standard functions, it allows you to install Android games. There is a specialty store that has a separate offer for gaming applications compatible with the Nvidia Shield.
There are several zones with large icons on the screen
The hybrid TV box supports any programs from the Play Market. Some PC releases are also gradually adapting to Shield TV. The manufacturing company is establishing cooperation with various game developers, which indicates the preparation of new gaming products compatible with the console.
The console works in conjunction with the GeForce NOW cloud service. It opens up new possibilities for games that no longer need to be downloaded or updated. The excellent performance of the Pascal GPUs installed on the SHIELD device is made possible by this service. Nvidia's servers themselves process and display images on the user's screen using the console. This process only requires a continuous internet connection.
Every year, games are released with higher requirements for the characteristics of the playback device. The new generation of set-top boxes, which is Shield TV, does not require the owner to constantly purchase more powerful components. The first 30 days of a GeForce NOW subscription are free, but later you will have to pay 650 rubles a month for it. If there is no desire to purchase a subscription, then you can only place an order for specific game releases.
With a good Internet connection, the high quality of the picture during the gameplay is ensured. But, as with any device, dynamic battles can cause some delays in data processing.
Interface
There is a micro-USB port on the back of the case, which is used for connecting a computer or charging. The model is also equipped with multiple connectors for USB 3.0 and HDMI interface, which transmits high definition digital video data. The set-top box can be connected to cable Internet. Additionally, the Nvidia Shield TV has a micro-SD card slot (max. 2 TB).
The upper block displays dynamic recommendations from the programs installed on the device
The presented device combines the following functions:
- Chromecast service (a digital media player designed to play streaming video or audio content using Wi-Fi from the Internet or from a local network);
- SteamLink, which broadcasts a picture from a computer to a TV;
- a full-fledged console console;
- servers that process audio and video signals, media streams and files, which allows your TV to work with a variety of Internet content sources.
Games
The console received active cooling, which is represented by a small cooler. It blows air out through the holes located on the back wall and the bottom of the case. This cooling system allows you to run games without overheating the device.
Access to game content is provided through a special service from NVIDIA. It uses the same subscription principle as in the Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The difference is that in the first case, not only games are rented out, but also virtual facilities. GeForce Now comes with a free month trial use, after which the subscription fee becomes a prerequisite.
The client can use any available product. In this case, you do not have to download anything, since the launch occurs instantly. All data about backups, installations and other things are located in cloud storage NVIDIA. The set-top box only acts as an intermediary, exchanging data between the user and the company's servers. This is very convenient, since the content does not take up much space, as during download and installation, and you don’t have to delete boring games, freeing up space for new ones. In addition, video processing does not load the device.
The only downside is not too much big choice games in the NVIDIA library. It is not yet filled with as much content as the Steam service or the PS4 store. But the developers do not stand still and are gradually replenishing the game library.
Conclusion
Today we can safely say that Nvidia Shield TV is a very tempting proposition in the hybrid set-top box market. Developers keep up with the times, so they have released a product that has many useful functions... The exclusivity of some of them attracts more and more people who want to buy this set-top box. For example, playing Android releases on a gamepad, playing modern games without spending a lot of money to buy a powerful PC - all this can be offered by a simple smart console. The future belongs to such devices, because the easier it is to perform standard functions, the more popular the console becomes in consumer circles. The Nvidia Shield TV fits seamlessly into a smart home. The manufacturer was able to implement in the presented device a high standard of multifunctional equipment.
Advantages
Very high performance
Nicely small form factor
Convenient operation thanks to Android TV
Comprehensive functions software
Remote control and controller included
disadvantages
Relatively high energy consumption
There is no slot for microSD memory cards
Too expensive to be used solely for streaming
Nvidia Shield test results (2017)
- Price-quality ratio
The average - Place in the overall rating
1 of 11
- Value for money: 53
- Equipment (20%): 100
- Management (35%): 97.9
- Streaming (40%): 99.7
- Power Consumption (5%): 38.8
Editorial grade
User rating
You have already rated
In ours, we evaluate Shield TV primarily as a media player, leaving out of the brackets many (primarily gaming) functionalities of the NVIDIA device.
Nevertheless, to get a complete impression of the device, we consider them separately within the framework of this material.
