A gaming streaming pc is a specific computer where the primary job is to stream the gaming content. This occurs via a video capture card that is connected from your streaming PC to your gaming PC.
You have 2 options available to you on how to stream to your streaming provider such as Twitch on a streaming PC.
Option 1 – Streaming using the graphics card encoder. Nvidia graphics card has a built-in encoder for streaming. This means the graphics card will do the streaming work for you. You could also use an AMD card such as an RX 580 which I have previously used. At a bare minimum use an RX 580 or a 1660 graphics card for this option.
Streaming PC bare requirements for this setup is a Ryzen 5 with 16GB of Ram and a graphics card of your choice. No special motherboards or other hardware is needed. I used my old Office PC that was my initial gaming PC for this setup.
Option 2 – Use your PC CPU to encode your stream using the x264 software encoding option in OBS. Be warned you need something like a fast multithreading Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 or something similar for this option with 32 GB Ram. There is talk amongst experience users this option may give you a better-looking stream but you need to choose one of the best x264 settings and this is CPU intensive.
If you visit some streamers and check out their stream setups some if not many setups are overkill for a stream PC. The reason being many are using their old gaming PCs for streaming.
Gaming Stream PC My Setup
I use an in-store-built Office PC purchased from Centrecom. I upgraded this to Ryzen 7 and 32gb of Ram and Added an RX 580 graphics card. This at one point was my gaming and streaming PC setup and it did a good job.
My Gaming PC
- Ryzen 7 3700x 8-core 3593 Mhz.
- Asus Prime B450 Plus Motherboard.
- 32 GB Ram.
- 3070 Graphics Card.
- 750 Watts Power Supply.
- No fancy RGB.
- Windows 10.
- Aorus 27 Curved 2k Gaming Monitor
- Yeti Mic
- Razer Naga/Viper Ultimate Mouse
- Razer Keyboard
- Legendary Ikea Gaming Desk
In 2023 early 2024 the above not below rig should become my streaming PC.
Streaming Gear
- Elgato 15 key Stream Deck
- Audio Technica ATR2100 USB/XLR Microphone
- 2 ex Gaming Monitors
- Logitec C922 & 920 Camera
Why Do I Use 2 Computers
The streaming PC is connected to an emergency Power Supply just in case we lose power.
If we have any in-game issues and need to reboot the PC we do not lose the stream which will remain live.
You could only use 1 Gaming PC to game and stream if you wish. A recommendation of a Ryzen 7, 32 GB Ram, SSD hard drive, and at a bare minimum 1060 Nvidia Graphics Card is needed. These Ryzens are beasts of multitasking-period. Playing Dayz using this setup game me very little frame drops compared to another streamer using a different CPU and had to show him proof via discord stream. I use what works for me, not what may of what occurred 20 plus years ago. Time allows change.