Want to Make Streaming a Well-Paying Profession? Then Get the Right Laptop
by Ashok Pandey May 4, 2021 0 commentsLive streaming is turning out to be a profession for many, including gamers and other professionals. Earlier gamers used to wish that they could earn while playing the game, but today it has become a reality.
Many professional gamers are earning a good amount of money while enjoying their favourite games, thanks to streaming. It has changed gamers’ life and turned gaming into a real career.
Jeffery Shih, better known as “TrumpSC,” a popular streamer, started his streaming with Starcraft and his viewership slowly grew from 500 people to 3,000 people in the first few months. So now, the biggest question is, how much can a good gaming streamer earn? According to Forbes, “It is possible to choose streaming and gaming as a lifelong vocation and earn over $300,000 a year.”
Streaming seems easy, but it’s not unless you have the right tools and the right laptop configuration. Plus of course, you need to choose the right streaming platform like Twitch, YouTube, etc. Here, we’ll talk about various streaming platforms as well as some good laptop recommendations you should consider.
Streaming Platforms
Twitch.TV – One of the most popular platforms that comes integrated with Amazon and provides detailed analytics of your every stream. The platform is a bit complicated as compared to competition, yet it’s useful for live streaming music, art, gaming, STEM and more.
To stream on Twitch, you need a program like OBS, XSplit or Elgato Game Capture. If streaming from a console, you’ll need a capture card on your laptop to take the input. You would require a laptop that can encode your video and audio quickly and send the stream to Twitch to broadcast.
Facebook Gaming – According to Venturebeat, since December 2019, Facebook Gaming has grown by 210 per cent. And in the month of April 2020, it marked a massive 238 per cent growth. It is simple to use and almost like going live on Facebook.
One can stream on Facebook with software like XSplit, Elgato Game Capture or Open Broadcast Software (OBS). You can simply connect your software with Facebook Gaming using a stream key.
YouTube Gaming – Don’t be confused here. YouTube Gaming is a separate platform just for gamers and gaming content, but, streamers are now merged with YouTube. This was beneficial for the streamers, obviously, as the watch hours of YouTube Gaming increased by 46% in 2019, according to Newsweek.
One can easily stream on YouTube as well as upload pre-recorded videos. One requires recording software for a better experience. If you want to go live without using any third-party platform, then you can use your smartphone to stream directly.
The Tricky Part: Choosing the Right Laptop for Streaming
These and many other platforms are there for streamers, so it’s not very difficult to choose one. The tricky part is in choosing the right machine for streaming.
The different streaming platforms enable you to add different elements to your stream. This requires an efficient PC to handle the computing needs. Additionally, choosing a laptop could be tricky as the streamer might need to connect different hardware that includes an external mic, camera and tuner as well.
Minimum and Recommended Laptop Specs for Streaming
Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements | |
---|---|---|
CPU | 9th Gen Intel Core i5 | 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or Higher |
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or Higher |
GPU | 2 GB | 4 GB or Higher |
Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD or higher |
Display | 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) | 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) or Higher |
Battery | Min 4 hours | Up to 4 hours or Higher |
Ports | Min 2 USB Ports | 4 USB Ports or Higher |
Without having the right machine, you can’t win the streaming battle. The right machine isn’t the most expensive one, but one with the right hardware and connectivity options. It should be one that does streaming seamlessly so that you can focus on creating engaging content without struggling with the performance.
Live streaming starts from collecting data, sending it to an encoder, and then compressing it to send to the video player. Usually, laptops come with a 720p webcam, but using them is not recommended. It’s better to get an external camera with a 1080p or higher resolution. Some streamers use DSLR for best quality.
Similarly, a good mic can reduce noise while streaming and deliver greater quality audio experience to your subscribers.
Some Really Good Laptop Choices for Streamers
Economical – HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-dk1508TX
Price: INR 72,953
Specs:
CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 |
RAM | 8 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits, 45% NTSC |
Battery | Up to 6 hours |
Ports | USB Type-C, USB Type-A, Two USB Type-A, HDMI 2.0, RJ-45, headphone/microphone combo |
Webcam & Mic | HP Wide Vision 720 HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphone |
Recommended – OMEN Laptop 15-ek0024TX
Price: INR 180,999
Specs:
CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core i7 |
RAM | 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q (8 GB DDR6 dedicated) |
Storage | 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K UHD, UWVA, BrightView, anti-reflection, micro-edge, AMOLED, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3 (3840 x 2160) |
Battery | Up to 5 hours and 30 minutes |
Ports | Thunderbolt 3 with SuperSpeed USB Type-C, USB Type-A, Two USB Type-A, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0a, RJ-45, headphone/microphone combo |
Webcam & Mic | HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphone |
Click here to visit the HP Online store for some really great deals on
the products discussed above.
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