But even as a purely streaming device, this media player climbs to the top spot with 96 points out of 100 possible and keeps the silver medalist, Amazon Fire TV, at a decent distance.
In terms of equipment and streaming features, Shield TV sets new records in their respective disciplines. In particular, this box boasts two USB ports, supports all kinds of external modern media, offers users a gigabit LAN port, ac WLAN module and Bluetooth, and also provides access to the comprehensive Google Play Store for Android platforms TV.
However, compared to the predecessor model, here you will miss a slot for memory cards of the microSD standard, with which it was possible to inexpensively expand the small size of the internal memory, which is only 16 GB. However, USB drives and external hard drives as before, you can use by connecting them via USB ports.
The basis of the code for the operating system is Android 7.x, with which the player is up to date. Onboard there are apps for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Watchever, Maxdome, YouTube, Sky Snap, as well as all relevant media libraries. Thanks to the HDMI 2.0 port, as well as the capabilities of the system on the Tegra X1 chip, the Shield TV is capable of transmitting video in 4K resolution at a speed of 60 frames per second - there is nothing better at the moment. In addition to the console and cables, the package includes a remote control and a superbly made controller.
Alternatively, you can control the device using the native smartphone app. In terms of power consumption, the player from NVIDIA is significantly inferior to competitors in relative comparison, but upon closer examination, the difference between 5.6 W (Shield TV) and 2.0 W (Apple TV 4) in absolute terms turns out to be small.
NVIDIA Shield TV: Best Streaming Client We Tested
What the new Shield is capable of as a gaming console
When it comes to streaming, the Shield is the benchmark, but as a gaming machine, Android TV devices play a very minor role in the market. However, NVIDIA offers users numerous features here that would be of interest to both casual and hardcore gamers.
Users usually start by visiting the Play Store. It has several interesting games that are displayed on this console are simply flawless. These include gameplay gems like Telltale's action-adventure The Walking Dead, the shooter Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and the puzzle game The Witness. The games are based on Android, so you only need one Google account.
GeForce Now goes one step further by providing gamers with a server park that takes care of all the "miscalculations" of PC games and sends the results over the Internet to Shield TV. However, this service will cost players 649 rubles per month. In turn, you will get access to some of the games that are included in the "subscription". At the time of the test, there were, for example, "Deus Ex: Human Revolution", "Just Cause 2", "Hitman: Absolution" and "Tomb Raider". In addition, there are also games that can be purchased separately, but they usually contain a Steam key for local gaming.
Anyone who already owns a gaming PC can also use NVIDIA Game Stream. With this feature, you can stream any games over your home network from your PC to Shield TV. However, a prerequisite for this process is the availability of a suitable GeForce graphics card and software GeForce software Experience. The games can be controlled either with the supplied controller, or through the keyboard and mouse connected to the Shield.
Focus on games: those who play little don't need Shield TV either Looking Ahead: NVIDIA Plans Shield
NVIDIA said something about the future of the Shield console at CES in January this year. In particular, someday this device should become a kind of control center for home networks. To this end, the manufacturer will introduce so-called spot extensions on the market during the year. These modules can be installed anywhere in the apartment or in the house, they must wirelessly connect to the Shield and thus help control the elements of the smart home system, as well as, for example, change the music or its volume.
The software is based on Google Assistant, the system voice control for Android devices. We cannot now check the validity of such statements, since we were never able to test this function within the framework of this test. As soon as the spots become available, we will provide you with an account of our impressions on this topic.
On the "playful" side, in the future, too, something will be done. For example, the partnership between NVIDIA and Ubisoft will soon become even closer. Whoever owns a Ubisoft-equivalent Uplay account will be able to import their library of games and stream through GeForce Now at no additional cost. These games include Watch Dogs 2, Far Cry Primal, and even the just-released For Honor. This service should start within the next few weeks.
Watch_Dogs 2: Coming Soon to Play on Nvidia Shield TV Alternative options
Cheaper: Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD (2nd generation)
The classic among streaming media players is produced by Amazon. comes in two versions, can play 4K content at 30 frames per second and costs about 5500 rubles. It is quite clear: from a gaming point of view, the device from Amazon is not an alternative, because the manufacturer relies on its own shell without direct access to the Play Store. But it fulfills almost every wish you can make of a streaming client - and this at an affordable price.
