With the popularity of streaming and content creation on the rise, many more of us are considering a career in streaming. As a result, you may be left thinking what are the best PCs for streaming?
Thankfully, Overclockers UK is here to tell you everything you need to create a powerful streaming set-up that will impress both you and your audience. We’ve included some of our top product recommendations, pre-built systems, and some stylish peripherals to complete the look.
What You Need:
For professional streaming, not only do you need a PC that meets the recommended specification for your favourite games, but also one that can handle multitasking and image rendering.
Twitch officially recommends a dual-core CPU and 4GB RAM for live streaming on their service. This, however, does not take into account your game of choice. The general rule of thumb is not to use the minimum game specs as your base, but rather the recommended. This ensures you get the best possible performance and graphics.
The Components:
CPU:
As the foundation of your computer, the CPU is responsible for relaying tasks to the other components in your system. Along with also encoding your stream in real-time.
Encoding is how your audio and screen are captured and transformed into a digital video file, which can be broadcasted online. This process requires a huge amount of processing power, taking up, on average, nearly 90% of power from a dual-core CPU. As a result, your streaming PC needs a processor that is powerful enough to handle running all your favourite games and your stream simultaneously.
An ideal CPU for professional streamers would be an Intel 14th Gen series or an AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processor.
Intel Core i7 14700K CPU (BX8071514700K):
- 20 / 28 Cores & Threads
- 3.40GHz Core Clock Speed
- 5.6GHz Single Core Clock Turbo
- 61MB Cache
- 125W TDP
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU (100-100000908WOF):
- 16 / 32 Cores & Threads
- 4.50GHz Core Clock Speed
- 5.70GHz Single Core Clock Turbo
- 144MB 3D V-Cache
- 120W TDP
GPU:
Your graphics card is vital for playing your favourite games in stunning resolutions with no input lag or poor frame rates.
Plus, with various integrated algorithms designed to enhance graphical performance, you can take advantage of next-generational hardware and enjoy an immersive gaming experience. Perfect for you and your audience.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Ti TUF OC Graphics Card (90YV0IJ1-M0NA00):
- NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture
- Features 3rd generation RT cores and 4th generation tensor cores
- Integrated cooling system with axial-tech fan design
- Real-Time Ray Tracing, AI DLSS, and G-Sync enabled
SAPPHIRE PURE AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming Graphics Card (11335-03-20G):
- AMD RDNA 3 architecture
- Next-generation graphics and immersive gaming
- Features a dedicated cooling system with dual-x cooling
- Compatible with FreeSync 2
RAM:
High-quality RAM is essential for your PC to be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Without it, your PC is unable to perform simple tasks, such as loading up your favourite game. The more RAM you have and the faster it is, the better the load is spread between the different memory modules. This results in quick load times, and your PC is better suited to handle multiple tasks at once.
For those looking to get into PC streaming, 16 to 32GB RAM is ideal to ensure maximum performance, every time.
TeamGroup Vulcan Z T-Force 16GB DDR4 Dual Channel RAM Kit (TLZGD416G3200HC1CDC01):
- 2 x 8GB RAM modules
- 3200MHz DDR4
- Sleek black and grey design
- Compatible with Intel XMP 2.0
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB DDR4 Dual Channel RAM Kit (CMW32GX4M2Z3600C18):
- 2 x 16GB RAM modules
- 3600MHz DDR4
- Integrated RGB light strip
- Compatible with Corsair iCUE software
Storage:
A hefty storage solution is a must for PC streaming and content creation.
Especially if you are looking to upload your live streams on a secondary service, such as YouTube or Facebook. Storing streams can take up a lot of space on your PC. On average, a one-hour stream at 1080p will need roughly 2.7GBs of space on your drive. This means if you stream every day for several hours, you will quickly run out of storage space!
To cope with this, it’s recommended you invest in a multi-terabyte hard drive or even consider getting an external drive.
WD Black P10 5TB 2.5 Portable USB 3.2 External Hard Drive (WDBA2W0050BBK-WESN):
- Portable 5TB external hard drive
- Can hold up to 125 of your favourite games
- Take your files or game library anywhere!
For a closer, in-depth look at what components, peripherals, and software you need for PC streaming, why not check out our dedicated blog post?
Overclockers UK Top PCs for Professional Streaming:
As the home of the PC enthusiast, OcUK has a wide range of pre-built gaming PCs that are perfect for streaming, gaming, and content creation.
I’ve included some of our favourites for you to take a closer look at.
Refract Gaming Azure PC (FS-1DP-EP):
- Pre-built gaming PC designed for mid to high level gaming and content creation
- All the components have been cherry-picked by OcUK’s team of experts
- Packed with incredible gaming hardware, including NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti OC GPU
- Real-Time Ray Tracing, AI DLSS, and G-Sync enabled
Refract Gaming Indigo PC (FS-1DN-EP):
- Pre-built gaming PC designed for elite tier gaming and content creation
- Cherry-picked hardware by OcUK’s team of experts
- Packed with superior gaming hardware, designed with the enthusiast in mind
- Real-Time Ray Tracing, AI DLSS, and G-Sync enabled
Refract Gaming Ultraviolet PC (FS-1EN-OG):
- Pre-built gaming PC designed for powerhouse gaming and content creation
- Premium cherry-picked hardware by OcUK’s team of experts
- Designed with the enthusiast in mind featuring NVIDIA RTX 4090 and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Real-Time Ray Tracing, AI DLSS, and G-Sync enabled
Complete Your Work Setup:
Your dream streaming setup is incomplete without the perfect accessories and peripherals to match. Here are some of our top recommendations to ensure you can produce quality content in both comfort and style.
Elgato USB 32 Key Customisable XL Stream Deck (10GAT9901):
- Quickly control and configure your stream
- 32 customisable LCD keys
- Compatible with a plethora of different streaming software, such as OBS or Streamlabs OBS
Streamplify HUB CTRL 7 USB Hub (SPUH-HC71227.11):
- Streaming desk with 7 slots
- Six USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0A port
- LED power indicators
- Integrated RGB lighting
Streamplify COMPLETE Bundle (BU-002-SM):
- Complete streaming bundle
- Includes a microphone, camera, two ring lights, and green screen
Share Your Top Tips for PC Streaming?
Are you a streamer? We’d love to hear your top tips for those looking to get into PC streaming.
Let us know in the comment section below and leave your channel name! We’re always looking for new creators to watch and support.
Did you like this article?
Not answered your streaming questions in this article? Head over to the Overclockers UK Ultimate Collection of Streaming Guides – we’ve pulled together every blog we’ve written about streaming and put them in one easy to access place. May your questions be answered there.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 7 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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