1. Display my server monitor upstairs (server downstairs) - 2. Control/view/game upstairs on seperate monitor/keyboard/mouse

[Adderall Avenger]

Wasn't sure if this should be posted in Systems, networking, or somewhere else. I tried to do a search on the subject but most of the hits were over a year old, and I'm hoping to get a more direct answer, and/or hoping there is newer technology to assist in what I'm trying to do.

My office is downstairs in my basement. I've got my "Server" which is basically an old PC with the OS on a small SSD and a 4tb HDD with all my media on it (Movies/Shows/Music/pictures). It's basically used as my PLEX server to stream media to my Xbox One and my wife's tablet upstairs.

My main PC is my everyday use/Gaming PC not sure if the specs matter but it's "up-to-date" (i7 4790k, 16gb ram, Titan X).

Lastly, just to note, I've got spare parts like it's nobodies business. (monitors, HDDs, graphics cards, power supplies, ram, mice, keyboards, cases, mobos/cpus, etc) I've got an issue with hoarding everything when I do my rebuilds.

I've got two scenarios I'm trying to pull off, and both of them include using my hardware located downstairs in the basement, for two different results upstairs.


#1) The easier of the two. My "server" is always running downstairs, but I don't "do" anything on it.
I'd like to display a duplicate of my monitor downstairs on a monitor upstairs. I was thinking of displaying widgets, like a calendar, weather, etc. and using it as a display for my family. (basically a cheaper way that framing a tablet). I wouldn't need any input from upstairs (mouse keyboard), and it would just be controlled from downstairs.

#2) I'd like to know what my options are (most cost effective preferably) of being able to game in my bedroom upstairs, using my my Gaming PC and it's hardware downstairs. This would include having a Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse upstairs. I would never need to use both simultaniously, just one or the other. (not in reference to #1) but as in I would either game downstairs on my PC, and then move upstairs to be able to game on my PC, there would never be two users (one upstairs/one downstairs).

Hopefully I've provided enough information on what I am trying to accomplish. If not, please let me know, and thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer.

 

[James Mason]

#1 isn't too hard, you'd just need to get a thin client and have it remote into the server.
http://www.newegg.com/Thin-Client-Systems/SubCategory/ID-3087
Unless you want a Magic Mirror, which is a bit more work intensive (but cool as hell)
http://imgur.com/gallery/DsXyt
or this:
http://imgur.com/gallery/nFek8

#2 is basically impossible though, due to data speed and cable length limits. The best solution to this is just get a laptop or something and keep it in bed with you. In theory, Nvidia's GameStream tech that's built into GeForce Experience can do this, but it's not really that good.
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i7559-763BLK-Full-HD-GeForce/dp/B015PYYDMQ/

 

[Adderall Avenger]

Thanks for the quick and detailed response...... That magic mirror thing is insanely awesome and I have a feeling you may have just sent me in an entirely different direction. The topic that originally sparked my interest in #1 was this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-Wall-Mounted-Calender-and-Notificatio/?ALLSTEPS. Then I thought to myself, well maybe I can save myself the time, and just remote display a monitor upstairs...... But now after seeing this magic mirror thing.... I'm going to need to take a step back and re-evaluate my wants lol.

#2 - That's unfortunate.... and the answer I was expecting, but hoping wasn't the actual answer.... It's sad having such a nice/expensive piece of hardware, yet still be so constricted in it's use. I guess I'll just have to keep waiting for technology to advance before I can have a PC running all aspects of my house and being able to access it's hardware from anywhere in my house lol.