Smarter: Apple TV 4
Another classic: the fourth generation is the perfect device to reproduce everything that has been made in the Apple universe. The device works excellently with all hardware for iOS, for example, iPhone or iPad, has a clear and beautifully designed shell, and it is equipped excellently. Still, starting at around RUB 9,500, the Apple TV 4 is a relatively expensive player.
| TEST RESULTS | ||
Facilities (20%) |
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Management (35%) |
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Streaming (40%) |
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Power Consumption (5%) |
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| OUTPUT The new Shield TV has proven itself to be an excellent and high-performance Android TV-based media player with strong gaming functionality in the test, easily outperforming the competition at the time of testing. However, there are not so many real innovations compared to the version released in 2015, so for those who already own the previous model, it is not necessary to buy the updated Shield TV model. | 2 connectors | |
| Fat 32 support | Yes | |
| NTFS support | Yes | |
| USB 3.0 | Yes | |
| Memory card slot | - | |
| LAN | 1.000 Mbps | |
| WLAN | Yes | |
| WLAN (ac) | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| HDMI | Yes | |
| Audio Output: Coaxial | - | |
| Audio Output: Optical | - | |
| Play Store Support (Google TV) | Yes | |
| App Store Support | - | |
| Third-party software store support | - | |
| Modular application system | Yes | |
| Game availability | Yes | |
| Browser | - | |
| Browser support for Adobe Flash | - | |
| Amazon Prime | - | |
| Netflix | Yes | |
| Watchever | Yes | |
| Youtube | Yes | |
| Maxdome | Yes | |
| Sky snap | Yes | |
| iTunes | - | |
| Media Library: ARD | Yes | |
| Media library: ZDF | Yes | |
| Media library: Arte | Yes | |
| DLNA | Yes | |
| 4K video playback | Yes | |
| Max. frame rate (4K video) | 60 fps | |
| Amazon Prime: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Netflix: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Youtube: 4K playback | Yes | |
| Airplay | Yes | |
| Miracast | Yes | |
| Voice control | Yes | |
| Keyboard support | Yes | |
| Smartphone control | Yes | |
| Gamepad support | Yes | |
| Power consumption when streaming Youtube | 5.6 watts | |
| Standby power consumption | 3.9 watts | |
| Dimensions (edit) | 9.8 x 15.9 x 2.6 cm | |
| The weight | 250 g | |
Over the past year, I told you about almost all the key players in the Android box market: Xiaomi Mi Box (Amlogic S905X-H), MINIX Neo U9-H (Amlogic S912-H), Ugoos AM3 (Amlogic S912), Zidoo X8 / X9S / X10 (Realtek RTD1295DD). It remains to tell only about HiMedia Q10 Pro on HiSilicon HI3798CV200 and NVIDIA Shield TV on NVIDIA Tegra X1. HiMedia Q10 Pro should have already been on my review, but there were overlaps with the delivery service, and the box flies back to HiMedia. He will definitely come back a little later. Well, today I'm going to tell you about NVIDIA Shield TV. No, I, of course, knew that NVIDIA Shield TV is a cool Android box, but so that ... This is in reality a devil's organ for a wide range of consumers (from “I don’t know anything at all and I don’t know how, I just want to turn on the box and get pleasure "to" what are you sculpting to me about autoframe rate, uniformity, HD sound and firmware output, I know everything without you "). I even had a professional deformation - now I don’t know how to take other boxes without twisting my face, but I will try. Any company that makes Android boxes should distribute NVIDIA Shield TVs to all of their key employees so that they clearly understand which product to look up to.
Specifications
| Model | NVIDIA Shield TV (2017) P2897 Kit without gamepad |
| Body materials | Plastic |
| SoC | NVIDIA Tegra X1 4x ARM Cortex-A57 + 4x ARM Cortex-A53 up to 2 GHz GPU GeForce 6 ULP (GM204) |
| RAM | 3 GB DDR3 |
| Inner memory | 16 GB (eMMC) Expandable with USB stick |
| USB | 2 x USB 3.0 |
| Memory card support | No |
| Network interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, MIMO 2x2 Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.1 |
| Video outputs | HDMI 2.0b (up to [email protected] Hz, Rec. 2020, HDCP 2.2) |
| Audio outputs | HDMI |
| Remote controller | Bluetooth + IR Microphone |
| Nutrition | 19 V / 2.1 A |
| OS | Android TV 7.0 SHIELD Experience 6.2 |
Completion and appearance
The NVIDIA Shield TV set-top box comes in a large and dense cardboard box.
