Question / Help Baseline GPU For Dedicated PC Streaming

[SumDim]

In a dedicated streaming PC setup, what is the minimal GPU to be used for 720@60 and 1080@60?

Let's assume we use OBS h.264 software encoding and no NVENC on a Nvidia GPU.

The only scenario I can think of where you would want a high end GPU in this type of setup is if you use an OBS Studio feature that is mirroring the video stream output in real time that is being captured/streamed. For example, what we see in the preview and the live stream windows if they are enabled. If one has a slow GPU and preview is on, I can imagine the CPU having to wait if it can't keep up with OBS encoding processing and system and application processes running in the background. That would be part of the delay in streaming to say, Twitch/YouTube Live.

Your GPU recommendations appreciated.

P.S. Please do not respond if you have never setup a dedicated streaming PC. Only dedicated streaming setups with 2 PCs and PC to game console setups.

 

[writes123]

Many dual pc streamers use an intel chip with integrated GPU as it helps decrease the size and allows for smaller MBs that usually have few PCI slots. The only other rationale for a decent GPU would be for local recording using NVENC on the GPU to record a higher def local copy. I personally put in a decent GPU to have a backup for the gaming pc should anything happen, I could swap to a one pc setup while fixing the gaming pc.

 

[Boildown]

GTX 750 or better. I think the GTX 750 Ti is slightly cheaper for some reason, and you'd want to check the GTX 950 (ti) and 1050 (ti) models as well, as they might be lower in price by now too.

If you have access to an older or used GPU, generally anything made in the past 5 years or so that cost over $100 when new should be sufficient. Even older GPUs that were in the $150 range or better when new could work. Not sure of the AMD side, but the GTX 550Ti would be the oldest I would use (I used a GTX 560 Ti for a while). The AMD equivalents of that era were just as good.

The GTX x50 series has the dual advantages of being inexpensive, fast enough with the correct features, while also permitting you to record via NVEnc. Even though you only state software encoding, the NVEnc hardware encoding is a nice feature to have and it won't cost you any extra.

 

[wallrik]

A lot of people that currently use a dedicated streaming rig with x264 probably don't even know why OBS is using the GPU. I would elaborate, but you said you don't want my reply.