Question / Help Budget GPU?

[Mikeyman34]

Hello OBS Forums!
Today I was wondering what GPU would be able to smoothly stream at 720p and maybe 1080p. I don't know if it depends on the game or something but I play LoL, CS:GO, BF4, DotA 2, and more. I currently have a GTS 250 and it can run all games but I cant stream smoothly. I get above 30 FPS on BF4 using a 1600x900 Monitor on Medium settings and i'm just wondering what is the cheapest GPU I would be able to buy that streams at 720p and maybe 1080p if I get a new monitor.

-Miikey

 

[Krazy]

If you want to play and stream BF4, you should not really be looking at a budget GPU. BF4 is pretty demanding, and OBS needs to make use of your GPU as well.

 

[alpinlol]

next question is what cpu do you have ... if you have a gts 250 i doubt that you get an actual decent cpu which is capable of streaming bf4 even at 720p barely lol/dota 2 at most

 

[Mikeyman34]

My CPU is a i7 930. Its old but it gets the job done. Its not overclocked but I can OC it but not much because its revision is D0 witch require a high vCore when OC'ing as I read. I believe my brother spent about 1k on the computer when he built it. And I just wanted to know what GPU to get that isn't that expensive but can run BF4 and Stream good.

 

[Krazy]

That CPU isn't going to do you any favors for BF4 streaming, either. That game is just too demanding. LoL/DotA/CS should be much more doable, though.

Really though, for even just playing BF4, I would go for AT LEAST a GTX 660.

 

[Boildown]

I got a GT630 for a media PC and I put it in my encoder PC to do some tests... it definitely can't compared to the 560Ti that I normally use in it. On the Nvidia side you probably want at least a GTX 550Ti/650, I'm not sure on the AMD side.

Edit: This is for being able to stream games in general. I haven't played BF4, but it certainly sounds like you need even more beef than this.

 

[FerretBomb]

Yep. Step away from the BF4. It's horrendously coded, just eats CPUs and GPUs alive due to how craptastic EA's dev group is at this point. I'd go a step further and advise removing Origin if that piece-of-crapware has managed to weasel its way on to your system.

As far as the other games, the bigger problem is your GPU. It's pretty ancient at this point.
I regularly run LoL, Payday 2, Omerta, XCom and so on at 1080@30 on a non-OC'd i7 920, but with a more modern GPU. Don't go for a budget-grade card. In many cases you will get more than double the performance for twice the price. Similarly, don't go for the top-end. But don't expect that a $30-60 card will perform acceptably, ESPECIALLY while streaming. Shooting for the $150-250 range is usually a good bet. If you have the cash, jump on an R9 290 (non-X), as it's the current best bang-for-buck available.

Oh, and unless you know what you're doing as far as overclocking (or can afford to burn a couple while learning)... please don't. It'll harm your system's longevity if you follow most of the current day 'experts' advice, which more often than not boils down to 'throw everything at the wall and see what sticks'. Idiots. Proper overclocking is almost an art form, requiring good knowledge of the system and deep-level settings. There is no idiot-proof method or checklist to blindly follow.

 

[Mikeyman34]

Ok, thanks and also my CPU usage doesn't really go above 60% during BF4.

 

[Boildown]

Ok, thanks and also my CPU usage doesn't really go above 60% during BF4.

A good indication that you are GPU-bound. Get a better GPU, and your CPU usage will max-out. And then your GPU will be running at 60% until you get a better CPU. That's how it works.

 

[Mikeyman34]

Ok, thanks and also my CPU usage doesn't really go above 60% during BF4.

A good indication that you are GPU-bound. Get a better GPU, and your CPU usage will max-out. And then your GPU will be running at 60% until you get a better CPU. That's how it works.

Ok, will do.Thanks.

 

[Mikeyman34]

Ok, thanks and also my CPU usage doesn't really go above 60% during BF4.

A good indication that you are GPU-bound. Get a better GPU, and your CPU usage will max-out. And then your GPU will be running at 60% until you get a better CPU. That's how it works.

Ok, will do.Thanks.