Is my Mac too old for OBS?

[zamboknee]

Here’s the specs on my Mac (see attachment) . Is it too old to handle OBS Studio?
I ask because it will not always hold my settings like audio. And it causes problems in other apps (ex: filling out an online form and it wouldn’t take my submission), another issue today was I had to force quit it.
Computer has been rock solid for me for a long time but am wondering if it’s a little too under-spec’d to run OBS smoothely.
Thoughts?
Thank you

 

[twindux]

It should do some OBS-ing for you, but may be somewhat limited in functionality . For instance, it may not be albe to handle high resolutions or framerates. It will certainly not be able to handle Studio Mode. You many have some issues with media sources or window captures or anything else that's running on that machine.

Only way to know is to give it a go...

 

[zamboknee]

I've given it a go and I'll get things to a reasonable place and for some reason it'll just lose the settings I put in. This happens mostly with audio.
Couple questions...
How do I know if I'm in 'Studio Mode'.
Is there a different program that would be better for a less than stellar spec'd computer?

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Is there a different program that would be better for a less than stellar spec'd computer?

There might be, but you'll spend more for that approach (buying expensive software) than buying a new computer. So if budget is a limiting factor, you are better off learning how to minimize Hardware resource demands for real-time video encoding (which is really hard work, basically, which is why a 7 yr old CPU/GPU isn't up to the task, really... doesn't matter which s/w you use)

Losing settings has nothing (or shouldn't) to do with CPU/GPU power (unless every time you are adjusting settings, OBS or your OS is crashing, and that is preventing the save of settings). Try opening OBS, adjusting settings, and then immediately closing (no streaming, no recording, etc). If need be, Turn off your video source if need be. After making settings adjustments, close OBS. Your settings should save fine. If not, you have another problem (failing hard drive, file system corruption? malware, some software/setting interfering, ???) most likely unrelated to OBS (just where you are noticing it). You aren't running out of drive space are you?

 

[zamboknee]

There might be, but you'll spend more for that approach (buying expensive software) than buying a new computer. So if budget is a limiting factor, you are better off learning how to minimize Hardware resource demands for real-time video encoding (which is really hard work, basically, which is why a 7 yr old CPU/GPU isn't up to the task, really... doesn't matter which s/w you use)

Losing settings has nothing (or shouldn't) to do with CPU/GPU power (unless every time you are adjusting settings, OBS or your OS is crashing, and that is preventing the save of settings). Try opening OBS, adjusting settings, and then immediately closing (no streaming, no recording, etc). If need be, Turn off your video source if need be. After making settings adjustments, close OBS. Your settings should save fine. If not, you have another problem (failing hard drive, file system corruption? malware, some software/setting interfering, ???) most likely unrelated to OBS (just where you are noticing it). You aren't running out of drive space are you?

No, drive space is typically around 60-80gb of free space.
I'll try the open, do settings, then close thing.
As far as a new computer, would a base $400-600 PC work? Or, preferably but requiring more convincing of the wife, would an Apple Mini (new but not the top spec model) work?

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Would Apple Mini 'work'.... Define 'work'? sorry, a bit facetious, part serious.
I'm not a Mac person... so can't answer how well OBS would work on new M1 based Mac (if at all) vs older Intel based models.
However, I can definitively say a $500-600 new Windows PC would work today, (assuming low-end CPU and GPU requirements, ie not high end gaming, lots of fancy effects in OBS, etc). Would such a PC work in a few years at higher resolution.... depends. For some people, and what they are doing specifically, a $2->3K Windows PC is barely enough. For others, an older PC is fine... it depends. there are a lot of variables to real-time video encoding/streaming that can go from simple/low-end hardware requirements, to upper end.

As for the new Mac, I believe it uses an ARM based CPU (M1) vs Intel based which OBS is written for. See other forum posts asking for OBS compiled for M1 chip.
I can tell you that a new Windows PC with 6core/12thread CPU, 1650 Super GPU or better, with 16GB of RAM from a Tier 1 vendor would run around $700-800+ tax, etc and should work well without having to worry (and become tech knowledgeable) about optimizing OBS for reduced hardware demands. Can a lower-end PC work, sure, but now you trade off $$ (for hardware over-provisioning) for your time and expertise in compute optimization, OS & OBS settings, etc. your call

Again, settings not saving speaks to another issue
Though regardless, that age of a system is going to struggle with even basic real-time video encoding, regardless
Others will need to comment on a recommended Mac config that would work for you (and they will probably want more details on what you are expecting out of OBS t answer, as again... large range of possibilities)

 

[twindux]

I've given it a go and I'll get things to a reasonable place and for some reason it'll just lose the settings I put in. This happens mostly with audio.
Couple questions...
How do I know if I'm in 'Studio Mode'.
Is there a different program that would be better for a less than stellar spec'd computer?

Studio Mode has to images side by in your preview window. One is the upcoming scene, the other is the live scene.

Even with a pretty recent, high-spec Macbook Pro, I cannot successfully run Studio Mode without it killing my framerate/bitrate/render speed.

Without Studio Mode, I have a 2015 Macbook Pro successfully streaming 1080p30 with multiple inputs for hours at a time.

Here's how you turn Studio Mode on/off:

If you see 2 screens in your preview, it's Studio Mode. the scene on the right is live right now, The scene on the left will be live when you hit "transition"

If only one screen in your preview, you're NOT in studio mode

 

[nottooloud]

And it causes problems in other apps (ex: filling out an online form and it wouldn’t take my submission), another issue today was I had to force quit it.

Generally speaking, you shouldn't be running anything else at the same time on an underpowered machine. No browser, no email, no chat, no Zoom, no nothing if possible.

 

[twindux]

Generally speaking, you shouldn't be running anything else at the same time on an underpowered machine. No browser, no email, no chat, no Zoom, no nothing if possible.

Ya, I missed that par in the OPt. This is an absolute must...

 

[zamboknee]

Would an eGPU (external video card) help with this?

 

[nottooloud]

Maybe, but it would cost a significant part of a new Mac, and more than one in between, while adding piles of twiddly headaches.