Want to become a streamer on Twitch or Kick? More than 3 million people watch live streams every day on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The demand for streaming has never been higher. And that’s not even taking into account the numbers on other social networks like Kick, TikTok Live and Facebook. Streaming is attracting more and more players. Apart from being fun, streamers can also make a nice living, some even make a living out of it. However, success also requires the right PC setup. The graphics card plays a crucial role in how smooth and professional your streams look. So how do you choose the right GPU for streaming games? In this guide, you’ll find the best graphics cards for streaming games.
Important factors when choosing a GPU for streaming games
GPU selection is one of the critical aspects for game streaming. The right graphics card provides smooth and high-quality live streams, which ultimately contributes to your success.
But what should I choose a graphics card based on? Here are a few key factors to look at when choosing a GPU:
- Performance: details such as frame rate (FPS) and high resolutions above 1080 towards 4K are key. Encoding features are also important as they reflect how well the card can compress video for live streaming
- Streaming-specific features: check GPU features that can help you improve streaming. If the GPU has Nvidia Encoder, that’s a plus. Other features include AMD Advanced Media Framework (AMF) and AV1 support.
- Power consumption and cooling: streaming games is power-hungry, which is also related to cooling. Choose a GPU that has efficient power consumption and good cooling to give you the best streaming experience.
- Compatibility with popular streaming software.
As long as you stick to these factors, you’ll strike a balance between gaming performance and streaming quality. This will give your viewers the best experience.
The best GPU for streaming games
Knowing that not everyone can afford the most powerful graphics card for streaming games right away, we’ve picked the 4 best GPUs based on price. Maximum performance (around 2000€), high-end GPUs up to 1000€ , mid-range up to 500€ and budget GPUs up to 200€.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
The GeForce RTX 4090 is the pinnacle of GPU performance in the world of streaming and gaming. The perfect combination of efficiency, performance and AI-powered graphics makes it a great choice for those looking for the ultimate in performance. It is the most powerful graphics card currently available on the market. The GeForce RTX 4090 outperforms its competitors in most aspects by 30% to 40%.
Price
This card is not for everyone, because you have to prepare a big budget for it. The minimum price of this card is from 2000€, some better models up to 2300€.
Technical specifications
| Technical specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace (4th generation RTX 4000) |
| CUDA cores | 16 384 |
| Core Clock (Base) | 2 235 MHz |
| Core Clock (Boost) | 2 520 MHz |
| Computing power | ~82.6 TFLOPs (FP32) |
| Memory size | 24 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory speed | 21 Gbps |
| Bus width | 384-bit |
| Memory throughput | ~1 008 GB/s |
Power consumption and connectivity
- TDP: 450 W
- Recommended power supply: 850 W or more
- Power: 16-pin PCIe Gen 5 connector (or adapter to 3x 8-pin PCIe)
- PCIe: 4.0 x16
- Display connectors:
- 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
- 1x HDMI 2.1a
Technology
- DLSS 3: Support for frame generation
- NVIDIA Reflex: Latency reduction for gamers
- NVIDIA Broadcast: AI support for streaming and video calling
- NVIDIA Studio: optimizations for creative tools
- Ray Tracing: Real-time ray tracing for realistic lighting
Cooling
Most models from third-party manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte) use massive heatsinks with a three-fan design, while the Founders Edition has NVIDIA’s own dual-fan design and premium workmanship.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
TheAMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the pinnacle of performance in the Radeon RX 7000 series. This graphics card offers top performance, outstanding efficiency and advanced technologies that gamers and streamers alike will appreciate. With powerful compute and a large amount of memory, it’s the ideal choice for those looking for a quality gaming and streaming experience.
Price
This card delivers top performance at a price that starts at around €950. Some premium models can reach a price of up to €1,200, depending on the manufacturer and version.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX technical specifications
| Technical Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 3 |
| Computational units | 96 |
| AI Accelerators | 192 |
| Core Clock (Basic) | 2300 MHz |
| Core Clock (Boost) | 2500 MHz |
| Memory size | 24 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory speed | 20 Gbps |
| Bus width | 384-bit |
| Memory throughput | ~960 Gbps |
Power consumption and connectivity:
- TDP: 355 W
- Recommended power supply: 800 W or more
- Power: 2x 8-pin PCIe connector
- PCIe: 4.0 x16
- Display connectors:
- 2x DisplayPort 2.1
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 1x USB-C
Technology:
- FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): Enhance performance and image quality
- Smart Access Memory: Improved CPU access to GPU memory
- Ray Tracing: Real-time ray tracing for realistic lighting
- AV1 Encoding: Support for advanced encoding for streaming
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
The RTX 4070 strikes an exceptional balance between performance and price, setting it apart from the higher-end models in the RTX 4000 series. This card is optimized for 1440p gaming while delivering enough performance for high frame rates and advanced features like DLSS 3.0 and Ray Tracing. Unlike premium models with higher power and cooling requirements, the RTX 4070 boasts lower power consumption, a compact design, and versatility for not only gaming but also simultaneous streaming.
Price
The RTX 4070 is an affordable option for gamers who want a high-performance card without having to pay crazy amounts of money for a GPU. The price of this card starts at just under 600€, with better models being sold on Slovak e-shops for well under 750€.
