cores for streaming

How Many Cores Do You Need For Streaming? – Most Suitable PC Configuration

Streaming the live games can be hectic if your computer does not contain the required cores. So if you are a gamer head, you must consider getting enough cores if streaming is your intention. But how many cores do you need for streaming? Well, no need to worry, we are here to help you out with the most suitable PC configuration.

The answer is quite straightforward. Though people may confuse you, honestly, you only need 2 cores for streaming. Along with 2 vital cores, 8GB of RAM in tow can help your gaming entirely. However, for games that are made for higher threads, you should consider getting at least eight or more cores.

Want to know a more in-depth answer? We have dug deeper and found a lot of interesting facts about the correlation between gaming and cores. Let’s dive into the details!

How Much Is Enough for Streaming?

More Cores or More Threads

First and foremost, you need to figure out how many cores are required for gaming. Well, you need a minimum quad-core for gaming, or in other words, four CPU cores. But for streaming, you will only need 2 cores. So, for only gaming, the Intel Core i5 is a great option since it has quad cores.

However, quad-core is not enough for streaming, as gaming itself is high-performing. So, for streaming along with gaming, you need more cores, possibly six to twelve cores as it will ensure the best performance. Moreover,  you may consider adding more cores if possible in order to balance the additional workload.

Fortunately, most games are developed in such a way that having 4 cores is enough and for streaming, you may require two additional cores. So, having a processor like the Intel core i7, which has eight cores along with at least 8 GB RAM is enough for gaming as well as streaming.

However, keep in mind that some games do require more cores. Games like GTA 5, Witcher 3, PUBG, Assassin’s Creed, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, etc are some of the games where having only 4 cores is not enough as these games are a quite high performing.

These games use up multiple CPUs as they implement high-level artificial intelligence. So, to get a full-proof gaming solution, it is better to get more CPU cores instead of quad cores.

What is Better – More Cores or More Threads?

How Many CPU Cores Do You Need for Streaming_cleanup

Before answering the question, you need to understand the main differences between cores and threads. First and foremost, the concept of the thread is virtual, or in other words, threads are not any hardware component.

The concept of threads, also known as multi-threading refers to the CPU’s ability to manage multiple tasks of a single process concurrently. For example,  suppose you open an app, which requires multiple tasks to be performed at the same time, the tasks are performed one after another sequentially, so the user feels that they are being executed concurrently.

On the other hand, cores are actual hardware component that utilizes content switching to increase the amount of work done by the CPU within a timeframe, whereas threads are required for improved throughput.

Now coming back to the question, whether more core is better or more threads is highly dependent on the task you are using it for. For different purposes, a different approach is appropriate. For example, if you consider gaming only, cores are certainly more vital compared to threads.

As mentioned earlier, games usually require 4 to 8 cores to execute properly. However, since nowadays most people are more likely to multitask, having more cores is not always better. For instance, streaming threads are certainly more important.

Do Cores Matter for Streaming?

how many Cores for streaming

Generally speaking, cores certainly matter for streaming as more cores mean better performance in general. Although fewer cores mean the core clock has a higher rate. Whereas more cores can slightly reduce the performance of single cores, however, in general, the reduction in single-core performance does not affect the overall performance of the cores.

So, having more cores and threads certainly matters for streaming.  Moreover, a higher number of cores also mean higher game performance, which is certainly a plus point if you are planning to stream. For CPU-intensive games, the clock rate of cores should also be taken into consideration since a higher clock rate ensures a better gaming experience.

So, the best CPU configuration would be the one with the highest clock rate with the maximum number of CPUs that are available within your budget. For instance, the Intel core i7 8700k is one of the best processors for gaming that is available in the market.

With 6 cores and 12 threads, the CPU has a clock rate of 4.7GHz, which is more than enough for gaming as well as streaming. Aside from that, the Intel Core i7 7700k is also a great option with quad cores and eight threads.

Do You Need More Cores for Streaming?

As mentioned earlier, streaming certainly requires additional cores, since gaming is a high-performing task and thus, can increase the workload of your CPU. However,  if you compare whether you need more cores or more threads for streaming, the answer will be more threads, since multitasking threads are more vital compared to cores.

Nonetheless, you also need to bear in mind that only a handful of games need extra threads for gaming purposes only. So unless you plan on streaming, more cores are certainly better.  In conclusion, in general, for streaming, you need more threads. Hopefully, that answers your queries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much longer will 6 core CPU's

How many cores do you need for Fortnite?

For Fortnite having a CPU core of 4 or more is required. The reason is that Fortnite allows multithreaded rendering for which you need at least 4 cores. So, getting an Intel core i5 2.8hz processor along with 8GB RAM is enough for the game.

How many cores do you need for Minecraft?

In general, Minecraft requires a single core with great performance. That being said, it does need more cores for additional tasks. So, in general, the highest amount of cores Minecraft may require would be 3 cores.

How many cores does OptiFine use?

How many cores does OBS use

OptiFine usually requires dual-core or more, although it does not use multiple cores for Multithreaded rendering, rather uses multiple cores to reduce stress on the mainstream.

How many cores does OBS use?

If you’re just using it to record video footage from your game or webcam, then it will only use one core. However, if you’re using OBS to live stream your gameplay or webcam footage to Twitch or another platform, then it will use all of the cores on your CPU.

Are 4 cores enough for a dedicated streaming PC?

Well, it really depends on what you’re looking for in a dedicated streaming PC. If you’re just looking to stream basic content without any frills, then four cores should be plenty. However, if you’re looking to do some serious streaming with high-quality visuals and audio, then you might want to consider a PC with more than four cores.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out how many cores you actually need for streaming can be quite puzzling, especially if you are thinking of getting your first gaming PC. But as we have shared the detailed answer on How many cores you need for streaming, hopefully now you are clear about the number of cores that are required for your gaming.

Different games may require different numbers of cores. But mostly, for any regular gaming, 2 cores will help you. If you want to play and stream basic games that do not consume much memory and graphics. But our suggestion will be to implement Quad-core CPUs for a better experience.

In short, you will only require additional 2 cores for streaming. So get ready and configure your computer for your streaming! Installing two cores only is easier. So do not listen to others talk and go for gaming and streaming!

Share :