In the how to start streaming article, we’ve already discussed the base elements of streaming, and how you should begin. But as the main points, the minimum requirements and what specs you need to stream are important to know about too. What’s PC performance is needed or which notebook will be good for broadcasting. We’ll discuss the pieces of equipment, like a microphone, webcam or headphones, which you should pick.
This guide is mostly for starters, who’s are right now considering purchasing a new computer or don’t know that the current pc is enough for streaming. But if you’re already started streaming, you should read on, because you’ll find information that may be new for you too.
Based on twitch minimum requirements, the following that you need:
- Processor: Intel i5-4670 or AMD FX-8350
- RAM: 8GB DDR3
- Operatin System: Windows 7 Home Premium
- Video card: Nvidia Geforce 960
But it’s that all? Let’s review which is the best choice.
Desktop or Notebook?
Of course, there’s no doubt, If you want to stream, the desktop will be the best choice. But we should mention, that the current notebooks, by now they pick up the fight with most of the computers, and the difference between them is not that wild, like a couple of years ago.
But if we summarize the advantages and disadvantages, between the notebook and the desktop, more plus on the PC side. Desktop is easily and at any time upgradable. If you collect some money from streaming you can purchase a better video card or RAM, and after installation, you can use it at the next stream.
However in notebooks only RAM and storage are upgradable, but nowadays most of the time they are installed onto the motherboard, then it’s non-replaceable. And if your notebook is under warranty, you should read the conditions, because after breakdown you’ll probably lose it.
Many people do not consider it as important as it is, but without cleaning your computer, you can lose about 10% because of overheating. This is more true on the notebook side. On the computer, you can take off the side plate and with a vacuum cleaner or compressed air, the cleaning is done in minutes.
If you don’t clean your notebook for a long time, it can mean its end. The dedicated video card is the crucial part, which gives up first, because of the too much heat, and not enough cooling.
After all, you should make the choice. Probably, you can buy a desktop computer with the pieces of equipment (monitor, keyboard, and mouse), as the same amount of money as the same-performance notebook.
Desktop Requirements for Streaming
Factually, to calculate the requirements of your desktop, we need to “add” the software requirements that you’re using within streaming. After that, we multiply the added performance with the quality.
The main is the streaming software, which is mostly OBS Studio (but it can be Streamlabs OBS or other multiple streaming cabale app), which for that an Intel 2. or 4. generation processor is enough, with a GTX-6xx card, with the choice of NVENC coding. There’s shouldn’t be a problem.
If you’re not following the chat within the streaming software, then you need to add the performance of the browser like Chrome (which mostly depends on RAM) or Firefox.
The equipment like webcam or microphone is potentially increasing the consumption of the streaming software, by the audio-video processing.
Finally, the games are coming. For example League of Legends optimal working, a dual-core CPU is recommended with more than 3.0 GHz performance, a minimum of 4GB RAM, and 12GB storage. CS:GO marks the same recommendations.
If you playing a more intense game, like Valorant then the specs are increasing too. With this game, you need to calculate a 4th generation Intel processor, with an Nvidia GT730 video card along with a minimum of 4GB RAM.
Now you know, what’s you need to calculate let’s see what’s recommends the Help&Tech&You.
Minimum specs you need:
| AMD build | Intel build | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel Core i3-9100F |
| Motherboard | GIGABYTE GA-A320M-S2H | GIGABYTE H310M A 2.0 |
| RAM | 16GB (with high frequency) | 16GB |
| Video card | MSI Radeon RX 570 8GB | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti |
| Storage | 1TB HDD + 120GB M.2 | 1TB HDD + 120GB M.2 |
This is only a recommendation and a starting point for your build, you can choose other brands and products too, but what’s important for desktop streaming is the following:
- 4-core processor,
- Minimum of 16GB RAM,
- The video card shouldn’t be weaker than the above mentioned ones,
- If you have the opportunity buy bigger SSD, then you can install more games onto it.
Notebook Requirements for Streaming
You will be using the same pieces of software with a laptop, then the requirements are the same. On the notebook side, you will find parameters, which are important.
The current notebook’s performance with dual-core solutions is performing well, but we should point out, that after 2-3 years, these are not going to give the same efficiency as when you bought it. Therefore the notebook requirements for streaming is the following:
- 4-core processior (with minimum 8 threads),
- 16GB RAM
- Dedicated video card (1050, or 1050ti mobile),
- Again, a bigger SSD is better, for the games.
Internet Speed for Streaming
By the Twitch requirements for a 720p streaming, you need a 3000 kbps bitrate, which means 3MBps. Then, as you increase the quality of the video, a bigger resolution than a 6MBps connection will not be enough.
The online, multiplayer games that you playing, as we mentioned before League of Legends, then a plus 5-10 MBps is added, as with CS:GO about 2-5 MBps. If you’re playing with friends, and you talking on Discord too, that you should add it too.
You can learn more in the article of What is the recommended internet speed for streaming? how you should calculate.
Microphone
As a starter, you shouldn’t purchase any expensive mic, a good headset with an integrated microphone will do the job. Moreover, as later on, you can use it too.
If you’re into quality, we can categorize into two groups, but three if we speak about streaming microphones.
In the first category, there will be the USB-type mics, with which we stepped up into a new level from the base level. In this case, you can choose the better-known brands, like Behringer, Rode, or Lewitz. Before the final decision, you should read the recommendations and reviews about it, and listen to some test recordings. Because most of the USB-type mics are recording many white-noise, especially if our computer has other equipment attached by USB (this is most important for notebook users).
The next stage is the studio quality. In this category, only a microphone is not enough. Because for the use of condenser mics you need a soundcard which is a preamplifier at the same time. Again, you can pick the known brands, like Rode or Blue. On the soundcards side, a Focusrite or a Behringer is a good choice.
Keep in mind, that you should forget to use the in-built microphones of the notebooks. It’s enough to start a game then the recording will be like you at an airport or somebody using a vacuum cleaner.
Webcam
Nowadays better and better webcams are built into the notebooks, but if you have any chance (of course for desktop users is fundamental) invest in one. For several aspects, you will have more viewers, if they see your face and mimic while streaming and speaking. But what’s the best choice, you will find it in an article.
Headset and Earphone
A speaker in this situation is a no-go zone, as the viewers hear again and again the game, and the talking with the friends sounds. That’s why a headset or an earphone remains. If you have the choice, then choose a headset, because it’s not that tiring as an earphone for daily wearing.
As the picking phase, you need to consider, what you want to use it. If you playing CS:GO hard, then a 5.1 headset is a must, for better recognition of where the enemies are. And you gain advantages in contrast to others. Kingston’s, Steelseries’s, or Razer’s products are more featured nowadays.
But if you want more detailed sounding, then a Sennheiser or an Audio-Technica is a better choice.
What’s your choice?
Do you want to share your thoughts or your current setup? Let us know in the comments, or send it to us via the contact page and let’s share it with others!