Technical information is printed on the side.
Inside: set-top box, power supply unit with European (type C) and British (type G) nozzles, remote control, quick guide and reference Information, including in Russian. Modestly. Even an HDMI cable is not included.
The power supply is proprietary, rather large. Voltage 19 V, maximum current 2.1 A. Cable length about 180 cm. The connector is proprietary.
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The box body is made of plastic. Chopped forms look very unusual. Some of the elements are matte, some are glossy. The glossy part is instantly covered with micro-scratches.
There is a green insert on top that glows softly when the box is in operation.
Bottom specially coated anti-slip and ventilation holes. There are no legs.
Rear: air vents, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a power connector.
Disassembly of the device and cooling system
We unscrew the two screws at the back and separate the parts of the case.
An active cooling system in the form of a radiator with a snail cooler is immediately visible.
On the back of the board is an eMMC SanDisk SDIN9DW4-16G. According to the specifications, its linear speed is 300/45 MB / s (tests will demonstrate the corresponding speed).
We unscrew the radiator, self-tapping screws for fastening the board and turn it over.
All key elements are hidden under shielding covers. The antennas are wired on the printed circuit board. Only the power controller and the Realtek RTL8111GS Ethernet controller are not hidden. He did not remove the shielding covers.
Although the cooling system is active, it is practically inaudible in operation, even at maximum load. Throughout the entire time of testing and use, throttling was not noticed. The maximum case temperature was around 45 ° C.
Software
The operating system is Android TV 7.0. The firmware itself with all the modifications from Nvidia is called SHIELD Experience. On first launch, the system prompted to upgrade to SHIELD Experience 6.2. This is the freshest firmware at the time of writing this review.I will briefly tell you what Android TV is ...
Android TV is essentially a classic Android system with some adaptations. Moreover, since Android 7, the difference between Android and Android TV has become even more blurred. On Android TV:
- There is no navigation bar and status bar.
- The launcher (home screen) is rigidly fixed - Google Leanback.
- The interface is adapted for TV screens and remote control.
- Programs and Google services also adapted for TV screens and remote control.
- The Google Play Store for Android TV contains only those apps that are adapted for Android TV.
Launcher - Google Leanback. The interface is designed as tiles with horizontal scrolling in several sections: search, recommendations, applications, games, additional functional elements. Customizable recommendations - In Customization, you can specify which programs can add recommendations. Apps and games can be sorted automatically or manually. The screenshots show a system with installed third-party programs and games.
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The Google Play Store follows the same style. It contains only programs that are adapted for Android TV. But many programs and games without an adapted interface work fine on Android TV. If you need to install a program that is not available in the Google Play Store for Android TV, then there are several options. If the program does not have any restrictions, and it simply does not have the Android TV interface declared, then open Google Play in a web browser on a computer under the same account as on Shield TV. Select this program or game, click the "Install" button and specify which device (in this particular case SHIELD TV). Or you can search for this program or game on the box in the browser and open the found link on Google Play. It will open without any problems in the Google Play Store for Android TV, and you can install it. If the program states any restrictions, there is only an option to install from an apk file.
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The system is running Google Cast. At any time, from any device in supported programs, you can broadcast content directly to your TV (Shield TV). For example, you can open Google Play Movies on your smartphone and start playback on Shield TV. You can control playback directly on your smartphone (while the video itself is not played on the smartphone). If necessary, Google Play Movies on your smartphone can be closed, and playback will continue on the box.
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Launch HD VideoBox. HD VideoBox starts up.
Weather in Moscow. The weather is displayed.
Where does the Don River flow into? The Azov sea.
vDud. A list of videos on YouTube opens.
Paradise Lost. The list of clips of Paradise Lost on YouTube opens.
Valerian and the city of a thousand planets. Full information on the film, actors, etc. opens. You can immediately go, for example, HD VideoBox, if this film is there.
