Need help with finding pc for single stream camera

[beldecca]

First off, I appriciate any help that anyone can provide.

So, I'm trying to stream the feed from a single network camera combined with an audio signal (from an xlr to usb cable) for a non-profit. They want to be able to stream the feed as well as record to the local computer.

I've been a hobby computer builder for a while, but I was lacking a modern GPU in my box of junk. So, went to buy something but I was unaware what GPUs are going for these days with the chip shortage. I've run out of places looking for an inexpensive gtx 1650 or such. So, hoping for some additional insight, decided to try my luck here.

I'm curious, for the small amount of streaming/recording that they are doing, can I get away with an intel chip with Quicksink? Or how about a ryzen chip? They don't have hardly any money, so I was trying to keep the price below $600 (might be a pipe dream). The stream, I think is just 1080 @ 30 fps.

What other info can I provide? Again, appreciate any insights / ideas.

 

[BluePeer]

1.
You can encode and stream with Every Nvidia GPU that have a Nvenc include from ~9xx to 30xx same with every Intel CPU with a IGPU (quick sync)

2.
Even Older NVenc or IGPU even More Bitrate is required for the "same" Quality.
Its related to the evolve of the Hardware (there all hardware encoders)
Nvenc/Quicksync is hardware and x264 software (software needs high CPU power)


if you Want to stream a cam feed of a church there is not a "big quality" change betwean a gtx 950 and 3090
but its a Huge quality drop on "highspeed of a Formular 1 Race or First Person Shooter"

basic calculation "less changes" on video requires Less CPU/GPU and Bitrate for the same Quality
High motion changes on video requires More CPU/GPU and bitrate (More CPU and bitrate on software encode and same GPU but more bitrate on hardware encode)

if there already hardware exist that can be used, launch OBS on that hardware and Link the logfile
then we can take a Look if the hardware can handle the job
mostly "every" hardware with a IGPU (quicksync) or Nvenc (Nvidia GPU) can handle a 1080P stream of simply a "cam feed"
but this is a "Need to look" on if the result "qualtiy" is OK or Not to Invest Money to change "little"

 

[beldecca]

Thanks for the replies, both of you. I'm going to try some old hardware and see if it's good enough. I think I even have an last gen i3 mac mini (with windows) that I might try rather than let it gather dust.

On another (non-OBS site) I was informed that I had to have at least a gtx 1600. Hence my confusion. Makes sense that when you are gaming and streaming at the same time then you would need the extra power. Will try a few configurations and let you know / post the logfile.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

A GTX 1650 Super or higher has the later nVidia Turing NVENC.. but the older NVENC will work for encoding offload, just not as fast/well

For $600 US, the PC will work fine, assuming no sophisticated OBS effects, filters, chroma keying, etc
But be sure to consider what else to display (stream) in addition to camera image. typically some sort of graphic overlay is needed.
that could be super simple text, to more aesthetic graphic overlay.
Or the organization may want a dynamic content of a presentation. consider that when thinking of CPU & RAM load

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Personally, I prefer to avoid consumer grade PCs, as my experience is that for a small price premium when upgrading to business class PC yields much higher quality, longevity, reliability. And I'm the kind f person to make my stuff last (ex I always use an AVR UPS)
And a new PC today, I'd expect to last for 4-5 years, if not longer. As such, a 6c/12t CPU would be as low as I go, and what I just bought (but closer to $1K system price today) is an 8c/16t system

Another thing to consider, is once you get a PC that can record and stream video, are you also going to want to do video editing? something to consider in terms of PC specs/requirements