Question / Help What internet speed should I get to stream PoE / is my computer good enough

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CJ_Drix

New Member
I'm looking to start streaming within the next 1-2 months and was wondering what internet speed I should have to have a decent-high quality stream.

I've also done a bit of research so far and was wondering if buying http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-Gaming-Edition-Definition-Capture/dp/B008ZT8QKO/ref=dp_ob_title_ce is a good idea or if there are better products?

My computers stats that I think are relevant to stream are:
CPU: Intel core i7 920 @ 2.67 ghz(8cpus)
16g of ram
Internet: http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3648233021 (i know that its most likely too weak)
 
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Cilraaz

New Member
Most people suggest a bitrate of 2000-2500kbps for a decent quality stream at 720p. That would require an upload of around 3Mbps minimum. If you want to push a higher resolution or quality, you would increase that bitrate from there. It's not really recommended to go higher to start, as your viewers won't have the manual quality options. As such, many will just buffer when you stream at higher bitrates, which will cause them to leave your stream.

Do you plan on streaming console games or using a dual PC setup? If not, why are you planning on adding the capture device? If you are, then ignore me, as I only stream PC games on a single PC setup and haven't researched capture devices.
 
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CJ_Drix

New Member
Kind of a bummer on the 3Mbps minimum, Sasktel (Saskatchewan) is kind of garbage without infinet yet. I was just reading guides and a few people said running your stream through a capture device would increase the quality so I thought it might be helpful? I only run 1 PC (2 monitors soon) and just plan on streaming path of exile / maybe hearthstone abit
 
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Cilraaz

New Member
Perhaps I'm missing something about capture devices, but I haven't seen how they could increase the quality of a 1 PC streaming setup that's not capturing console gaming.

As far as the 3Mbps minimum, that's for 2000-2500kbps bitrate, which is generally considered the top quality at 720p for non-partnered streamers.(all new streamers). If you're limited by your available internet, resolution and bitrate can go lower. At 0.7Mbps, though, you're looking at a maximum bitrate of 550kbps. That would probably be best with a 480p resolution (down-rez'd from your native resolution). I'm not sure what quality level that would end up as, though. It's free to run a few streams to see how it would work/look, though.
 
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CJ_Drix

New Member
Alright so ditch the capture device,$130 saved. How would 2 Mbps upload do? I can upgrade my internet to that while i wait for infinet to come to my area which should be soonish(hopefully) which then I'll upgrade to 4 Mbps upload / 25 download
 
Boildown

Boildown

Active Member
You want to have as much slack in the connection as you can afford IMO. You'd benefit to have a 5MB upload connection over a 3MB connection from most providers even if you didn't increase your bitrate. Same for 3MB over 2MB. ISPs are notorious for not delivering the full bandwidth they promise, or for throttling, or for having problems during peak usage periods, so if you can, you should guard against those events.

The capture card does nothing for you unless you have a dedicated streaming computer. And even if you have a 2nd PC for encoding, the capture card you linked isn't a very good one IMO, the Avermedia PCIe cards are much more trouble-free.
 
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CJ_Drix

New Member
Thanks for the info Boildown, sadly my ISP can only offer 2 Mbps as there highest speed until their infinet is installed which may take 6 months to a year from now which is too long. So I'm just wondering if with 2 Mbps if streaming is even viable / good enough quality to have viewers stay. Even though my ISP is kinda meh at best SaskTel is usually pretty good with giving what you pay. I'm currently paying for a 5 mbps download / 640 kbps and I've never seen my upload under 600kpbs.
 
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CJ_Drix

New Member
Just in case the question was missed in there, would 2 Mbps(probably 1.8-1.9) upload be good enough still or would the quality be too poor to stream?
 
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