What's going to the movies today? The current list of films in cinemas opens.
There is no root support in the system. But if necessary, you can easily install TWRP and add root support. Those interested can even install the usual clean Android 7 system on the box.
To enjoy Android system TV, you need to accept her ideology of remote control.
You will learn about all other features and settings of the system during the review.
Remote control, gamepads, HDMI CEC
The standard Shield Remote works via Bluetooth (for communication with the box) and IR (for working with equipment in certain cases). The remote has a touch panel to adjust the volume. The remote control is quite convenient.
After the first launch, the system immediately offered to update the remote control software.
Brief description of the remote control functions:
Long press the Back button - power menu (Sleep or Restart).
You can turn off the box completely through the "About device" menu.
Double-clicking the Home button - a list of previously launched programs.
Long press of the Home button - screen recording menu, broadcast to Twitch, screenshot.
HDMI CEC support should work like this in an ideal situation:
- A. Send the box to sleep using the Shield Remote, the TV / receiver turns off (goes into standby mode).
- B. Wake up the box with the Shield Remote (any button), the TV / receiver turns on.
- C. With the Shield Remote, you can adjust the volume of your TV / Receiver (if enabled).
- D. Turn on the TV / receiver with the standard TV / receiver remote control, Shield TV turns on.
- F. Turn off the TV / receiver with the standard TV / receiver remote control, Shield TV turns off.
- G. The TV remote control can be used to control the box.
In Settings, you can enable CEC support for power functions. There you can also enable IR support for a specific TV / receiver model and choose how the volume will be adjusted: on the box, on the TV / receiver using CEC, on the TV / receiver using IR.
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- A. No. By IR only. At the same time, at the time of putting the box into sleep, the remote control must be directed towards the TV.
- B. Yes.
- C. No. By IR only.
- D. Yes.
- F. Yes.
- G. Yes.
In my review, I have a boxing version without a complete gamepad. The cheap Chinese gamepad (for $ 7) and the Xiaomi Mi Gamepad both connected via Bluetooth and worked seamlessly. Of course, a cheap gamepad just for tests. You won't wish the enemy to play on it. But Xiaomi Mi Gamepad, my children and I just adore. It belongs to those gamepads that you don't want to let go of.
Performance
The set-top box uses SoC NVIDIA Tegra X1 - 4 ARM Cortex-A57 cores and 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores up to 2 GHz, GPU GeForce 6 ULP (GM204). This is a top box processor and there are no other boxes with a similar class SoC on the market. The system and any programs work very quickly and smoothly. I will tell you about the games separately in the next section of the review. You need to understand that the main thing in Android boxes is media functionality, i.e. VPU and the implementation of its capabilities in software. This will also be discussed in separate sections of the review. But the processor and GPU must have sufficient power to work with the device comfortably. NVIDIA Tegra X1 has a power that covers with a huge margin comfortable work... And the GPU power is generally prohibitive.
NVIDIA Shield TV displays the interface with maximum resolution 1920x1080. Even if you select 3840x2160 on the system, the interface and all programs will continue to run at 1920x1080 and upscaled to 3840x2160. As with many boxes, only SurfaceView objects can display real 4K resolution. It is this kind of output that is used in video players (and not only in them - programs for viewing photos can also use this output, even games in theory) to provide real 4K resolution for video. Those. in fact, it doesn't matter what resolution you run test programs and games with - at 1920x1080 and 3840x2160 the result will be identical. But for the purity of the tests, I used the system resolution of 3840x2160.
Cpu
GPU
| NVIDIA Shield TV | |
| 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme | 4100 |
| Bonsai | 4200 (60 fps) |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex | 60 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex 1080p Offscreen | 121 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan 3.1 | 46 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan 3.1 1080p Offscreen | 47 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Car Chase | 29 fps |
| GFXBenchmark Car Chase 1080p Offscreen | 30 fps |
Games
Games for NVIDIA Shield TV can be divided into three groups:- Games for Android (these are games from Google Play)
- Stream PC games with NVIDIA GameStream
- Cloud Game Streaming with GeForce NOW
At first I wanted to create a table with some games (as I did in my previous reviews). After trying about 10 games, I spat on this idea. There is no Android game that does not perform perfectly in speed on the Shield TV Box. An excellent and huge selection of the game can be viewed on the NVIDIA website (Library section). There you can immediately go directly to Google Play to download or purchase. All games support gamepad or remote control. As usual, there are exclusives for Shield TV, for example: Metal Gear Solid 2/3, Half-Life 2, Portal, Doom 3, Never Alone, etc.
