Find all our advices to answer a simple question: Streaming Equipment Do You Need First, we will detail the PC configuration you need to stream in good conditions.
In the second part, we will talk about the Stream accessories. From the most important ones; Microphone and Webcam, to the more secondary accessories; Stream Desk, lighting and green background are on the program!
For a gamer, streaming has become an effective way to share his gameplay and his favorites with an audience that has the same passion as him. Nowadays, many streamers also make a living from their hobby and many people want to follow in their footsteps to make money too.
Table of Contents
Even though it is quite possible to use only a standard gamer configuration, a microphone and a webcam. To do GOOD streaming, you need to have good equipment. Fortunately, we will advise you on the right hardware for you!
Are you starting to stream on Youtube or Twitch? You will need a powerful microphone, a quality webcam; Full HD or 4K UHD. Finally, complete your installation with essential accessories such as a video green screen, lighting, isolation foams or even a stream deck!
What type of PC Gamer to stream?
How to stream with your PC Gamer? There are two possibilities:
Use a single PC which will be in charge of displaying your game but also of receiving, encoding and broadcasting the stream. Opt for a stream configuration with 2 PCs, one to play, the other to broadcast
So, with ONE PC, to stream in 1080p 60 fps without impacting the performance in game, you will need a streaming & gaming PC that will be strong, composed at least of :
- RAM: 16 GB of RAM (32 GB for more comfort)
- Processor: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
- Stream graphics card: RTX 2070, 2080 and derivatives or above
For even greater performance and better task sharing, opt for a second PC for encoding and streaming. For this second PC, it will simply need.
- Video capture card
- RAM: 8 GB (or even 16 GB)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or above
Generally speaking, Intel CPUs offer better performance for gaming. However, it is important to know that AMD processors tend to offer better streaming performance.
Indeed, AMD keeps a generally heavier architecture in terms of threads as well as a higher performance-price ratio compared to its competitor INTEL.
Thus, in processor for streaming, we recommend :
| Mid-range processor Between 200€ and 300 | AMD Ryzen 7 2700 AMD Ryzen 5 3600x Intel Core i5 9600K Intel Core I5 9700KF (Without integrated GPU) |
| Intel Core I5 9700KF (Without integrated GPU) High-end processor | AMD Ryzen 7 2700x Intel Core i7 9700k AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Ultra-high end Between €500 and €1000 | Intel Core i9 9900K Intel Core i9 9900KF (Without integrated GPU) AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
For streaming graphics card for the stream, we recommend :
| Graphics card – mid-range Between 200€ and 400 | GTX 1660 Ti RTX 2060 |
| Graphics card – high end Between 400€ and 600 | RTX 2070 RTX 2070 SUPER RX 5700 XT MECH OC |
| Graphics card – Ultra-high end Between €600 and €1000 | RTX 2080 RTX 2080 SUPER RTX 2080 Ti |
What type of storage for streaming?
We recommend you to use an SSD for your operating system and your games, and to record on a classic hard disk of 700 RPM. (Prefer large volumes, 2 TB and more)
Example: 500GB M.2 SSD + 2 x 2TB of storage
See our SSD buying guide
See our hard drives buying guide
DDR4 RamHow much RAM do you need to stream?
When it comes to PC memory, we’re going to keep it quick and simple.
- Minimum ram for streaming: 8GB DDR4
- Recommended for streaming: 16 GB DDR4
- Otherwise… 32 GB of DDR4 ram (just to be on the safe side)
Why should you use 2 screens to stream?
It is almost essential to have 2 screens to stream. One for the game and the other one to see the chat and your dashboard associated to your broadcasting platform. An old screen can do the job perfectly.
If you decide to invest in one or two monitors, you will find our selection of the best gaming monitors in our specific buying guide.
Microphone & Webcam for streaming
Which microphone to choose for streaming ?
The audio quality is essential for a LIVE !!! The quality of your configuration will decide if someone will stay tuned or not, so a good equipment is essential. Here are Streaming Equipment Do You Need for audio capture
To make it simple, the best solution in terms of quality is the microphone alone.
Indeed, compared to a Gaming headset, the standalone microphone dedicated to recording will be much more efficient and will offer you a superior audio quality.
