Multiseat vs split screen vs a second PC.
Five ways to give people their own space on a PC, side by side. Hydra gives every person their own screen, account and sound at full graphics speed, on one PC. How two people use one PC at once is in Can two people use one PC at once?
| Approach | What each person gets | Graphics | Cost | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra Multi-Seat | Their own screen, keyboard, mouse, sound and Windows account, all at the same time | Full graphics-card speed, straight from the PC's own card | One license covers every seat on the PC | A screen, keyboard and mouse for each person, handed out in the panel |
| Split-screen | Part of one shared screen on one shared desktop | One game, drawn once for everyone | Included in the games built for it | Built into each game |
| Game streaming to a second device | A second device that shows the PC's picture | Compressed video sent over your network | A second device for each extra person | A second device plus the streaming setup |
| Virtual machines | A separate virtual Windows PC, with its own screen and Windows account | Full graphics speed needs a graphics card of its own for each virtual machine | A graphics card for each person | BIOS and host setup, meant for very technical users |
| A second PC | A whole PC of their own | Their own graphics card | Another tower and more parts | Another PC to set up, update and look after |
We describe the others from their public pages; if something has changed, tell us and we'll correct it.
Hydra Multi-Seat: a whole PC for every person
Turns one Windows PC into several. Each person gets their own screen, keyboard, mouse, sound and Windows account, and different games run at once on separate desktops. Everything plugs into the PC, and one license covers every seat.
Plug in a screen, a keyboard and a mouse for each person and everyone is set.
ASTER
Another multi-seat program for Windows: each person gets their own desktop on the same PC. Hydra goes further: no restart to change seats, Secure Boot left on and one price for every seat. See the full table on Hydra vs ASTER, or read why people switch in the ASTER alternative guide.
MouseMux
Gives each mouse its own pointer on one shared Windows desktop, so several people work together on the same screen or screens, in the same apps and the same account. Hydra gives everyone their own session instead. Read the MouseMux alternative guide for the details.
MouseMux's own FAQ describes games as "hit and miss".
Virtual machines with GPU passthrough
Each person gets a separate virtual Windows PC. A virtual machine needs a graphics card of its own for full graphics speed, plus BIOS and host setup, and it is meant for very technical users.
Hydra needs no extra graphics card per person and no host setup.
Taking turns
Taking turns means somebody is always waiting. With Hydra everyone uses the PC at the same time, on a whole screen each.
Give everyone a whole PC.
Start your 7-day free trial of Hydra with every feature. One license covers every seat.
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