Stream PC games with NVIDIA GameStream
In my reviews, I already told you about the amazing Moonlight Game Streaming program for Android, with which you can use the NVIDIA GameStream service on many Android boxes, i.e. play games that are installed on your PC with an Nvidia video card - stream them to the box. You don't need any third-party software for Shield TV. Everything is already in the system. The program is called NVIDIA Games. It combines the GeForce NOW and NVIDIA GameStream services with local games installed on the box. Just connect to a PC on the local network, select any game on it and play. Resolution and frame rate can be set (up to 2160p60).
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Cloud Game Streaming with GeForce NOW
This is a cloud service from NVIDIA. The game is launched remotely on NVIDIA servers with GeForce GTX 1080 cards (servers are divided into zones in different countries, you can manually select the best option if necessary). The selection of games is large enough. The subscription price is 650 rubles per month. There are free and paid games. It's comfortable to play.
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Internal and external drives
In a fresh system, the user has about 10 GB of internal memory available. The linear read speed is at a level that is beyond the limit for boxes, but the linear write speed is at the level of budget boxes - 252/27 MB / s.
A USB 3.0-connected drive can act as a separate removable storage or can be combined into a single unit with the internal memory of the device. The need for an external drive, the choice of its role, the choice of the type of drive (USB-flash drive, hard drive, SSD) depend on the scenario of using the box.
Checking the supported file systems.
| FAT32 | exFAT | NTFS | HFS + | |
| USB | read / write | read / write | read / write | read / write |
I have connected different drives. A 3.5 "2TB disk worked without any problems. For example, the speed of a fast USB stick (it corresponds to the speed on a PC):
Network interfaces and network services
Per wired network responds to the Realtek RTL8111GS controller. The controller is responsible for the wireless network (it is hidden under a metal screen) with support for 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, MIMO 2x2. The antennas are made on a printed circuit board.The set-top box is located 5 meters from the Xiaomi Mi Roiter 3G router through one reinforced concrete wall - this is the place where I test all Android boxes and mini PCs. The current record holder is Xiaomi Mi Box 3 Enhanced (802.11ac, MIMO 2x2) - 150 Mbps.
The tests were carried out using iperf 3. The iperf server is running on a computer connected to the local network via Gigabit Ethernet. Key R is selected - the server is sending, the device is receiving.
The real data transfer rate via the wired interface is at the level of 945 Mbit / s.
Wi-Fi speed when connected via 802.11ac is 166 Mbps. And these are record values for Android boxes.
For the entire time of tests (most of the time I spent with a Wi-Fi connection) there were no disconnections or reconnections. IPTV (different providers), Torrent Stream Controller, VOD services, BDRip, BDRemux, UHD BDRip, UHD BDRemux from NAS were played without problems. BDRip, BDRemux from torrents directly too. And here UHD BDRip and UHD BDRemux from torrents are directly stable already only over a wired network.
The system has built-in Samba / CIFS client and server. You can connect network storage(NAS) in Settings. At the same time, they are mounted in the / storage folder (i.e. fully at the file system level). The downside is that they are read-only mounted. It looks like a bug, because when this feature appeared in one of the updates, write access was listed in the description.
The server is also included in the Settings. In doing so, you get full access(read and write) to the internal and external storage (if connected).
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General information on decoding and audio / video output
Each box has certain nuances when working with audio and video. The key to a comfortable use of boxing lies through the knowledge of these nuances and the correct selection of software for specific tasks (video player).NVIDIA Shield TV is not licensed to decode (downmix) audio in AC3, DTS, etc., therefore, there are no such decoders in the system, neither in StageFright nor in MediaCodec. Such streams must be decoded programmatically (by means of a video player) or sent in their original form to a receiver / TV (a video player must be able to do this).
On NVIDIA Shield TV, the decoders in the StageFright and MediaCodec libraries are of equal quality. Both options support high quality deinterlacing. Each field is converted into a separate frame, i.e., for example, a stream 25i at the input is converted to 50p at the output.
