Your PC should handle streaming smoothly if it meets the necessary requirements.
Your PC should handle streaming smoothly if it meets the necessary requirements.
I recently assembled a budget gaming setup and have always dreamed of streaming on Twitch. However, my streams consistently show low frame rates (around 10-12) despite a stable internet connection. My current setup includes an Intel Pentium G3258 CPU, an MSI CSM-H87M-G43 motherboard, 8GB of G.skill RipJaws video card, and a mix of SSD and HDD storage. My internet speed is 50 Mbps download and 6 Mbps upload. I’m questioning whether upgrading the graphics card or the CPU would help.
Streaming depends mainly on your internet connection, especially your upload speed. You might experience occasional lagging while playing, depending on the game.
The process happens on your CPU, so consider upgrading for better stream encoding. If your Pentium G3258 has Intel Quicksync enabled, you can leverage the built-in GPU to handle encoding, reducing CPU workload—only if your BIOS allows disabling the integrated GPU when a dedicated GPU isn't needed. The G3258 supports 2 cores with 4 threads. For quality streaming, aim for at least 4 physical cores and hyperthreading support. Assuming a bitrate around 2000, not exceeding 4000+, you might benefit from lowering to 540p if you're experiencing issues at 720p. If you're not already streaming at 30fps, consider dropping to 480p for smoother performance.