Question / Help OBS Studio with Hardware Acceleration?

[InvalidGaming]

Hey guys,

Im really new to this and I got confused about some plugins so I thought I should ask.
When I try to stream something with x264 Encoder, I got up to 85% CPU Usage but the quality is fine.
If I switch to the AMD VCE H.264 Encoder (Media Foundation), I get just a CPU usage of about 50% but the stream is lagging a lot.
I try to stream in 1080p60 with 3000 kbit/s CBR. I play in 1080p60 aswell.
I use OBS Studio 0.16.2 without plugins. My CPU is an AMD FX 8350 and my Graphics Card is a Radeon HD 7870 (old but still does its job so far).

I found a lot of Plugins. that shall fix hardware acceleration issues but I didnt get through it.
Is there a better way to encode the stream or does a Plugin help?
My Graphics Card runs OpenCL.

Thanks for any help
Invalid

 

[c3r1c3]

Hardware-based encoders (QSV, NVENC, VCE) are always much worse then software when it comes to quality at streaming bitrates, but (as you noticed) do result in lower CPU usage.

There are no 3rd party plugins that can magically make your CPU better (and let us be clear here: your CPU is in the lowest-end of mid-tier CPUs), or make hardware encoders change their hardware. You need a better CPU/system if you want good quality at streaming bitrates, at the resolution/frame rate you want to stream at.

 

[InvalidGaming]

I know my CPU is really outdated and a new one is incoming. I just wanted to be sure, I didnt miss out an important factor.
So for good quality streaming, software encoding is best?

Thanks for the help.