Having a good laptop can be a seriously crucial part of your streaming experience, and it can play a part in various factors from quality to editing. There are a wide variety of options for you to choose from, with a wide variety of price ranges. In this article, we’ll take a look at key factors you should choose from and some of the best laptops to check out.
What to Look for in a Streaming Laptop
There are plenty of things to look out for in a streaming laptop, but we will take a look at the following:
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1. Core Processor
This is a key element of a laptop, and can affect the ability to run multiple programs on your computer at once – and also determines how well each one will run. Different brands of CPU will often have different amounts of cores, meaning more programs can be run simultaneously. For example, Intel processors often allow a lesser amount of programs to run fantastically – and AMD processors often allow lots of programs to run simultaneously at a very good level.
It depends on what you intend to stream – do you want to stream one really intensive game like CSGO? Or do you want to stream a less intensive game like Minecraft, but also having a web browser playing music and also have an art slideshow from another software?
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2. Amount of RAM
RAM can often affect the ability to stream content over the internet, so naturally the more RAM available – the better you will stream. Higher amounts of RAM can also process the files quicker to create your streaming layout.
In terms of the exact amount of RAM, 16GB is usually the recommended amount if you want to stream the most intensive games out there. However, 8GB of RAM is also acceptable for most streaming setups.
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3. Graphics Card
This is important for both personal and professional streaming use – simply put, the better the graphics card or the more tailored to streaming it is, the better it will perform. Graphics cards handle a lot of the rendering on your laptop to allow you to play games smoother and in higher quality, and this can translate across to the games you will be streaming.
NVIDIA also has extra software and features with their premium-level graphics cards, which can allow you to create extra clips and enhance your gameplay.
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4. Cooling
A key part of an intensive streaming laptop setup is the ability to always keep it cool and protected from overheating. If a system begins to overheat, it can skip out beats in the process and cause streams and games to slow down – causing a serious decline in both quality and viewer base.
Laptops will come pre-fitted with basic cooling systems or fans, but extra equipment can be purchased to assist this process – including cooling mats and large or small fans.
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5. Software
Laptops can often come with pre-installed software which you can choose at checkout of the retailer you will be purchasing from. There are hundreds of software applications out there that can help you with a wide variety of streaming setups. One example of this is the Windows 10 PRO software that can be installed onto a laptop for an extra price.
Best Laptops for Streaming
Now that we have taken a look at the different types of laptop factors, let’s take a look at some of the laptops that are deemed to be some of the best for streaming.
Acer Aspire E15 – Best for Smaller Budgets
The Acer Aspire E15 admittedly will not be as performant for streaming as many would think, but for the budget and price, it will likely do a better job at streaming than most of its peers. It has a generally higher RAM (6GB) than most of the other laptops in this price range, as well as being paired with a general Intel I3 processor and Intel standard graphics card.
If you are really set on a laptop within this budget, this would be a better choice than most – but the best idea is really to say up for one in the higher tiers.
MSI GF63 – Best for Medium Budgets
The MSI GF63 provides a great middle-ground – it still produces very high performance and ticks all of the box for streaming without completely breaking the bank like some of the higher models. Its I7 core processor coupled with 8GB RAM can cover almost every game perfectly and the NVIDIA GeForce graphics card will help all of your favorite experiences run crisply and smoothly – providing a perfect balance between gaming and streaming.
Razer Blade 15 – Best for Larger Budgets
The Razer Blade 15 Base Model is a more expensive type of laptop that is absolutely perfect for streaming. With the lucrative price tag comes a very high-class Intel i7 processor (sporting 6 cores to allow for multiple software apps to be run at the same time), alongside 16GB RAM memory which is the exact recommendation for prime Twitch streams. It also contains an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, which is top of the range when it comes to drawing your graphics on the screen and producing high-quality content to your dashboard. The price tag is certainly indicative of the performance that this laptop can provide you and your community.
Are Laptops Good for Streaming?
A further point to be made is the idea of laptops vs desktops when beginning to stream. There is not really any way of sugar-coating it – when compared with a laptop and a desktop of roughly the same price, desktop PCs will always come out on top. They generally provide more value for money, options for cooling, a wide range of customization, and are more robust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, laptops can be very solid options for portable streaming devices and at the highest level, can provide very sound options for streaming consistently at a high quality. A range of factors will apply to your decision, such as personal choice or budget – but in the end, a laptop will provide more than sufficient for many starting and experienced streamers.
Lewis
Lewis, also known as NerdRed, is a Computing Science student and Twitch streamer who works part-time as a writer. He loves all areas of technology, from game development to streaming, and often partakes in outdoor activities such as camping and walking. His favorite video games are Danganronpa, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, and Super Mario Odyssey.