If you enjoy high-end PC gaming, you‘ve probably wished you could take your powerful desktop and play from anywhere. Maybe you travel a lot but don‘t want to lug around a heavy gaming laptop. Or you want to play local co-op games with friends who don‘t all own gaming computers.
This is where Parsec comes in. Parsec is a game-changing app that lets you stream games from your PC and play them remotely on any device.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about Parsec game streaming. You‘ll learn:
- How Parsec works to stream your PC screen anywhere
- If Parsec is truly free to use for consumers
- Why Parsec is so optimized for high performance gaming
- How it compares to cloud gaming services like GeForce Now
- Tips for reducing lag and improving stream quality
- The best games to play over Parsec
After reading, you‘ll be an expert on Parsec‘s capabilities and how to use it for lag-free remote access gaming sessions. Time to dive in!
How Parsec game streaming works
Parsec is a proprietary application from Parsec Inc that streams the video and audio output from your PC to another internet-connected device like a phone, tablet, laptop, or even another desktop computer.
It captures your screen, encodes it as a video stream optimized for gaming, and transmits it over the internet to your client device of choice.
You then view and control the stream remotely, allowing you to play games running on your home PC anywhere with an internet connection. It‘s like having a gaming PC in the cloud!
Parsec prioritizes high framerates and low latency above all else, making games responsive even when streaming over the public internet. The video is tuned for gaming with support for 60fps streams at high resolutions like 4K.
Using Parsec is simple:
- Install Parsec on your gaming PC and client devices
- Host streams your gaming PC to the Parsec network
- Share your link – friends can join instantly with no signup required
- Play together – controlling your PC remotely over the internet
This makes Parsec perfect for multiplayer gaming with friends. You become the host and everyone joins your stream, even if they don‘t own the game themselves.
Is Parsec really free for consumers?
This is one of the most common questions about Parsec. So let‘s clear this up:
Yes, Parsec is completely free for personal use!
You can download Parsec to as many PCs and devices as you want and enjoy unlimited game streaming without paying anything.
Parsec makes money from paid plans focused on business and team usage called Parsec Teams. But individual consumers can use the basic Parsec app forever without any limits or fees.
Some key features available in the free version:
- Stream in up to 4K 60 FPS quality
- Play any of your games remotely
- Multiplayer gaming with friends
- Use on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android
- Encrypted streaming for security
So if you just want to play your games on the go or with friends, Parsec won‘t cost you a dime!
Parsec for Teams adds management and collaboration features
Parsec Teams is the premium version aimed at business users. It unlocks additional capabilities like:
- Organization and user management
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Usage analytics
- Multi-factor authentication
- 24/7 support and training
Pricing starts at $10 per user per month, with discounts for larger teams.
Think of it like upgrading from a free Gmail account to Google Workplace. The core email features are the same, but you get enterprise-level tools and support.
Parsec Teams also allows streaming to multiple users simultaneously from one host PC. This powers remote work setups and virtual office environments.
Businesses can try Parsec Teams free for 14 days to test it out. But for friends gaming together, the free consumer Parsec app is all you need.
Why Parsec is so great for gaming
Now that you know Parsec itself is free, what makes it so good for games?
Low latency – Parsec is obsessively optimized to minimize lag. It adds only ~10ms of overhead so games feel responsive.
60 FPS support – Streams games smoothly at up to 60 frames per second for high FPS competitive gaming.
Visual quality – Adjustable encoding for crystal clear 4K or reducing bandwidth usage.
Peer-to-peer – Direct connections without risky third-party servers in the middle.
Any device – Play AAA PC titles on phones, tablets, laptops, and more.
Multiplayer – Share your local co-op games with friends online. Only one of you needs to own the game.
Portable – Take your entire steam library on the go without a heavy gaming laptop.
Flexible – Play games from any PC. Stream from your office or friend‘s gaming rig.
Secure – 128-bit AES encryption protects your gaming data and privacy.
When it comes to game streaming, no service beats Parsec for speed and fidelity. And the free app already includes all the essential features gamers need.