Technical specifications for the RTX 4070
| Technical Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace (4th generation RTX 4000) |
| CUDA cores | 5 888 |
| Core Clock (Base) | 1 920 MHz |
| Core Clock (Boost) | 2 475 MHz |
| Computing power | ~29.1 TFLOPs (FP32) |
| Memory size | 12 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory speed | 21 Gbps |
| Bus width | 192-bit |
| Memory throughput | ~504 Gbps |
Power consumption and connectivity
- TDP: 200 W
- Recommended power supply: 600 W or more
- Power: 1x 8-pin PCIe connector
- PCIe: 4.0 x16
- Display connectors:
- 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
- 1x HDMI 2.1a
Technology
- DLSS 3.0: Performance enhancement with AI-powered image generation.
- Nvidia Reflex.
- AV1 Encoding.
- Nvidia Broadcast: advanced streaming features and AI audio and video processing.
- Ray Tracing: Realistic lighting and dynamic effects for immersive experiences.
Cooling
RTX 4070 offers efficient cooling with low noise. Cards from manufacturers such as MSI, ASUS and Gigabyte use advanced fan systems, heatpipes and efficient heatsinks to maintain stable performance even during intense gaming. In addition, the Nvidia Founders Edition offers a sleek design with optimized airflow.
AMD Radeon RX 7600: the “Budget-Friendly” Graphics Card
The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is a great choice for beginning streamers looking for an affordable graphics card with enough performance to play at 1080p. This card is designed with lower power consumption and a compact design in mind, making it ideal for smaller gaming setups. Compared to more expensive models, the RX 7600 offers the advantage of a low price point while still supporting advanced features such as Ray Tracing and advanced cooling. It’s a great gateway for gamers who are new to streaming and looking for quality at a reasonable price.
Price
The RX 7600 is one of the most affordable cards in its class. The price starts at around €250 and this makes it an excellent choice for beginners. For this price, you get reliable performance for everyday gaming and basic streaming.
Other reasonably priced options include the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super and AMD RX 5500 XT, which are priced under €200.
Technical specifications
| Technical specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 3 |
| Computational units | 32 |
| AI Accelerators | 64 |
| Ray accelerators | 32 |
| Core Clock (Basic) | 2 250 MHz |
| Core Clock (Boost) | 2 655 MHz |
| Memory size | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory speed | 18 Gbps |
| Bus width | 128-bit |
| Memory throughput | ~288 Gbps |
Power consumption and connectivity
- TDP: 165 W
- Recommended power supply: 550 W or more
- Power: 1x 8-pin PCIe connector
- PCIe: 4.0 x8
- Display connectors:
- 3x DisplayPort 2.1
- 1x HDMI 2.1
Technology
- FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): Enhanced performance and image quality for smooth gaming.
- Smart Access Memory.
- Ray Tracing: Realistic lighting and effects for modern games.
- AV1 Encoding.
Cooling
AMD Radeon RX 7600 uses innovative cooling solutions from a variety of manufacturers, including dual-fan designs and efficient heatsinks. Its compact size ensures easy installation even in smaller builds, while maintaining optimal operating temperature even during long gaming marathons.
Which is the best GPU for streaming
Choosing the right graphics card is one of the most important steps in building a successful streaming setup. Whether you want to maximize performance with the Nvidia RTX 4090, strike a balance between price and performance with the RTX 4070, or start with an affordable alternative like the AMD RX 7600, there’s a graphics card on the market for everyone.
Each of the featured GPUs brings unique benefits, whether it’s peak performance for 4K streaming, optimized gaming at 1440p, or basic gaming at 1080p. You should consider your specific needs, budget, and expectations when making your choice. Advanced technologies such as DLSS, Ray Tracing and AV1 Encoding take streaming gaming to the next level and enhance the overall viewer experience.
Regardless of your budget, this overview will help you navigate the offerings and choose a card that meets your expectations. Remember, streaming isn’t just about the tech, it’s also about your creativity and engaging your community. With the right graphics card, you can create quality content that your audience will love. It’s time to start streaming and sharing your gaming adventures with the world!
FAQ – Game Streaming FAQ
Not necessarily! Even if you enjoy the highest performance with high-end GPUs, a mid-range one like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6700 XT can still give you a great experience, especially if your streaming quality is 1440p or lower.
For 1080p streaming, a GPU that combines solid gaming performance and excellent encoding capabilities is key. If you’re just starting out, research the market and consider options like the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super or AMD RX 5500 XT.
Very hardly. Most integrated graphics can handle simple game streaming at low resolutions. But if you want to enjoy the best quality experience and stand out as a streamer, you need a quality graphics card.
Yes, you can earn money through audience donations, ads, subscriptions and sponsorships. Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions for product recommendations. The key is an active and loyal community of viewers.
The GPU ensures smooth video, encryption and handling of demanding games during streaming. Powerful models such as NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon RX deliver high quality. They are essential for professional streaming.
You need a powerful GPU, stable internet and streaming software like OBS. Create an account on a platform (Twitch, YouTube) and set up a camera and microphone. Once you’re set up, you can start streaming and building your audience base.