Instead of simply playing PC games, if you've ever dreamt about thousands of people watching you play them live on a streaming platform, you'll be pleased to learn that it's relatively straightforward to get started. All you need is a capable PC, some additional equipment, broadcasting software, and you're good to broadcast out to the masses.
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All the hardware you'll need to stream
Whether you want to broadcast on Twitch or make Let's Play videos for YouTube, there's some equipment you'll want to invest in first. Before we even consider software choices, you need to make sure you've got quality hardware for capturing voice and video, so you can properly interact with your audience.
What you'll need inside your PC
Building a gaming PC is one thing, but putting together a machine that can not only handle playing a PC title but can also encode a continuous stream and publish it to the outside world, that's a whole different ballpark. Luckily, it's not difficult to build a PC that can do both to a degree, and if you want to take streaming seriously, you can later add a separate dedicated streaming machine. Be sure you don't skimp on a GPU; check out our collection of the best graphics cards available now.
How to build a streaming PC for less than $1,200
Microphones
You might have a basic microphone kicking around or a gaming headset that's fine enough for in-game chat, but if you want to produce high-quality Let's Play streams and commentary videos, you're going to want a good dedicated microphone. We've rounded up some of the best microphones out there, recommending either the Blue Yeti (opens in new tab) or HyperX QuadCast (opens in new tab). Both are sturdy and reliable desktop microphones built with streamers and podcasters in mind.
They're both easy to set up too. You get multiple record modes and direct controls for headphone volume, mute, and microphone gain. Connecting via USB and requiring no software to makes it easy to plug 'n' play. USB microphones are a great way to go, but there's also the choice of professional studio condenser microphones like the Audio-Technica AT2020 (opens in new tab). These require a little more in terms of money, accessories, and time to get everything working, but the end results can even surpass USB microphones like the Blue Yeti for scalability and audio control.
The best for streamers who don't want any hassle
This professional microphone is built around three condenser capsules and includes bi-directional, omnidirectional, and stereo recording options. It's not only fully compatible with Windows, but also rocks physical controls for volume, gain, and even a mute button.
An almost perfect gaming mic
HyperX opted to include everything you need with the USB QuadCast, including a built-in pop filter and pre-installed shock mount. Use the bundled stand or hook the mic up to your own mount.
Studio-quality audio recording
Perfect for gaming or streaming online, Audio-Technica's AT2020 condenser microphone delivers high-quality, professional sound for any video game experience and at a great price too. The only drawback is all the additional equipment you'll need.
Webcams
Once you've got your audio recording equipment figured out, you'll want to consider whether you wish to record your face too. If so, a decent webcam is required to record your beautiful face as you play and stream/record. Most DSLR cameras can be used as webcams when connected to your computer via USB, so use one if you have one, as they will produce the most professional-quality video for your streams. If you don't own a DSLR and don't really feel like dropping a small fortune acquiring one, there are many quality webcams for you to choose from.
We suggest the Razer Kiyo (opens in new tab). It's a formidable webcam that simply clips onto your monitor and lets you record your gaming face in 1080p. It also features a ring LED light to better illuminate your mug and improve stream quality — it shouldn't be underestimated just how important lighting is for recording video; it's right up there with capturing your voice and in-game footage.
Razer's webcam with an important party trick
The Kiyo is part of Razer's streamer certified range and it has one very important feature: A big ring light on the front. For streamers short on space for lighting, the Kiyo can solve the issue of being seen while you're broadcasting, with a simple twist adjusting the brightness.
Super-crisp video recording
If you really want your webcam video to look its best, Logitech's new BRIO is the one for you. It was the first webcam to hit the market with support for 4K video, meaning super-crisp footage in apps that support it. It's also pretty well-rounded, with a neat background replacement feature and support for the important Windows Hello security features in Windows 10.
Capture Cards
So, you've got the parts to put yourself on the internet, and streaming from your PC is easy — you just need the right software. But what about from your Xbox? For that, you'll need a capture card. You've basically got two options to consider — an internal capture card, which you'll need to install inside your PC tower, or an external capture card that connects to your console and PC via HDMI and USB. Check out our breakdown of the best capture cards for more details on what makes for the best streaming option.
Internal capture cards have the benefit of taking a load off of your PC hardware and recording more efficiently at a higher quality. If you're able to install it in a dedicated stream-recording PC, you can easily record both your PC gaming and your console gaming without having to worry about splitting resources between running your games and the stream capturing software. Something like the Avermedia Live Gamer 4K (opens in new tab), which allows you to capture and stream your gaming footage in up to 4K at 60 FPS at a reasonable price.
If you've got a laptop that you were planning to use for streaming, installing a capture card inside it isn't going to happen. But there are external capture cards you can use instead. We recommend the Elgato HD60S (opens in new tab), it can work with any modern console in crisp 1080p at 60 FPS. Simply connect the capture card to your computer via USB (it uses the modern USB-C standard), and connect your console to the HDMI-in port and your TV to the HDMI-out port and away you go. You'll be able to enjoy lag-free gaming while your footage is pulled onto your PC for recording or streaming.
Incredible recording capabilities
On a hardware level, the Avermedia Live Gamer 4K is the top dog right now for consumer-grade capture cards. Not only will it capture 4K video at up to 60 frames per second (FPS), but it will also allow capture of HDR Passthrough, too. It's an internal capture card (with added RGB, which is terrific) and for folks using it to capture PC footage, the Live Gamer 4K can do 1440p at 120 FPS and 1080p at a whopping 240 FPS.
HD recording from your console
As an all-rounder, you can't go far wrong with the Elgato HD60S. The newest external capture card from Elgato has a fast USB 3.0 interface for low latency and an instant game view for 1080p 60 FPS footage. Elgato also future-proofed the HD60S somewhat by equipping it with the new modern USB-C connector. Elgato's beginner-friendly software is also included, and it can access sources like your microphone and webcam to make your broadcast really look its best.
Software to make all the magic happen
You've got your microphone, webcam, and an optional capture card if you're a console gamer. The final step is figuring out what broadcasting/recording software you want to use to get your game footage and commentary to your audience in style. Luckily, there are some excellent options here, both commercial and freely available.
XSplit offers up two applications that should cover all the bases for streaming your gameplay to your adoring fans. XSplit Broadcaster gives you a full video production suite to customize the look of your stream. Set up your webcam and game capture as sources, customize your layout, and then you're ready. XSplit Gamecaster makes things even easier, letting you click to stream or record your gaming and quickly add a webcam — with chroma key support if available. XSplit supports Twitch, YouTube, and Livestream, so you'll have the freedom to host your streams where you prefer.
XSplit offers a free plan, but in order to enjoy all the benefits that come with using the included software packages, you'll want to opt for the upgraded plan. You can buy a lifetime license for $449 or pay monthly.
If you're looking for a free, open-source screen-recording software option, then Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is just what you want. Given that this is open-source software, it certainly isn't the prettiest option out there, but it's absolutely free with some user-created plugins available. Choose between OBS Classic for Windows or OBS Studio that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Streamlabs has a special version of OBS called Streamlabs OBS available with some additional features and an enhanced UI, which is worth considering.
OBS is incredibly powerful software, so long as you can overlook the rather basic UI. Once configured, it's easy to start a stream and record all footage captured in-game. Best of all, it's completely free.
Rich Edmonds is Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
