Question / Help 2nd PC: Minimum GPU for Hardware Encoding 1080p60?

[Storx]

Hello All,

I am trying to learn what is the minimal GPU needed for encoding NDI from gaming rig and give good stream quality at 1080p60?

I am in the process of putting together parts for a new gaming rig and wanted to possibly recycle my old system as a 2nd PC streaming rig. I was informed already that I would need to take one of the GPUs out of SLI when I start streaming as OBS doesn't function with SLI cards. I was recommended to place the 2nd GPU in my streaming rig to encode, but I feel its way overkill for the job and may just sell it for something more suited for the job.

I have an old Quadro NV295 that came in a T5500 workstation I have in my garage.

This is my current gaming rig, was planning to replace the CPU/Mobo/Ram with Ryzen 3900x
Corsair 1000D
i5 3570K @ 4.8Ghz
HyperX Fury 16GB (4x4GB)
2 x EVGA 1080ti SC Black SLI
500GB 850 Evo
1TB WD Black
EVGA SuperNOVA T2 Platinum 1000W
Custom WaterCooling 2x D5 Pumps
Asus Predator 1440p@165hz monitor

 

[Sukiyucky]

As long as the GPU card can render Windows GUI, it should be fine. On the dedicated streaming box it isn't about the GPU. Its about the CPU and its ability to encode x264 well. Best to use a CPU that is as powerful if not more powerful than the client NDI rigs feeding it.

 

[Storx]

As long as the GPU card can render Windows GUI, it should be fine. On the dedicated streaming box it isn't about the GPU. Its about the CPU and its ability to encode x264 well. Best to use a CPU that is as powerful if not more powerful than the client NDI rigs feeding it.

Could you elaborate on this some please....

I am still new to streaming and just trying to do the research before I make the purchases on my new gaming rig....... Let's say I went with the AMD 3900x CPU in the new gaming rig, what would be needed for the 2nd PC (streaming rig)?

 

[Sukiyucky]

You don't need a strong GPU on the dedicated x264 server box. All it needs is a good enough GPU to render Microsoft Windows graphic user interface (GUI). You aren't running high end graphical applications on the streaming box. Just OBS for administration.

You want a CPU that is equal to or better than the NDI client to avoid bottleneck. For example, what if you had a 3900X running for your gaming PC. Then, a slow as sh*t Pentium II as the CPU on the streaming box. That isn't going to work and will choke the streaming box. To play it safe, use the same or better CPU on the streaming box.

For dedicated x264 streaming box:
- Same if not more powerful CPU as your gaming PC
- A GPU good enough to render Windows GUI. A Nvidia GT 1030 GPU works fine.
- Gigabit network infrastructure everywhere (cables, switches, hubs, etc.)
- Use Cat6/Cat 7 Ethernet cabling everywhere including patch cables
- Gigabit Ethernet ports on NDI clients and server

 

[Harold]

I wouldn't recommend a 1030, as it will be severly limiting for scene complexity on the streaming machine.

 

[Sukiyucky]

I wouldn't recommend a 1030, as it will be severly limiting for scene complexity on the streaming machine.

I own a GT 1030 and used it on my NDI server. Ran into no problems and limitations both streaming and recording.

 

[fingolof]

Hello All,

I am trying to learn what is the minimal GPU needed for encoding NDI from gaming rig and give good stream quality at 1080p60?

I am in the process of putting together parts for a new gaming rig and wanted to possibly recycle my old system as a 2nd PC streaming rig. I was informed already that I would need to take one of the GPUs out of SLI when I start streaming as OBS doesn't function with SLI cards. I was recommended to place the 2nd GPU in my streaming rig to encode, but I feel its way overkill for the job and may just sell it for something more suited for the job.

I have an old Quadro NV295 that came in a T5500 workstation I have in my garage.

This is my current gaming rig, was planning to replace the CPU/Mobo/Ram with Ryzen 3900x
Corsair 1000D
i5 3570K @ 4.8Ghz
HyperX Fury 16GB (4x4GB)
2 x EVGA 1080ti SC Black SLI
500GB 850 Evo
1TB WD Black
EVGA SuperNOVA T2 Platinum 1000W
Custom WaterCooling 2x D5 Pumps
Asus Predator 1440p@165hz monitor

Hi, its been a long since you made this question, but i found it today so still im gonna repply. (Hope you already solved your doubts).
So as long as i know, gpu video encoding must be done in the PC thats rendering the game (main PC). If you want it to be done by a 2nd PC, the encoding must be done by the CPU (x264).

So i'm wondering what did you do at the end, to give that 2nd GPU some use, and still able to make the setup you wanted.

 

[Narcogen]

Hi, its been a long since you made this question, but i found it today so still im gonna repply. (Hope you already solved your doubts).
So as long as i know, gpu video encoding must be done in the PC thats rendering the game (main PC). If you want it to be done by a 2nd PC, the encoding must be done by the CPU (x264).

This is not true. 2 PC configurations are extremely common. What is needed is a method to transmit the frames from one PC to the other, so that one can run the game, and the other encodes the video. (Both do rendering, but that rendering is not equally complex on both PCs.)

Common methods are a capture device (HDMI video out of gaming PC, splitter to display and capture device on streaming PC) or the NDI module with OBS, so that frames are sent over the local network.

If the streaming PC has a GPU with a hardware encoder, then that GPU can encode-- it does not have to be with the CPU.

What is not efficient is a 2nd GPU in the gaming PC to do encoding, because using the PCI bus to transmit frames from one GPU to another on the same bus impedes the other operations of those GPUs in a way that sending the signal to a capture card does not.

The best use for a 2nd strong GPU is in a 2 PC configuration. The 2nd PC can encode either with GPU or CPU depending on your requirements and hardware capabilities.

 

[Tuexnovia]

Wow woo... Guys I'd love to know something real!!! I've seen many video x264 vs nvenc new and nvenc wins!!!

I use 2 computers gaming and streaming, but streaming pc it's a laptop which gets really hot with an I7 8gen and 1060, Asus rog Strix,...... Whatever. What I'm thinking is about to sell my laptop for 700€ and buy a sencond PC for streaming. But I'll need a graphic card to render the game...

I send the signal trough NDI and in my second pc you say I have to render with CPU and other with GPU, who's right?