Minimum CPU for a dedicated streaming/capture PC

[Zenmaster_Dallas]

I have been looking into building a dedicated capture PC for streaming to twitch and I have been trying to come up with a build that is as budget friendly and power friendly as possible.

 

This got me to thinking about what is the lowest end CPU that can be used for a dedicated capture/streaming PC. Unfortunately I have come up dry on anything conclusive and the few capture PCs I have seen the specs for used an i7, which I feel is pretty excessive for a computer that is only doing encoding and nothing else. 

 

If anyone has some in-depth knowledge of the demand of encoding on a CPU that is doing nothing else, please share.

 

Especially with the release of the G3258 and its ability to overclock so well, what is your opinion on the minimum CPU requirements for a dedicated capture PC now.

[calarahil]

I have been looking into building a dedicated capture PC for streaming to twitch and I have been trying to come up with a build that is as budget friendly and power friendly as possible.

 

This got me to thinking about what is the lowest end CPU that can be used for a dedicated capture/streaming PC. Unfortunately I have come up dry on anything conclusive and the few capture PCs I have seen the specs for used an i7, which I feel is pretty excessive for a computer that is only doing encoding and nothing else. 

 

If anyone has some in-depth knowledge of the demand of encoding on a CPU that is doing nothing else, please share.

 

Especially with the release of the G3258 and its ability to overclock so well, what is your opinion on the minimum CPU requirements for a dedicated capture PC now.

 

Honestly I wouldn't worry so much about the CPU. You can skip the CPU process if you have a Nvidia GPU. Nvidia has the tech shadowplay which uses the build in encoder to do the streaming for you. It also doesn't take as large as a hit as a service would that uses more CPU utilization. What would your budget be sir/miss?

[Zenmaster_Dallas]

I have used the nvidia encoder on my main rig to stream games in the past and although it does work, it has its hiccups and is simply just not as good as using a dedicated capture PC. I would like to spend <$200 on the processor but honestly I would really like to use the G3258 if it wouldn't reduce the quality of the stream when being used in a dedicated capture PC.

 

I plan on eventually using the capture PC as a budget LAN party gaming PC instead of hauling around my 60lb rig so I will eventually get a GPU that matches the performance level of whatever CPU I get.    

[calarahil]

I have used the nvidia encoder on my main rig to stream games in the past and although it does work, it has its hiccups and is simply just not as good as using a dedicated capture PC. I would like to spend <$200 on the processor but honestly I would really like to use the G3258 if it wouldn't reduce the quality of the stream when being used in a dedicated capture PC.

 

I plan on eventually using the capture PC as a budget LAN party gaming PC instead of hauling around my 60lb rig so I will eventually get a GPU that matches the performance level of whatever CPU I get.    

 

What motherboard are you currently using or plan to use? I have had a pretty good experience with shadowplay I haven't done much on the twitch side of things just capturing everything seems to be working out great. They update it quite frequently as well. 

[Zenmaster_Dallas]

No as I stated in the first sentence of my first post this CPU is for streaming to twitch, not for local game capture. Shadowplay does work well for local game capture but the encoder is inconsistent at best when being used to stream to twitch. This is the motherboard I am looking at using because I feel that it isn't too pricey for the potential it allows, this however is moving away from the subject. 

[calarahil]

No as I stated in the first sentence of my first post this CPU is for streaming to twitch, not for local game capture. Shadowplay does work well for local game capture but the encoder is inconsistent at best when being used to stream to twitch. This is the motherboard I am looking at using because I feel that it isn't too pricey for the potential it allows, this however is moving away from the subject. 

 

I believe you are staying on topic. You are still talking about your streaming pc. I was just commenting that I have only really dabbed into twitch a little bit. I would trust your judgement a bit more then me if you have worked with it more. Personally I would stay away from gigabyte. I don't care much for there customer support its pretty garbage I would go with ASUS personally but to each his/her own. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132130&cm_re=asus_z97-_-13-132-130-_-Product. 

 

At your price bracket you are looking at something like the i5 4590

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590