Parsec vs cloud gaming services like GeForce Now
Cloud gaming platforms like Google Stadia, GeForce Now, and PlayStation Now also let you play games remotely by streaming from data centers in the cloud.
How does Parsec compare to these services?
The main differences are:
Parsec streams locally – Cloud gaming taps remote cloud servers
Parsec needs no subscription – Cloud gaming has monthly fees
Play any game – Cloud libraries are limited
Ultra-low latency – Cloud has higher minimum lag
Peer-to-peer – Cloud routes through middleman servers
BYO hardware power – Cloud provides standard specs
So while cloud platforms are easier to set up, hardcore gamers get better performance streaming their own PC with Parsec. It‘s like having a personal gaming rig in the cloud accessible anywhere.
Internet speed requirements for Parsec
To deliver high FPS real-time gaming streams, Parsec needs solid internet bandwidth, especially if hosting:
- Download: At least 10 Mbps
- Upload: 5 Mbps minimum, 50 Mbps recommended for multiple players
WiFi can work OK for gaming on the go, but wired Ethernet connections are best for reducing latency and jitter. Distance also plays a role – closer devices have less potential for lag.
Don‘t worry too much about download speeds for clients viewing Parsec streams. Even 5 Mbps is enough for 720p/1080p gaming. Focus on beefing up your host PC‘s upload bandwidth.
Tips for reducing Parsec lag and improving stream quality
Choppy video, big latency spikes, and stuttering audio are all symptoms of network issues with your Parsec stream.
Before blaming Parsec itself, follow these tips to optimize your setup:
Use Ethernet over WiFi – Gaming over wireless has inherent latency downsides. Plug in for smoother streams.
Limit bandwidth – Lower Parsec‘s bandwidth cap if your connection can‘t sustain high speeds without packet loss.
Disable real-time antivirus scanning – Some malware software throttles gaming performance. Add Parsec as an exception.
Close other programs – Streaming is bandwidth-heavy. Shut down any other internet-using apps to preserve throughput for Parsec.
Overclock your router – Some routers can‘t keep up with 100% load over WiFi. Overclock for a little extra performance.
Increase encoder settings – Boost encoder FPS and quality settings if your host PC can handle it.
Game at original resolution – Parsec struggles if you game at 4K but stream at 1080p. Match resolutions.
Use NVENC encoding – GPU encoding reduces load for better performance on Nvidia GPUs.
Update drivers – Freshly updated network and GPU drivers fixes compatibility issues leading to lag.
With the right settings and environment optimizations, you can minimize latency for a flawless Parsec cloud gaming experience.
The best games to play on Parsec
Thanks to its high framerate low latency technology, Parsec can smoothly stream even fast-paced competitive eSports games.
Some great examples of popular games to enjoy over Parsec:
Fortnite – The ultimate battle royale game needs quick reactions. Parsec can keep up.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Legendarily fast FPS playable across the internet.
Rocket League – Lightning fast soccer racing hybrid maintaining high FPS.
Overcooked – Frantic couch co-op cooking chaos spread across the world.
FIFA – Local multiplayer football/soccer gaming with friends anywhere.
Tekken / Street Fighter – Go head-to-head in classic technical fighting games.
Call of Duty – Play the newest COD multiplayer modes without buying the game.
Minecraft – Explore and create together on private hosted servers.
Any games you love playing locally will work great over Parsec. Give it a try!
Conclusion
Parsec delivers an elite game streaming experience unmatched by competitors. Completely free for consumers, it removes the barriers of expensive gaming hardware to let you access your PC library anywhere with minimal lag.
While lacking some enterprise IT and management features, Parsec gives you everything you need for casual cloud gaming with friends. Just download, start hosting, and share your link to play within minutes.
With the right settings and environment tuning, you can minimize latency for responsive high FPS streams. Parsec finally makes cloud gaming a reality for even fast-paced competitive multiplayer titles once confined to local hardware.
The future of gaming is flexible and location independent. Parsec offers a free pathway to play your library anywhere without sacrificing performance. Game on!
