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What is needed for streaming?

Spewky
By Spewky
in PC Gaming
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Hey,

 

This idea of streaming games on twitch suddenly blew up in my mind and thought how cool it would be if I could stream and maybe get like 15 or 20 people watching my gameplay. Then I came to the point where I thought it would be impossible for me to do it as I doubt I have anything that is needed for streaming or is recommended to make the stream good...

 

So yeah, what is needed for streaming? (GPU, CPU, Display?)

 

Are fancy microphones really needed or is a good headset mic okay?

 

Also what software is there for PC that is free but still good to stream on Twitch?

 

If anyone can answer these questions that would be awesome!

 

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For streaming id recommend:

 

Nvidia Graphics card, i5, 2 monitors.

 

OBS is really good for the price (Free)

 

And a good mic would be a Blue Snow ball

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i5 and up. Use OBS.

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I stream on a Pentium at 4.2ghz and a 285. You don't need a fancy microphone but it's nice to have one that sound like clapping ass. 

Unless you have a nice CPU/GPU/Internet I don't think 1080p is the best idea. 720p is pretty good for streaming. 

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What's your upload speed like?
It is fairly important.

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-snip-

 

-snip-

-snip-

 

Awesome! Looks like it's about the same recommended stuff.

 

@Deletive, I'm thinking of getting a 1080p 24" IPS monitor, CPU will be an i5-4690K (gonna overclock to 4.2 or 4.3ish) and my GPU will be a Gigabyte 970 WINDFORCE G1 Gaming. 

 

Thanks!

 

What's your upload speed like?

It is fairly important.

I'm not entirely sure... That depends on my internet right?

 

I'll go find out and I'll get back to you on that. 

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i5, but this is actually one of the few areas where an i7 might be worth it outside of video editing and rendering.

Tek Syndicate uses Open Broadcaster to record the Tek between each other. Seems to work well for them.

 

Don't skimp on your microphone. Blue Snowball is a good option. I'm personally a bit of an AT fanboy, I would have waited until I could afford a 2020. But that's just me. The Snowball will work just fine.

 

Graphics card doesn't matter, as long as it's powerful, although having an Nvidia card is a lot less of a hassle.

 

@Slick would know a lot more about this since he regularly streams to Twitch.

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-snip-

I would go for an i7 but I don't think I can squeeze it into my build with my budget... Also I was told that overclocking an i7 with hyperthreading loses the hyperthreading... I would go for an i7 if I could.

 

Is a fancy microphone like the Blue Snowball neccessary or will sound be okay with something basic like a Turtlebeach PX22 (headset I use, take in mind it isn't super fancy and expensive and I can use it on pretty much whatever I like).

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@KemoKa, how about a Blue Yeti, I've heard they are good... 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1415062170&sr=1-1&keywords=yeti+microphone

 

Would the Snowball be better? I think it's cheaper...

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Awesome! Looks like it's about the same recommended stuff.

 

@Deletive, I'm thinking of getting a 1080p 24" IPS monitor, CPU will be an i5-4690K (gonna overclock to 4.2 or 4.3ish) and my GPU will be a Gigabyte 970 WINDFORCE G1 Gaming. 

 

Thanks!

 

I'm not entirely sure... That depends on my internet right?

 

I'll go find out and I'll get back to you on that. 

It'll be plenty for streaming. As long as you have a fair enough upload to handle it.

Computing enthusiast. 
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I would go for an i7 but I don't think I can squeeze it into my build with my budget... Also I was told that overclocking an i7 with hyperthreading loses the hyperthreading... I would go for an i7 if I could.

 

Is a fancy microphone like the Blue Snowball neccessary or will sound be okay with something basic like a Turtlebeach PX22 (headset I use, take in mind it isn't super fancy and expensive and I can use it on pretty much whatever I like).

Nah, Hyperthreading is one of the reasons you want to overclock an i7 if you end up getting one. Moar power to you (literally), but I do understand the budget thing. The i5 will be totally fine if you're not pushing it too hard (and you have to push them pretty hard for anything to go iffy)

As for the microphone, it's not necessary that you get a super fancy one, like you don't have to go all Roland or anything on it, but it's important that you have decent sound quality. Terrible sound makes an awesome video stream into a complete and absolute turd and vice versa. You'll lose followers really really quickly if you skimp. Don't skimp.

We'll help you out with it.

Also, the yeti compared to the (actually cheaper) AT2020 isn't that great. Listen to The Tek 0160 versus the Tek 0161. I'm pretty sure that's a Blue Yeti. Difference in sound quality is horrendous.

I could be wrong though.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the 2020.

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Wait, so don't go with the Yeti... But consider the Snowball and look these Tek 0160/0161 thingies (videos I think?).

