Question / Help Minimum requiremnts for a streaming/recording pc

[backlash]

Hi guys,

I am planning on building a streaming/recording pc and would like some info on minimum requirements for my cpu.

I only plan to stream and local record my Xbox via a USB HD capture box.

I am able to do this with my current setup with OBS by using windows capture mode but not at the quality i would like as my cpu is not powerful enough.

Would like to able to record at 1080p 30/60 fps

Mainly FPS games like, battlefield, halo etc.

As its just a stream/recording pc i would not want to spend too much.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Lain]

My recommendation is to make sure you have at least 4 cores on the CPU, and decent graphics processor that has a fairly high number of cores (probably doesn't need to be all that powerful). Get an internal capture device instead of an external capture device, external capture devices are more trouble than they're worth. Because of that fact, don't get a laptop if you can avoid it.

If you *must* get a laptop, then the current two working capture devices are elgato and avermedia live gamer portable. However I highly recommend getting a regular desktop PC and getting an internal capture device instead.

 

[Boildown]

People also seem to like a few "Micomsoft" brand capture devices, at least one of which, the XCAPTURE-1, seems to be an excellent external device using USB3. More info: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9096&p=51170 , or search these forums for "Micomsoft".

As for the PC, I would try really hard to get an Intel i7 Sandy, Ivy, or Haswell. They come with an embedded graphics chip that can save you some money over buying a separate video card. Just make sure the motherboard supports the Intel graphics, and if you get the XCAPTURE-1, that it has the right kind of USB3 chipset.

 

[backlash]

Thanks for info.

I don't think i could warrant an I7 for just streaming and recording, i would like too but they cost too much.

As it will mainly be for recording, not gaming i want to keep it as cheap as possible.

I know the Intel rout is a better option but would an AMD cpu cut it ?
Like an fx 8320 ?

 

[Lain]

You don't need an i7 for recording a capture card at all. Just make sure whatever you get has at least 4 physical cores. Doesn't have to be high grade at all. The only time where you need a reasonably powerful machine is when you're gaming on the same PC you're streaming on. You could probably keep it cheap pretty easily.

Also, if you go the laptop route, get a laptop with USB 3.0 ports, and get a USB 3.0 device like the one boildown recommended. xcapture-1 is actually one of the best capture devices on the market and does 1080p 60fps (not that you need that at all).

Just whatever you do, avoid USB 2.0 devices.

 

[Boildown]

For the money the Amd Fx 8320 is supposed to be pretty dang awesome. But the downside is that you need a separate video card that can do its part as well, because OBS needs both. That means a GTX550/650 or better on the Nvidia side, not sure what the AMD equivalent is. This effectively adds ~$100 to the cost, unless you have a good enough spare video card available already. So if you're building a dedicated streaming box, that's why I give the edge to Intel with its built-in graphics.

And if you can't spring for the i7, you can take Jim's advice and get an i5 instead.