CPU Upgrade Options

goldswags · January 3, 2021

Hey all,

Sorry if this is the wrong section - I'm sort of new here!

I am using my PC for streaming but am struggling to get good quality encoding above 720p and 30ps playing Dota 2. My PC right now is:

16GB Ram

i5-6400

H110m PRO-D (MS-7996) motherboard

RX 570.

I want to build up to 1080p streaming and imagine the CPU is my biggest bottleneck - i saw a list of CPUs compatible with my motherboard but don't understand how to determine which is the best upgrade. It also seems like I might need to upgrade the motherboard to really unlock potential but can't afford too much. Any advice?

Thank you!

Edited January 3, 2021 by goldswags
missing word

SFFDesigns · January 3, 2021

The best upgrade you could do without swapping mobo would be a 6700K/6700. Not sure if the VRM can handle it though. An upgrade to a 1650S could actually be better for streaming, due to the new NVENC encoder included

jaslion · January 3, 2021

No cpu on your current platform is worth upgrading too. Why? Well they cost around 200$ easily for a 6700(k) or 7700(k) and there are better cheaper new cpu's out there like a ryzen 3100 or even a i3 10100(f). Upgrading to those would also mean a motherboard upgrade but even then you are at most at the same price as the i7's but are on a new platform with better upgrade potential with a little better cpu's.

However that won't fix the issue as streaming even on those is hard to do and at minimum a 6 core is recommended for cpu streaming. You can use your gpu to encode your streams which has little impact BUT amds encoder is kinda crap so quality won't be great. However that would easily allow you to stream at 1080/60 with your current hardware.