NVIDIA Shield TV supports the so-called "modern" autoframe, ie. the system implements an API for switching sweep frequencies. The autoframe is controlled by the programs themselves. This means that you need to choose video players with support for modern autoframe.
SoC Tegra X1 does not support VP9 profile 2 decoder. This means, for example, YouTube will not support HDR.
There is no HDR to SDR conversion function in the system. This means that you cannot comfortably watch HDR content on TV without HDR support.
ViMu Media Player... This lightweight player with a convenient and simple interface great for Shield TV. Especially in conjunction with HD VideoBox, Torrent Stream Controller (and similar P2P IPTV), IPTV managers with an external player. It is ideal for playing videos, up to BDRemux locally, from NAS and torrents directly via Ace Stream. It supports modern autoframe (enabled in settings). It has an AC3 software decoder. It has a convenient video scaling function (with individual settings for 4: 3, 16: 9, 2.35: 1). He knows how to pass AC3 and DTS to the receiver / TV for decoding (I have not tested HD formats with this player). At the time of writing this review, ViMu Media Player v6.50 had problems playing HEVC Main 10 content on Shield TV (no problems with HEVC).
Kodi 17+... It is a very powerful media harvester with a cataloger. But in a specific case, we are only interested in his player, which is very advanced both in implementation and in detailed audio and video settings. It has all the up-to-date software downmixes for sound. On NVIDIA Shield TV, it can directly send all current audio formats (including DTS: X, Dolby Atmos, PCM 2.0 24/192). It supports modern autoframe. It is ideal for playing videos up to UHD BDRemux (4K with HDR), locally, from NAS and torrents directly via Ace Stream.
Audio format support and audio output
Sound output is via HDMI, USB DAC or Bluetooth. Let's see how things are in reality with audio output via HDMI. We used an Onkyo receiver for the test.HDMI output
With multichannel audio and Hi-Res output, everything is perfect.
Video format support and video output
NVIDIA Shield TV has HDMI 2.0b output. Supports resolutions up to 3840x2160 60Hz with HDR (Rec. 2020). You can select HDMI color space. The interface is displayed with a maximum resolution of 1920x1080. Even if you select 3840x2160 on the system, the interface and all programs will continue to run at 1920x1080 and upscaled to 3840x2160. As with many boxes, only SurfaceView objects can output real 4K with HDR support, and they are used in many players.
I ran the testing on regular consumer material (it was online on a NAS) using ViMu and Kodi.
The set-top box can handle H.264 decoding up to 2160p60. 60 frames are honest. Any BDRip, BDRemux and action cam videos (2160p60) play without problems. The set-top box copes with decoding H.265 Main 10 (10 bit) up to 2160p60. 60 frames are honest. Any UHD WEBRip, UHD BDRip, UHD BDRemux with HDR plays without problems in Kodi. Some oddities have arisen with ViMu v6.50. The player refused to play both 1080p and 2160p HEVC Main 10 (and there were no problems with HEVC). This is some kind of bug in the program. In any case, this is not so critical, since for "heavy" content UHD BDRip, UHD BDRemux is better suited for Kodi. There were no problems with switching audio tracks and rewinding either. I have no complaints about video quality and HDR visually.
There was a problem with only one LG 4K Demo test file: View the Feeling (HEVC 2160p29.97). Uniformity was disturbed.
The system does not have its own dedicated player, BD ISOs are played in Kodi without menu support.
Interlaced video is played with correct deinterlacing. Each field turns into a separate frame.
Autoframe rate
Autoframe works fine. All sweep frequencies are supported: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 Hz. In ViMu, the switchover is fully compliant. In Kodi, the sweep frequency is doubled for 25, 29.97, 30 fps. But this is the standard autoframe mode for Kodi, in config file this can be changed.
In all modes, the uniformity was perfect. It couldn't get any better. Here are snapshots of the test material in ViMu (they are identical for Kodi): 24p (running square) at 24Hz, 24p (arrow) at 24Hz, 25p at 25Hz, 30p at 30Hz, 50p at 50Hz, 60p at 60Hz.
