No, a second streaming PC isn't required for streaming.
No, a second streaming PC isn't required for streaming.
I typically use Chrome with a few Twitch tabs and Streamlabs/Nightbot open for quick adjustments on another monitor. Discord runs in the background alongside RealTemp, MSI Afterburner, and sometimes Fortnite. I notice no lag despite playing at lower frequencies (60hz/75hz) instead of 144hz. I’ve only played a handful of games lately—mainly PUBG and GTA V. It’s unclear whether you record your streams or just stream directly.
It seems the CPU is limiting performance because it's handling a lot of streaming tasks. Moving the workload to the GPU could improve efficiency.
I haven't played PUBG yet. I play it but I'm really nervous about streaming it. I usually keep my shadowplay on and that's about it. If I can open Chrome, I stop streaming just to unwind a bit. Do you use a second monitor connected to the same GPU? And if so, how do you set that up? Most videos I see use two monitors but they stretch the resolution. I'd love to have two screens linked to one GPU and one for gaming and another for my desktop.
Wait, my old MSI GS60 Pro with an i7-4700HQ is still running hot, isn't it?
I keep the stream playing quietly in the background (audio off) at a modest quality (360p) so I can monitor how it appears for viewers. I want to confirm overlays appear correctly and check the delay. The second screen is connected to the same graphics card. In Windows, open display settings (right-click desktop), go to "Multiple Display Options," and choose "Extend these displays." This arranges your main screen across two monitors. Set your primary monitor as the main display by picking it and checking the box labeled "Make this my main display" if needed. When launching games, they'll open in full screen only on the primary screen, leaving your second monitor free for other apps. To switch between game and chat or settings, use alt+tab.
Don't stress too much. Depending on your equipment and preferences, a second PC might not be necessary for streaming—it’s nearly unthinkable to have a solid stream without a secondary display. This lets you focus on the game while keeping one hand on the chat to chat with viewers, adjust settings quickly, monitor performance metrics like frame rates and quality, and so on. Once your secondary monitor is set up, using MSI Afterburner in the background can be useful while streaming, helping you track CPU usage and identify any bottlenecks. OBS will display the CPU load in its status bar, which can guide you in assessing system performance. If needed, just open Task Manager to keep an eye on everything.
Getting dedicated streaming PC is bit overdoing unless you are hc streamer. First you need capture card, just $100-250 investment by itself to even use 2nd PC. Then you need PC itself. Ofc if you already own laptop or something like that, getting $100 capture card might be cheaper investment than getting another CPU for $200+.