Ideally, you should have your microphone on a holding arm, so that it does not touch the desk directly, and you should have a pop filter or a windscreen, which will help you to prevent unwanted noise from being picked up. See our article on the Top5 Best Streamer Microphones Gaming & Podcasting here.
Concerning directionalities, here is the lexicon:
- Cardioid (records everything in front of the microphone),
- Bidirectional (records sound in front of and behind the microphone)
- Omnidirectional (records sound from all directions equally).
- The best microphones for streaming are multi-polar, which gives you more flexibility, especially if you plan to create a podcast or record multiple guests.
Which webcam to choose to stream?
For a visual shooting and a video editing of quality, the webcams are also essential.
For the latter it is necessary to offer at least a HD quality. As you will see below, the undisputed champion in this field is the brand Logitech.
One of the first criteria for choosing a webcam for streaming is the definition of its sensor. It is it that will make the quality of the image that you broadcast. At a time when almost all TVs display 4K, streaming webcams focus mainly on 720p (1280×720 pixels in progressive) or 1080p (1920×1080). This is mainly due to the amount of bandwidth that UHD requires.
You will also have to pay attention to the frame rate: as for gaming, choose models that can record in 60 frames per second for more fluidity.
Three excellent webcams to help you decide: the Logitech C920, the Logitech C922 and the Logitech BRIO, capable of recording in 4K.
Here is our advice on how to choose your webcam for live streaming.
What Other What Streaming Equipment Do You Need as Accessories
Of course, other accessories can accompany your equipment. A green background for practicality, a light ring and other panels for lighting, a stream deck to easily manage your broadcast and software like Streamlabs, are some of the accessories that are almost indispensable to start.
Stream Deck
Turn your desktop into a professional studio with the Elgato Stream Deck. An indispensable tool for ambitious youtubers and switchers!
The principle of the Stream Deck is extremely simple. It’s a mini keyboard with “N” keys (depending on the version) that can be fully configured to handle features that would normally require one or more clicks on the streaming or production interfaces.
When streaming, you need your full attention to entertain your audience. With Elgato’s Stream Deck, you have the control of your stream at your fingertips. Program each button with an audio clip, gif or easily switch between cameras.
The Stream Deck recognizes the most popular platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, OBS and many others so you can control everything instantly. Practical though!
Initially designed for the video game and streaming sector, the tool can nevertheless find other uses. Compared to classic shortcuts, the advantage is that you can assign custom icons, so you don’t have to remember complex combinations.
Green Screen for Streaming
This green backdrop allows you to make the background disappear during your photo or video captures (including for live streaming).
As you can see, installing a green background is not mandatory but it reinforces the immersion of your viewers in the universe of your game.
Attention: 2 possibilities for the installation:
There is a product that is installed on the floor (Green Screen) and another product that is fixed to the wall or ceiling (Green Screen MT)
Back lights & Lighting for Streaming
Having a good video quality is good, but with an optimal luminosity, it is even better! For this, we propose the ELGATO Key Light accessory which is a must have for your Streaming Equipment Do You Need List!
It is a LED light panel developed especially for today’s content creators. The Key Light easily mounts to your desk, adding professional lighting to your setup while requiring far less space than light boxes or lamps. The Key Light communicates wirelessly with your PC or Mac, allowing you to instantly control brightness and heat through Elgato’s handy Control Center application or with the touch of a button on Elgato’s popular Stream Deck. The Key Light shines brightly with 80 high-end OSRAM LEDs that deliver 2,500 lumens and generate almost no heat.
It was designed to meet the growing demands of video production and sets new standards for high-quality studio lighting. Extremely bright, glare-free and fully dimmable.
Streaming capture cards or boxes
Useful in a 2 PC streaming configuration and necessary to broadcast console games.
It is about getting the image and the sound from an external source. This is usually a console (PS4 / XBOX),
However, it can also concern the streaming on PC if we choose to opt for a configuration with two PC (one managing the gaming, a second managing the streaming).
Reminder: Streaming is mainly focused on 720p (1280×720 pixels in progressive) or 1080p (1920×1080). This is mainly due to the amount of bandwidth that UHD requires.
We hope you now have a clear view on the Streaming Equipment Do You Need to acquire to perform the best live streams possible.