Hardware Minimums
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 5 / i5 (6-core) | Ryzen 7 / i7 (8-core) — encoding is CPU-heavy |
| GPU | GTX 1660 / RTX 2060 | RTX 3060+ — NVENC encoder handles streaming with minimal FPS loss |
| RAM | 16GB | 32GB — OBS + game + browser + alerts = RAM hungry |
| Upload Speed | 5 Mbps | 10+ Mbps — stable upload, not just peak speed |
OBS Settings
| Setting | 1080p 60fps | 720p 60fps |
|---|
| Encoder | NVIDIA NVENC (GPU) or x264 (CPU) | Same |
| Bitrate | 6000 Kbps | 4500 Kbps |
| Keyframe Interval | 2 seconds | 2 seconds |
| Rate Control | CBR (Constant Bitrate) | CBR |
Stream Essentials
| Element | Why |
|---|
| Microphone | Audio matters MORE than video. Bad mic = instant viewer exit. Blue Yeti, Elgato Wave, or Samson Q2U. |
| Lighting | Face visible = more engaging. $30 ring light is fine to start. |
| Overlay | Simple is better — webcam frame, recent follower, alerts. Don't clutter. |
Pro Tip: Talk even when nobody's watching. New viewers join mid-stream — if you're silent, they leave in 5 seconds. Narrate what you're doing, think out loud, react to the game. The stream with 0 viewers who's talking becomes the stream with 5 viewers who's entertaining.