Question / Help Didn't know where to post this

[Smoshi]

I'm thinking about getting a new motherboard. I'll have about 400$ in a couple weeks that I can spend on new hardware. My original plan was to just get a xeon 1230 (235$). But now that I think about it, I'm leaning more toward AMD. But that would require a whole new motherboard.

I heard that AMD is better for streaming. Whether that is true or not, I have no idea.

What I want, is to be able to stream 720p@60fps

However, CPU benchmarks have Intels ranked so highly. What do you guys think? Would the xeon be enough to stream? Or should I invest in an AMD cpu?

I can't overclock on my motherboard which is why I was considering a new mobo+cpu.

 

[ThoNohT]

I haven't heard that AMD is better for streaming. Both work, intel has quicksync support and whatnot which might be nice. But nothing is too shocking to really warrant a complete swap over just upgrading one or two contents.

Why not start by telling us what you currently have, that'll give us an idea of what needs to be upgrade and what doesn't?

You could list them manually, but an OBS log, a dxdiag log, or some other tool that lists system specs would work as well.

 

[FerretBomb]

AMD is less expensive. Intel is better for streaming at the top end, especially if the cost is less of a concern.
With a Xeon, I don't believe you can use QuickSync... one of the bigger advantages on the Intel side, at least when Veryfast-level quality is acceptable to you. Need a QS-supported CPU and motherboard to use it, but it drops the video encoding 'hit' down next to zero. The quality is acceptable, but not stellar.

Really depends on how deep you want to go. An i5 will generally be able to swing 720@30 on most games without too many issues. 720@60 could start encountering lagged frames though, especially on CPU-intensive games.

Personally, I'd always go for an ASUS motherboard, and an i7.
It costs a bit more up-front, sure... but it saves you from having to re-buy it later if you want to go bigger, and in the interim will allow you to step to a slower encoding preset with the extra CPU horsepower just laying around, and produce noticeably better video clarity at a lower bitrate (VERY important for a non-partnered streamer; it's advised that you not go over 2000kbps, to avoid viewer-stutter problems).

The serious question is, and no elitism intended, how serious are you about livestreaming?
Casual/occasional/for-friends - Stick with what you've got now.
Regular streamer, no serious intent - AMD will work here.
Semi-serious, but unsure - ASUS mobo and an i5. You can swap it out later for an i7 if you're unhappy enough.
Button or bust - Don't screw around, save the $400, go for an ASUS/i7 combo when you can afford it.

I'd stick with the last. Trying to go on the cheap just ends up with you spending more money down the road to do it right.

My order of things NOT to cheap out on: Motherboard > CPU > PSU > Case > hard drives > video card > RAM
They go in order of what you need to get solid performance, as well as a dose of what's a PITA to swap out down the road when more cash becomes available; a video card or RAM is stupid-easy (so long as you remember to clean-uninstall the video drivers BEFORE removing the video card). The others, not so much, unless you plan ahead (like planning your SSD size down the road, and partitioning the spinning-platter drive you're using in the meantime so you can just bitwise-copy that partition over when you can afford one).

 

[Smoshi]

OBS log would just show my CPU & Video Card

Here are my specs;
CPU: i3 3220 @ 3.3ghz
GPU: HD 7870 2GB
PSU: Corsair 600CX (600w)
Ram: 8GB
HD: 320GB Seagate Barracuda (also have a 2tb external)
Mobo: Asrock h61

As for the case, it's an Azza but not sure on the model.
I believe my CPU is the main concern here.

Also, is this the kind of deal you were referring to?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... bo.1455416

As for the kind of streamer. I'm starting out casual. I play competitive but I don't take it as serious as your average gamer.

 

[FerretBomb]

The OBS log would also show us which settings you're trying to use, any issues, and let us point out changes to optimize your current setup. It's strongly suggested that for any issue/advice that you post a log if at all possible. Why there's a link to the 'how to post a logfile' stickied thread any time you create a new topic in Q&H, as well as one when you use the 'post reply' button (not the quick reply). Recommended to do so anyway. :)

That said, yes. Your CPU is absolutely the weak link in that setup. An i3 is bottom-of-the-barrel, budget performance. Swapping to a faster CPU could provide significant gains.
I've heard of ASRock, but... very mixed reviews.
On the up side, it appears that supports QSV (quicksync) on the motherboard, and from what I can find it looks like your CPU can as well. Have you tried enabling QSV, if it isn't grayed out?

Yes, that's the kind of combo I'd meant; not specifically a sale-deal (though that's a bonus), just a new matched CPU and mobo. That's indeed a pretty good one though; newest generation socket, solid motherboard.
That said, in your situation I'd probably try out QSV first. If that's not good enough, I'd probably simply bump up to an i7 with your current rig; last-generation hardware (socket 1155 at the moment) is a good bit cheaper anyway, and just about as good.

 

[Smoshi]

Thanks Ferret, you've been very helpful.

 

[FerretBomb]

Might be in the BIOS (I don't have a QSV-enabled machine), but I more meant the 'QuickSync Video' option inside OBS.

 

[Smoshi]

I see..
well, I remember seeing that option but it was grayed out.