 

Should I consider the AT2020? Model numbers and fancy stuff is confusing me...

nononononono, the Tek is Tek Syndicate's weekly talk show. Sorry, I didn't make it clear, my mistake. Go on Youtube and search them. 0160 is the one with the yeti. Anything else beyond 0153 is the AT2020. Before that it's mostly Logan's famous Roland microphone (which is terrifyingly expensive)

 

But yes, for excellent sound quality, 2020 is the industry standard. For a budget, and if you're not too fussy, Snowball gets great reviews.

 

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nononononono, the Tek is Tek Syndicate's weekly talk show. Sorry, I didn't make it clear, my mistake. Go on Youtube and search them. 0160 is the one with the yeti. Anything else beyond 0153 is the AT2020. Before that it's mostly Logan's famous Roland microphone (which is terrifyingly expensive)

 

But yes, for excellent sound quality, 2020 is the industry standard. For a budget, and if you're not too fussy, Snowball gets great reviews.

 

Okay. I understand now.

 

I'll go look into those microphones now :)

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I'm not entirely sure... That depends on my internet right?

 

I'll go find out and I'll get back to you on that. 

 

Run Speedtest or http://openspeedtest.com/or http://speedof.me/ . You need at least 2mb/s up for stable HD quality stream. With 1Mb up you can still get SD quality but today's world that can be reason for people to just pick another stream. Twitch is full of selections after all.

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For streaming id recommend:

Nvidia Graphics card, i5, 2 monitors.

OBS is really good for the price (Free)

And a good mic would be a Blue Snow ball

Not so good, but surely better than headsets. Yeti is still the best in its price range.

@xSpaceSheepy1 2mb± upload speed is ideal for streaming 720p or higher. If u have less than that your personality and energy would have to out weight the low resolution stream so people come in and watch u :)

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I5 K, quicksync, is good enough for decent quality (what most streamers stream).

 

Want super quality? OC the hell out of 4790k or get a hexa AND get kick butt internet (upload). Most people that do that are sponsored and didn't buy their PC. AKA people like Swifty (Nvidia sponsored), Bajheera (Origin sponsored). If they had to pay for their own computer they would probably get a 4790k max and they would choose that because they have to render youtube videos as well. 

 

If you live near a microcenter? Grab the 4790k/mb combo. Same price as you would pay for a I5/MB online. Otherwise? I5K and quicksync are completely fine and the quality is fine. Some of the top streamers use only that. 

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I5 K, quicksync, is good enough for decent quality (what most streamers stream).

 

Want super quality? OC the hell out of 4790k or get a hexa AND get kick butt internet (upload). Most people that do that are sponsored and didn't buy their PC. AKA people like Swifty (Nvidia sponsored), Bajheera (Origin sponsored). If they had to pay for their own computer they would probably get a 4790k max and they would choose that because they have to render youtube videos as well. 

 

If you live near a microcenter? Grab the 4790k/mb combo. Same price as you would pay for a I5/MB online. Otherwise? I5K and quicksync are completely fine and the quality is fine. Some of the top streamers use only that. 

Thanks for the reply. What is quicksync?

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@LoGiCalDrm, how's this? Okay?

 

 

 

Not sure if it makes any difference but I'm on a mac :P

 

OS doesn't matter in internet speed. And thats fine. You can do pretty much anything with that upload.

 

Thanks for the reply. What is quicksync?

 

AuickSync is Intels technology which allows you to use internal GPU (the one with CPU) as extra core just for encoding video. OBS uses it. Here's LTT video about it

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Nvidia Graphics card

having an Nvidia card is a lot less of a hassle.

Mind if I ask you guys why Nvidia GPUs in particular are better? I never knew this, and I'm kinda curious!

 

And yeah, OP, I would suggest getting an AT2020 at least. A Snowball will be fine, so long as you don't have background noise as the Snowball apparently picks up a shit ton of it.

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Mind if I ask you guys why Nvidia GPUs in particular are better? I never knew this, and I'm kinda curious!

 

And yeah, OP, I would suggest getting an AT2020 at least. A Snowball will be fine, so long as you don't have background noise as the Snowball apparently picks up a shit ton of it.

You can use the H264 encoder chip on your Nvidia GPU to record and stream with zero performance impact.

Awesome Wallpapers made by yours truly! | TECH THEMED WALLPAPERS!

 

What happened to your profile picture and who is this Tanku Neko guy?

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Mind if I ask you guys why Nvidia GPUs in particular are better? I never knew this, and I'm kinda curious!

 

And yeah, OP, I would suggest getting an AT2020 at least. A Snowball will be fine, so long as you don't have background noise as the Snowball apparently picks up a shit ton of it.

Nvidia cards have encoder chips, ASICs built for the sole purpose of encoding or reencoding video. You can use it and the GPU utility ShadowPlay to record and broadcast what you're playing with nearly zero performance decrease. Saves you the trouble of having to buy an expensive capture card. If you're planning on streaming HQ video, I would say that functionality on the Nvidia cards almost makes up for their extra cost.

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