Question / Help [New to This] Is a Core 2 Quad Q8400 and GT 1030 w/ 4 GB RAM Enough to Record and Use Replay Buffer?

[Metal48 | Floridians]

I am new to OBS and how it functions. I've been trying for the past few weeks to record Overwatch gameplay but I always get a black screen. I'll get the little note on the bottom of the client that encoding is overloaded even though my CPU is literally at 3-8% usage. I've seen all the guides telling me to lower my FPS and everything else and that's not working. I've been successful only once in capturing a Replay Buffer of some Team Fortress 2 footage but that is all. I am now suspecting that my computer specs are not enough. Are the specs above enough to be able to record and replay buffer? Thanks.

 

[SumDim]

Your CPU is lower bottom third tier on benchmarks. Your GPU is lower bottom third tier as well.

You need a better computer.

 

[Metal48 | Floridians]

Your CPU is lower bottom third tier on benchmarks. Your GPU is lower bottom third tier as well.

You need a better computer.

May you please link these benchmarks? Thanks.

 

[SumDim]

CPU Benchmark:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Your CPU, 3148 rating:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Quad+Q8400+@+2.66GHz

GPU Benchmark:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

Your GPU: 2288
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GT+1030

In both cases, you are not even on the list because of the cut off level.

So many people who I answer on here don't have the proper computing equipment to stream. You can't stream with old under powered hardware from the past. You need current equipment and spend the money to get the job done.

To do good 720p quality streaming I'd estimate that one needs:
CPU: 5500+ rating
GPU: 5700+ rating

For 1080p:
CPU: Passmark 10,000+ rating
GPU: Passmark 10,000+ rating

 

[Metal48 | Floridians]

CPU Benchmark:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Your CPU, 3148 rating:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Quad+Q8400+@+2.66GHz

GPU Benchmark:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

Your GPU: 2288
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GT+1030

In both cases, you are not even on the list because of the cut off level.

So many people who I answer on here don't have the proper computing equipment to stream. You can't stream with old under powered hardware from the past. You need current equipment and spend the money to get the job done.

To do good 720p quality streaming I'd estimate that one needs:
CPU: 5500+ rating
GPU: 5700+ rating

For 1080p:
CPU: Passmark 10,000+ rating
GPU: Passmark 10,000+ rating

I'm not streaming, I know my PC can't handle it. I should, however be able to make a video buffer and even record when the CPU is barely working with only Overwatch and OBS on.

 

[SumDim]

Your system is slightly above the minimum requirements to run Overwatch. That leaves very little room for you to work in with OBS running.

As such, I personally wouldn't waste my time and get another computing system. I just can't imagine getting good quality to make viewers even want to see it.

 

[koala]

I'm not streaming, I know my PC can't handle it. I should, however be able to make a video buffer and even record when the CPU is barely working with only Overwatch and OBS on.

The system requirements for recording are the same as for streaming. The only additional requirement for streaming is network bandwidth. Pure CPU and GPU processing power is the same. If you cannot stream due to missing CPU/GPU resources, you cannot record either. Replay Buffer is no exception. Replay Buffer is identical to recording, with the exception that the encoded video data is buffered in memory instead of written to disk. The CPU/GPU requirement is the same.