Question / Help Is a GPU needed for 2 pc streaming?

[xZorbZx]

I have a spare 780 I could put into my streaming PC that would replace my 560 ti. My question is, does a GPU even matter if i'm using a 2 pc setup and a capture card?

 

[XeiZ]

yes, obs does use the gpu for certain things, as long as the gpu FULLY supports dx10 it could even be an integrated one, i think it was intel HD2000 where it starts and obviously higher versions.

 

[xZorbZx]

Would I see any benefites to my stream if I swapped out the 560 with the 780 even though it's a dual PC setup with a capture card?

 

[Sapiens]

You're asking if replacing a 560 with a 780 in the encoding box will improve performance? Absolutely not. Even the integrated GPUs on modern Intel chips are more than enough for an encoding box.

 

[Cryonic]

Yep. Just get a powerful CPU in your encoding rig, like Intel i5/i7/Xeon and forget the discrete GPU. You dont need it and a fast i7 or Xeon will work great and even offer you Quicksync or x264 encoder. And you can save some money :-)

 

[xZorbZx]

That is what I was assuming, but I'd rather ask someone who knows for sure. I guess I'll just leave the third 780 classified in my gaming rig :D

 

[Boildown]

I used to use a 560Ti in my 2nd-computer encoder PC, and its more than fast enough for anything OBS does for x264 encoding. It can't do NVEnc encoding however, if you ever wish to use that, and that 780 can.

It does seem like a waste of a 780 to use it in this way, as a $120 GTX750 can do the the same. But if you're not using the 780 for anything else, AND you want to use NVEnc encoding for some reason, that would be the only reason to use it to replace your 560Ti.

Note that the only reason to use NVEnc is to save on CPU usage, if you're not starved on CPU then x264 encoding will give you better quality results at any given bitrate.

 

[xZorbZx]

I won't be changing anything with my setup. It looks great as it is. I'm always trying to give the best product I can to my viewers and just wanted to know what I got my answer to. I'll contintue using tri-sli for my gaming rig. Thanks for the replies guys.