The Best PC Gaming Streaming Hardware: A Comprehensive Guide.
Streaming video games is rapidly becoming one of the most popular activities in the world of gaming. Streaming is a great way to show off your skills to acquaintances, family and friends around the world, or just to show off a particular game you’re playing. It can also be incredibly enjoyable to watch a streamer’s reaction and commentary as they play their favorite games.
But in order to stream you will need a reliable and powerful computer as well as some specific streaming hardware. This blog post will give you a comprehensive guide on what PC gaming streaming hardware to get when preparing to stream your games.
Choosing the right streaming PC
When it comes to streaming games you’ll need a powerful computer to do the work. That’s why it’s important to select the right PC for streaming before you get started. Generally speaking, you’ll want a computer that has at least 8GB RAM, a 2.0GHz processor and at least 500GB of hard disk space.
You’ll also need to consider the graphics card that you use. You don’t need something super powerful if you’re only streaming from your gaming PC, but you’ll still want something that can run the games you’ll be streaming. A mid-range NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics card should be enough for most purposes.
The type of monitor you’ll be using for streaming also matters. Gamers who plan on playing and streaming at the same time will need to invest in a Dual Monitor setup, which allows you to display both your game and your streaming software at the same time.
Finally, you’ll need to consider the type of gaming mouse you’ll be using. If you plan on streaming shooters or other competitive games you’ll want to use one that’s specifically designed for gaming.
Streaming capture cards
If you’re serious about streaming then you’ll also need some streaming hardware. The first piece of streaming hardware you’ll need is a streaming capture card. A streaming capture card will allow you to capture content from your gaming PC and send it to your streaming platform. The best capture cards for streaming will allow you to capture 1080p video with low latency.
AV.io, Elgato and AVerMedia are some of the most popular brands that sell capture cards and they typically range in price from $150 – $500. Higher quality capture cards will typically be more expensive, but they can give you quality streams with minimal hardware requirements.
Microphones
In addition to a capture card, you’ll also need a good quality microphone. You need a good quality microphone in order to get clear audio when streaming. There are a few different types of microphones available and the type you choose will depend on your budget and what type of stream you plan on doing.
If you’re just beginning to stream and your budget is limited, then you may want to start with a USB condenser microphone. They are fairly affordable and will provide decent quality audio for most streaming needs.
If you plan on doing live commentary on a game then you may want to look into a dynamic microphone. They provide a better range of tones, which makes them well suited for live commentary.
However, if you plan on streaming music or other audio-based content then you may want to invest in a higher quality condenser microphone. These can be quite expensive, but they will provide excellent audio quality for your streams.
Webcams
Webcams are essential streaming hardware, as they allow your viewers to watch you play the game on your stream. You don’t need to buy the highest quality webcam on the market, as most viewers are likely just interested in seeing your face as you play. However, you should buy one that has at least 720p resolution and can provide smooth video.
You also want to make sure that the webcam you buy has auto-focus, as this will make sure that it stays focused on your face while you’re playing. You should also make sure that it has at least 30 frames per second (FPS) rate, which will help make sure the video on your stream looks smooth.
Lighting and green screen
If you plan on doing more professional streams then you may want to invest in some additional streaming hardware. The most important pieces of hardware for professional streams are lighting and a green screen.
Lighting is essential for professional streams as it will ensure that viewers can easily see what’s happening on your stream. You should position the lights so that they illuminate your face while you’re streaming, as this will make it easier for viewers to follow along with your game.
A green screen should also be used if you’re doing professional streams. The green screen will allow you to replace the background in your stream with any image or video that you like. This can help make your stream look more professional and can also be used to create interesting visuals for your streams.
Streaming Overlays
Another streaming hardware that you can invest in is a streaming overlay. A streaming overlay will allow you to add visual elements to the video of your stream. Typically these are used for displaying live stats, such as viewers and followers.
You can find a number of free and paid options for streaming overlays online. Generally speaking, the paid options will give you greater customization options as well as higher quality designs than the free options.
Finally, you can also add a streaming Chatbot to your stream. This is essentially a program that can respond to any commands that are sent in the Twitch or YouTube chat. Some of the more popular options include StreamElements, Nightbot and Deepbot.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it really depends on the type of streamer you are and the type of stream you want to do. If you plan on doing professional streams, then you’ll need to invest in additional streaming hardware such as lighting, green screens and chatbot software.
If you’re just starting out, however, then you can get by with just a good gaming PC, a streaming capture card, a microphone, a webcam and a streaming overlay. Whatever you choose, just remember that having the right streaming hardware can make all the difference when it comes to your stream.
Image Credit: Pexels