Did you know that the online live streaming industry grew by 99% between April 2019 and April 2020? It is expected that the industry will be valued at $184.3 billion by the end of 2027. So it’s not surprising why a lot of gamers are deciding to try their luck by streaming their games on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook.
If you plan to buy a gaming PC to stream your games? Then you stumbled upon the perfect how-to-article. Today, we’re giving you these tips on how to buy a gaming PC for streaming.
Buying a Gaming PC for Streaming
- Get a system that can handle your gaming and streaming.
- Check the resolution of your system.
- Find a system with the best graphics card.
- Don’t forget the accessories.
- Consider using a capture card.
- Your gaming PC should be compatible with streaming services.
1 – Get a system that can handle your gaming and streaming.
To stream your game efficiently, your unit needs to have the right hardware. There are several streaming services and software that you can choose to try. You might also need to buy a few physical items to make your streaming more efficient. The struggle here is finding a powerful PC system that can handle both your gaming and streaming needs.
The ideal gaming PC system is the one that can run games on high or maximum settings at their chosen screen resolution. When streaming, you want the game to look as good as possible. Viewers will definitely want to check its flashy graphics and the latest AAA releases in the market.
2 – Check the resolution of your system.
Most streamers play games at full HD or 1920 x 1080 px resolution. And it is recommended that you choose a gaming PC that can run games on the same resolution. It will be less arduous on your system to play at 1080px, which is essentially the system that also needs to process and push your gaming stream. Aside from that, you might want to get higher frame rates in-game which will deliver smoother appearances.
Remember that your onscreen gaming resolution will be different from your streaming resolution. You might want to set your streaming resolution at 720px or 900 px as a higher resolution will be more demanding to your PC and internet connection.
If you have the budget for it, then you might want to invest in a high-end gaming PC and a faster internet connection. Doing so will allow you to deliver a sharper stream, and you don’t need to sacrifice its quality.
When streaming competitive multiplayer games, remember that performance and frame rates are vital. As a streamer, you will need to play smoothly as it will give you an advantage. This is true, especially if you want to advertise yourself as a skill-based streamer. You can play at 1080 px resolution. Also, remember that higher frame rates are important for gamers and viewers.
3 – Find a system with the best graphics card.
Your gaming system’s CPU and GPU are the most important components if you want to stream your games. Your graphics card will help you show the best visuals of the games you are playing in your stream. The best graphics cards you can start with are graphics cards from Nvidia. They can meet the demanding tasks of the latest games in the market at high refresh rates.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX series is the best graphics card for gaming and streaming. These models include the GeForce RTX 3060, GeForce RTX 3070, and GeForce RTX 3080. They offer top-notch gaming performance at all resolutions and will be able to handle your streaming well. And if you have the budget, you can choose for its better upgrades, such as the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 will be a solid entry point in the RTX series. But if you want a high refresh rate for your monitor, you can choose the GeForce RTX 3070 or the GeForce RTX 3080. The RTX 3080 features advanced ray-tracing technology and in-game lighting, which will raise the overall visual quality of your games.
4 – Don’t forget the accessories.
Aside from your gaming PC, you also need the right accessories when streaming your games. These accessories include a microphone and camera. Almost all gaming PCs have their built-in microphone, but the quality may not be great. You may choose to get a headset, but you might not get the quality you want. This is why most streamers recommend that you buy a standalone USB microphone that delivers better audio quality. You can buy a plug-play microphone which most podcasters and streamers are using nowadays.
Aside from a microphone, you also need a webcam. Choose a high-quality USB camera so your viewers can properly see your face and your reactions. But remember that the image quality doesn’t only depend on the webcam but also on your internet connection.
5 – Consider using a capture card.
While a capture card is not essential, it can definitely help reduce the demand on your PC when streaming. A capture card can record and save video and audio footage. You can use a capture card to save and transfer your gameplay to another PC and keep it later for editing.
You can use a capture card to also stream games from your gaming console and use your PC as your streaming system. While you can broadcast your games directly from your PlayStation or Xbox console, many people still prefer to use their PC setup as a medium to stream their gameplay.
6 – Your gaming PC should be compatible with streaming services.
Last but more importantly, you need to buy a gaming PC that is compatible with your chosen streaming service. OBS is the most common streaming software used by gamers. It works by connecting all of your hardware and software and putting them in one place. This allows you to fully control your stream and enable customizations if you want to. It also provides consistency to the quality of your stream.
Below are the following system requirements to install OBS:
- Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
- AMD FX series or Intel i5-200 series processor or higher
- Directx10 capable graphics card
- At least 4GB of RAM
If your new gaming PC all passed these criteria, then you’re good to install the OBS and start streaming your games.