“What kind of GPU should I put in my setup?” “What is VRAM for?” “Why does SSD storage matter?” Those are the most common questions from people looking to build a powerful streaming PC within a limited budget.
That’s where this guide comes in. It will walk you through the minimum PC specs needed for streaming. We’ll also answer all the above questions and many others to help you determine your ideal PC components, depending on your budget. Additionally, we’ve included system requirements for top streaming programs so you can find the right PC specs for your needs. With that said, let’s dive in.
What Are the Minimum Specs for a Streaming PC?
Your minimum streaming PC requirements depend on the intensity of games you’ll stream and the platform you’ll use. Below, we’ll go through a few scenarios to help you determine the right minimum specs for your streaming setup.
1 What Are the Minimum Specs for a Streaming PC?1.1 Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Casual Gamers1.2 1.3 Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Average Gamers1.4 1.5 Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Hardcore Gamers2 3 What Are the Most Important PC Specs for Streaming?3.1 CPU/Processor3.2 GPU/Graphics Card3.3 RAM3.4 Storage3.5 Motherboard3.6 PSU/Power Supply4 How to Save Money When Building a Streaming PC Setup?5 Wrapping It Up
Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Casual Gamers
Casual streamers run entry-level and not-so-graphics-intensive games on YouTube, Twitch, or other streaming platforms. Since casual streamers don’t run hardcore games, they don’t need a top-tier streaming setup. Below are the minimum streaming PC specs for casual gamers:
Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Average Gamers
Average streamers put a lot of gaming workload on their streaming setup but don’t push it to its limits. They may play the latest AAA titles on optimized settings to achieve satisfactory FPS and ensure smooth streaming. Below are the minimum PC specifications for average streamers:
Minimum Streaming PC Specs for Hardcore Gamers
Hardcore streamers play games like Destiny 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 on high settings while streaming them on excellent resolution. If this sounds like you, here are the minimum streaming PC specifications you’ll need:
What Are the Most Important PC Specs for Streaming?
Below are the most important hardware components to consider when deciding on your streaming PC specs.
CPU/Processor
The CPU or processor plays a significant role in the overall performance of a streaming setup. The more cores your CPU has, the faster it will process various actions, such as running your game and streaming it simultaneously. Regardless of the games you’ll be streaming, don’t use CPUs with less than four cores. If you’re going to play heavy games, opt for processors with 6-8 cores at the bare minimum. Your computer’s processor should belong to a recent generation (for future proofing) because it’s not very easy to replace it.
GPU/Graphics Card
Displaying your game’s output on your monitor is the graphics card’s job, making it a crucial part of any game streaming setup. It’s preferable to choose from one of Nvidia’s current graphics cards, such as the GeForce RTX 3050 and RTX 4090. AMD also offers some effective GPUs for streaming, including the RX 580 8GB. The kind of GPU you need depends on the intensity of the games you’ll play. That said, a GPU memory (aka VRAM) of at least 4-6 GB is preferable for streaming setups.
RAM
A larger memory (RAM) lets your PC store more ready-to-process data simultaneously to provide a smooth streaming experience. If you’re building a streaming PC, it’s preferable to opt for 16 GB RAM, at the very least. If your budget allows, go for 32 GB RAM, so your computer will handle various processes smoothly.
Storage
Storage has two aspects of its own: type and size. The newer SSD storage drive is much faster than traditional HDD drives but costs significantly more. For budget streaming setups, we recommend getting a small 80 GB or 120 GB SSD drive for fast Windows operation. Besides, you can install an additional 500 GB or 1 TB HDD drive on your PC to store the data for all your games efficiently.
Motherboard
The motherboard connects your PC’s various hardware components, so a fast one is essential for a seamless streaming performance. If you want to stream hardcore games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Destiny 2, we highly recommend opting for a gaming motherboard. Motherboards like MSI B560M and ASRock B550M are effective solutions for Intel and AMD streaming setups.
PSU/Power Supply
The power supply included with your PC case should provide sufficient supply to your power-intensive hardware parts, such as the GPU. You can use a power supply wattage calculator to determine your PSU needs.
How to Save Money When Building a Streaming PC Setup?
A powerful streaming PC can cost thousands, making it hard to invest in an effective streaming setup all at once. If you want to save money on your streaming PC, never compromise on the CPU and GPU, as they’re hard to replace or upgrade later. Instead, compromise on upgradable hardware parts like storage and RAM, so you can easily class up your streaming setup as your budget allows.
Wrapping It Up
A powerful streaming PC might be your most significant investment when dipping your toe into the world of streaming, so make sure you invest in the right equipment. This guide dove deep into the minimum specifications needed for a streaming PC setup. We hope it helped you determine the streaming PC specs you need to run your desired games smoothly. Until next time…cheers!
