Question / Help Advice on upgrading my system and giving back :)

[xxkodemanxx]

Hello!

Recently I have been blessed by some very generous viewers with some donations to upgrade and improve my content. I'm really excited about using some the funds to help give back and provide the best viewing experience.

I'm currently a caster for Dota 2, so most my streaming content is Dota 2.

My current hardware setup is as follows:
i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz
12GB DDR3 RAM
GTX 660 Ti
Streaming on TWC @ 100/20


I have been doing some research on possibly putting together a dedicated streaming PC with a solid capture card. Maybe add a SC-512N1-L/DVI Component HD and DVI Capture Board to take in 1080p/60fps from my gaming PC. Then I could possibly stream out my content at a strong 720p/60fps with a good x264 CPU preset?

Or I could simply upgrade my current machine into a beast machine for gaming and still doing some reasonable stream quality.

I recently made an investment for an amazing audio interface for top quality audio, having some top quality video to match would be great!

Just would appreciate some thoughts and suggestions from others.
Thanks ahead of time!

Edit:
Forgot to add, budget: $1500

 

[H4ndy]

Well for 1500 you can build a dedicated streaming PC with a very good CPU to go for a low CPU preset.
A Haswell i7 (e.g. i7-4770 oder 4790) can do 720p60 with medium preset or maybe even 1080p30 (depending on your upload tho). This way you do not need to modify anything on your gaming PC if you like how it runs.

If you want to stick to one PC you can upgrade the CPU in your PC which is the main weak point at the moment for you.

 

[xxkodemanxx]

Thanks for your reply! I agree that those are my 2 best options.

Here are 2 builds I have thrown together.

One is a build for a second machine dedicated to streaming only - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/xxkodemanxx/saved/sMm7YJ

Note* I'll also add in a SC-512N1-L/DVI Capture card. total - ~ $1300

Second build is parts to upgrade my current machine
- http://pcpartpicker.com/user/xxkodemanxx/saved/Rnjqqs

Note* This upgrade can put me on a Intel Core i7-5930K 3.5GHz 6-Core.


So the new questions are...

Which build/upgrade is better for the money?
Is it better to stream with: A) New intel i7 6 core? or B) Have a second machine with a i7 quad core+capture card dedicated to only streaming?

thanks again!

 

[H4ndy]

A 2nd PC has the advantage that you always get a smooth 30/60 FPS stream no matter how a game runs on your gaming rig.

The 6 core is probably only better for the streaming PC since it runs on a lower core clock but with more cores which can be used by the video encoder in a very good fashing but not very good by current PC games (a quad core with higher clock is better for games at the moment, might change in the future tho). Also the latest Intel CPUs need DDR4 ram which is a bit more expensive right now together with a fitting motherboard.

You might save a bit of money by going for a ATX board + tower and you don't need 16GB RAM for streaming, 8 is more than enough.

 

[xxkodemanxx]

Thanks again for your reply! Hearing that extra information about the CPUs is exactly what I was looking for,
So it's sound like the second PC will be the best route.

I picked a smaller board+case so it would take up less space in my current tiny apartment. But I'll toy around with some potential builds and see if I can save some money on the board+case and invest it into a second PC + maybe an upgrade for my current :) (maybe a new GPU)


Edit.

These are the 3 new builds I'm debating between now for my second PC

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/xxkodemanxx/saved/q9Bypg - Intel Core i7-4790K 8gb ram atx with case

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/xxkodemanxx/saved/LHQLrH - Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core

Second build takes use of the 6 core newer intel cpu. Only added 1 stick of 8gb ddr4 ram,

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/xxkodemanxx/saved/y2Y2FT - AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core

Build 3 is with the 8 core AMD, Not sure how this matches up to the 5820k with this being strictly for streaming only the 8 cores could be better for the video encoding. Plus with the money I save I can add in a videocard upgrade for my main PC,

Both about the same price.

 

[xxkodemanxx]

BUMP! As I have order placed and full hardware spec. Looking to get some feedback if this should go smoothly or if I should expect some hiccups along the way.

Game to play/stream - Dota 2

Internet - TWC 100/10

Game Machine:
i5-3570k
12gb DDR3 ram
Nvidia Geforce GTX 660ti
Main Game Monitor: BenQ XL2420Z 24-Inch Screen (Planning on playing at 144/120Hz) 1920x1080p
+ 2nd Dell 1920x1440 montior for Chat/Music/Extra space
windows 7

Stream machine:
i7-4790K
8gb DDR3 Ram
Integrated Graphics
SC-512N1-L/DVI from Micomsoft Capture Card

The Plan:
*Play/Cast Dota on main gaming machine with the BenQ 144hz monitor being the main screen
*Clone the main monitor (BenQ) to the 3rd output of my GTX 660ti HDMI ---> HDMI in of the SC-512N1-L/DVI on streaming PC. Set it to 60hz 1920x1080
*OBS settings set to either 1080p/30fps OR 720p/60fps @ 3500kps on "medium" preset
*Audio will be handled through a UR28M Mixer/Audio Interface bringing audio from myself and the game to the streaming PC


Questions -
Cloning my main monitor and sending it in 60hz to my streaming PC shouldn't have any issues with screen tearing or FPS/Lag on gameplay correct?