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There is no 3D support. MVC MKV rendered in 2D. BD3D ISO in Kodi 17.6 is only rendered in 2D.
DRM and legal VOD services
The system has google support Widevine DRM Level 1 and HDCP 2.2.
What's more, the NVIDIA Shield TV Box is certified for use with key VOD services - Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Clients are pre-installed in the system and have full support for 4K, HDR and multichannel audio output (for relevant content).
VOD services and playing videos from torrents directly
One of the most popular programs for Android boxes in Russia is HD VideoBox. It is an aggregator of illegal online cinemas and a convenient torrent search engine with sophisticated navigation, search and management. Works great in conjunction with ViMu. Naturally, autofrequency works. |  |  |  |
A bundle HD VideoBox + Ace Stream + ViMu works on NVIDIA Shield TV flawlessly up to BDRemux with any volume (at least 40 GB). This does not use internal memory or external media for caching, only RAM. A couple of clicks in HD VideoBox, just select the torrent you want and watch videos with amazing quality, autofrequency and multi-channel audio. Switching audio tracks and rewinding are very fast.
UHD BDRip and UHD BDRemux are a little more complicated because additional conditions are imposed. You need a high bandwidth of your Internet channel. Many seeders are needed to provide high speed download torrent. The 3GB of RAM in the Shield TV is no longer enough for caching, and you need to use an external storage device and fast enough (fast hard drive or SSD). If these conditions are met, then HD VideoBox + Ace Stream + Kodi will do all the work for you on NVIDIA Shield TV. UHD BDRemux (4K with HDR) plays great with HD audio output without preloading. Autoframe works correctly, audio tracks are switched, rewind works (but long with buffering). The future is already here. Even if it is not entirely legal, but the fact itself is that the NVIDIA Shield TV box is ready for this.
IPTV
IPTV from EDEM, OTTClub, local provider worked perfectly. There were no problems with any of the channels. Perfect Player (one of the best IPTV programs) with HW + decoder switched channels in a split second. And the modified version (which switches the sweep frequency to 50 Hz during operation) displayed video with perfect uniformity for 99% of the channels (there are streams of 25p, 50p, 25i).
With Torrent Stream Controller + ViMu, everything is fine too. All channels (most of which are live streams from the satellite without clamping) came with correct deinterlacing and autoframe.
Youtube
YouTube client for Android TV (2.02.08) plays videos up to 2160p60 without problems. Only HDR support is not available (Tegra X1 does not support the VP9 profile 2 decoder, which is needed for YouTube). I checked the options with all the frame rates that are used on YouTube (by uploading test videos there). In all cases, the correct conversion was used (since YouTube autoframe for Android TV does not support, the output was carried out at 60 Hz), there were no frame drops. 24p - 2: 3 pulldown, 25p - 2: 3: 2: 3: 2 pulldown, 30p - duplicate frames, 50p - 1: 1: 1: 1: 2 pulldown.
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Conclusion
NVIDIA Shield TV is a very functional and high quality Android box right out of the box from the A-brand. Its capabilities are the limit of what modern Android boxes can do. Of course, a device of this level simply cannot be cheap. And NVIDIA Shield TV is more expensive than most boxes on the market. I will list the main pros and cons of the device.PROS
- Very high performance.
- Stability of work (for all the time of tests there was not a single system failure).
- High-quality and fast Wi-Fi (support for MIMO 2x2).
- Support for "modern" (through the system API) autoframe for the entire spectrum of sweep frequencies, including fractional frequencies.
- HD audio output (including DTS: X and Dolby Atmos) to Kodi 17+ (and more).
- Hi-Res stereo output in 24/192 format.
- Technological remote control and well-thought-out volume control modes.
- Perfect support for streaming GameStream games from your local PC and GeForce NOW.
- Maximum support for legal VOD services.
- The ability to play torrents directly, up to UHD BDRemux, with rewind.
- Built-in Samba / CIFS client (file system mounted) and server.
- YouTube work up to 2160p60 (VP9)
- Android TV 7.0 with Google Assistant and further updates from the A-brand.
- No HDR support in YouTube (VP9 profile 2).
- There is no support for 3D output (meaning Frame Packing output) and MVC (only 2D is played).
- No separate button power on the remote, and a low power IR transmitter.
- High price.