![]() Encoding using x264 directly impacts your CPU since that is where the work is done, but if you have a sufficiently powerful CPU, it should be more than capable of creating your stream while also running your streaming application, your computer’s operating system, and other ancillary tasks. With eight core processors plus hyperthreading on each, you get 16 total threads and that’s pretty close to where you want to be for an optimized single x264 encode workflow according to the x264 spec. An Intel i7 is generally suggested as it will provide enough headroom for the majority of workflows. All the latest mid-range Intel CPUs support eight cores. For most use cases, you want to aim for a middle of the road CPU in terms of cores versus clock frequency. ![]() CPUs are typically differentiated by their clock speed and the number of processing cores they have. How can an underpowered CPU (central processing unit) affect your production and streaming capabilities? How powerful a CPU do you need? It all depends on what you need to do. For a typical workflow, we need to not only successfully encode a live stream so that viewers can see it, we also need the ability to create layers, add titles, music, effects or other elements that give your show the high production value it deserves.ĭoing all that in real time takes horsepower, so let’s look at the four main areas of hardware components that will affect your streaming capacity and performance:ģ) GPU (graphics and the potential for encoding streams)Ĥ) Storage (for both operating system and media) CPU and RAM Once that limiting factor is out of the way, then we can talk about the computer hardware necessary to run streaming software to its full potential. This is especially important for target bitrates of 10Mbs or less. ![]() It’s recommended that your upload speed be at least double your selected output video bitrate to allow for any additional headroom you might need. Since we are discussing a video streaming workflow, it probably goes without saying that knowing the bitrate you want your output streams to be versus how much upload bandwidth you have available from your ISP is critical to your overall success. What about source video playback? Do you need the ability to handle 4K? 3D titles? The more you want to do and the better you want to do it, the more sophisticated the machine has to be, and that takes knowledge about precisely what your computer hardware can do. If your workflow requirements are more professional-having four simultaneous instant replays available from recorded ISO files, three monitor outputs (one for a multi-viewer, one for the audio mixer, and one for the user interface plus program out) -that’s where correctly configuring a capable machine can get really difficult for some users. If you have basic workflow requirements, you can, in most cases, buy any reasonably equipped modern machine and you’ll probably be fine. While recommended system requirements are published to guide users wishing to “roll their own” workstation for the purpose, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the unique demands of real-time streaming. Running a powerful, real-time software application demands a certain amount of horsepower from the computer it is being run on. The advent of powerful streaming software applications has made it possible for anyone to create broadcast-quality productions. While live streaming production quality can vary considerably, shows with higher production value do a much better job of attracting and retaining viewers. ![]() We take a look under the hood and explore the four main hardware components that directly affect performance when building or configuring a streaming workstation. Professional Streaming Productions Require Computer Hardware That’s Up to the task. ![]() To learn more about Telestream desktop products, click here. ![]()
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