Dual PC Local Recording: 1440p- Which GPU do I Use?

[Calico Morgan]

Hey guys,

  After the birth of my first PC (R7 1700/GTX1080 etc) I've been enjoying the life of a high frame, high graphic snob. However, if I'm to record my intensely high FPS and graphics gameplay at 1440p with no loss in performance, I'm going to need a second pc to be able to GPU encode all that tasty data. I've already looked into the differences between CPU and GPU encoding for streaming and recording, but now I'm stuck on which graphics card to get for this second system. 
  It's hard for me to think about how much gpu usage recording takes vs gameplay. Using Rocket League as an example- at 165fps, I can play at maximum graphics and AA, and be at or around 95% gpu usage, but to RECORD that same set of options, what kind of gpu bandwidth should I be looking at? 

  Do I need the same, a gtx1080, in order to record what I play? Or does it take a lot less power to record vs generate, so all I need is maybe a 1660ti?

 

  Basically, what gpu would I need in a second pc in order to capture my primary pc's 1440p gameplay with no issues. I have an Elgato 4kPro already. So that's something. 

 

  As a side note, since I don't record all that much, this will be my girlfriend's first custom PC during the other 95% of the time I'm not recording anything. This helps me justify the cost. Is this love? Or greed...

[BobVonBob]

Generally a CPU encoder will be higher quality, and if you're recording on a second computer there is no real reason not to use the CPU, since it won't be impacting your game. A decent i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7 would probably be able to handle that. Conversely if you're set on a GPU encoder, you will want a Tesla based Nvidia card, and in that case any card will do, since it doesn't take anywhere near the same amount of grunt to encode as it does to render a game, and Tesla made significant advances in image quality for GPU encoding.

[Calico Morgan]

7 minutes ago, BobVonBob said:

Generally a CPU encoder will be higher quality, and if you're recording on a second computer there is no real reason not to use the CPU, since it won't be impacting your game. A decent i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7 would probably be able to handle that. Conversely if you're set on a GPU encoder, you will want a Tesla based Nvidia card, and in that case any card will do, since it doesn't take anywhere near the same amount of grunt to encode as it does to render a game, and Tesla made significant advances in image quality for GPU encoding.

Interesting. I'll look into that, thank you!

[Mick Naughty]

Yea I’d do cpu always. But if for some reason you want to use gpu, for recording and not streaming, use a card with a matching encoder that you are playing on. Or better. So a 1060 should do fine. 

Using a 1080 myself as my 4790k isn’t gonna do either well. 

[Juniiii]

A cheap FX 6300 would do good in a encoding pc btw

[Mick Naughty]

19 minutes ago, Juniiii said:

A cheap FX 6300 would do good in a encoding pc btw

Good as in the fast preset on obs or what?

[Juniiii]

13 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

Good as in the fast preset on obs or what?

Good for encoding on OBS, not fast preset, the FX 6300s fake 6 cores actually do tend to work like real cores, and it is quite capable if OBS is all its doing, the FX 6300 is still a decent CPU for gaming as well but not for newer releases. I repurposed FX 6300 as a encoding CPU and works amazingly.

[Mick Naughty]

37 minutes ago, Juniiii said:

Good for encoding on OBS, not fast preset, the FX 6300s fake 6 cores actually do tend to work like real cores, and it is quite capable if OBS is all its doing, the FX 6300 is still a decent CPU for gaming as well but not for newer releases. I repurposed FX 6300 as a encoding CPU and works amazingly.

Any content to view?

[Juniiii]

2 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

Any content to view?

None, I can produce some for you though.

[Mick Naughty]

39 minutes ago, Juniiii said:

None, I can produce some for you though.

Just wondering how it would fair against a 4790k I have sitting around as the quality wasn’t the best when I used it. Ended up using shawdow play which has looked quite good compared to it.