Streaming PC Build For Beginners

Introduction

A streaming PC build for beginners that games and streams from one machine: a many-core processor for OBS and background apps, a GeForce RTX video card with NVIDIA's NVENC hardware encoder, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a fast NVMe SSD for recordings. It is built for playing and streaming to Twitch, YouTube, or Kick at the same time at 1080p, recording gameplay, and editing clips.

Every part was picked from current listings for the best combination of price and compatibility, and the whole list comes to $1,833.34, $161.49 below the parts' reference prices. Prices were checked when this page was last updated and can change, so the total updates with every refresh.

CPU and Cooler

The Intel Core i5-14400F Desktop Processor 10 cores (6 P-cores + 4 E-cores) up to 4.7 GHz is a 10-core processor on the LGA1700 socket. For gaming, a fast six-core-or-better CPU paired with a capable video card delivers high frame rates without overspending on cores most games do not use.

For cooling we added the Thermalright Assassin X 120R Digital ARGB Black CPU Air Cooler, an air cooler that lists support for AM5, AM4, LGA1700. It runs quieter than the cooler in the box.

Motherboard

The GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard is a ATX board with the Z790 chipset that matches the CPU's LGA1700 socket and takes DDR5 memory. It is the lowest-cost compatible board in our current listings, which leaves more of the budget for the parts that affect frame rates.

Memory

32GB of DDR5 at 5600 MT/s (TEAMGROUP T-Create Classic 10L DDR5 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) 5600MHz (PC5-44800) CL46 Intel XMP 3.0 & AMD EXPO...). 32GB is the comfortable amount for modern games with a browser, voice chat, and streaming software running in the background. See our guide to how much RAM you need.

Storage

The Fanxiang 1TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4 M.2 Internal Gaming SSD for PS5 is a 1TB NVMe. A solid state drive makes the PC boot, open apps, and load games far faster than a hard drive. Games keep growing, so 1TB is the practical minimum for a gaming PC.

Video Card

The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GDDR7 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB of video memory is the heart of this gaming build. 16GB of video memory leaves headroom for high-resolution textures in new releases.

Compare it with other options in our guide to choosing a graphics card.

Case

The ASUS A31 ATX Mid-Tower PC Case fits ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX boards, so it holds this ATX motherboard with room to spare.

Power Supply

We estimate this build draws about 375W at full load, so we recommend at least 550W. The Segotep 650W ATX Power Supply provides 650W and is 80 Plus Gold rated, which leaves headroom for upgrades and keeps the fan quiet.

Why this build streams well

Streaming adds a second heavy job on top of the game: encoding video in real time. This build hands that job to the video card's dedicated NVENC encoder, which streams at high quality with almost no hit to frame rates, and the many-core processor keeps OBS, chat, alerts, and your browser running smoothly alongside the game.

32GB of memory matters more for streamers than for gamers. A game, OBS, a browser with stream dashboards, and voice chat can easily pass 16GB together.

Recommended OBS settings to start with

In OBS, set the encoder to NVIDIA NVENC, the output resolution to 1080p at 60 frames per second, and rate control to CBR. Twitch recommends a bitrate of about 6,000 Kbps for 1080p60; YouTube accepts higher. Run the OBS auto-configuration wizard first, then fine-tune from there.

Gear to add for a complete setup

The PC is the core, but viewers notice audio first. A USB microphone, a 1080p webcam, and a key light make the biggest difference for a new stream. A stream controller is a nice extra for switching scenes. A capture card is only needed if you also stream from a console.

Other versions

Looking for something different? See our AMD Gaming Build ($1,515.03), Intel Gaming PC Build ($1,761.24) or Entry Level PC Build ($854.99), or browse every PC build.

Customizing

Ready to make this build your own? Open it in the PC Builder to swap any part. The builder checks compatibility and wattage as you go.