Help Me Choose a Graphics Card

LAwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 18:36

I need a better graphics card for my PC. My current specs are:
i7-8700k, GTX1060 3gb, 32GB RAM, Asus TUF H370-PRO GAMING (WI-FI) Motherboard, 500W PSU, Intel Optane 32GB (in the x2 m.2 slot, used as a scratch disk), 240GB SSD boot drive, 2x Samsung PM961 250GB (one of them is on the secondary PCIE slot with an adapter), 2x Seagate 4TB Hard Drive (These are in RAID 1 array with the Samsung SSDs)

I need to livestream 4k60 under normal conditions (web browsing, watching videos etc) and I also need to livestream 1080p60 gaming. CPU encoding is not really an option for me and I have to use GPU encoding. The game I want to stream is Assassin's Creed Odyssey (High settings).

Right now on the GTX1060 I cannot achieve a 4k60 stream even with nothing running and I also cannot stream 1080p60 games, instead the frame rate (of the game) drops to 20-30fps. However, if I am not streaming I can achieve 1080p60 in games.

What is the cheapest graphics card should I get to meet my streaming requirements?

Computing

Comments

  • Nilfunds on 01/09/2020 - 19:43

    it's a pretty demanding game, you'll have to do much better than a xx60 card
    4k60? not sure a 2080ti could offer 100% 60fps

    • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 20:14

      I only need 4k60 streaming capability while not gaming. For gaming I only require 1080p60.

      • garetz on 01/09/2020 - 20:21

        You will need minimum a 2080ti for this if you want constant 60fps @ 1080p and no dips, i recommend you wait for the new 30xx range, 3070 will be much cheaper and be about as fast as a 2080ti give or take 5% performance.

        • Nilfunds on 01/09/2020 - 20:31

          bit of an overkill.

          i run it on GTX1080 / 1080p tv, most things maxed out, except like water and shadows.
          there are some dips in towns where there's lots of stuff to render.
          but it looks awesome and id call it 60fps

          • garetz on 01/09/2020 - 20:57

            @Nilfunds: a gtx 1080 is pretty much the same performance as a 2080 without rtx, so not surprised there.

        • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:14

          I would rather get a second graphics card dedicated to the encoding than get a 2080ti.

          • garetz on 01/09/2020 - 21:15

            @AwesomeAndrew: Then do that, its a good idea.

            • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:15

              @garetz: Unfortunately I'm out of PCIE slots.

              • garetz on 01/09/2020 - 21:16

                @AwesomeAndrew: I assumed you meant building a cheap pc just dedicated to encoding, propably a better and cheaper alternative.

                • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:18

                  @garetz: Also that's not possible. I'm using Remote Desktop for streaming and it needs to run on the same computer and needs to use the GPU encoder.

      • Nilfunds on 01/09/2020 - 20:29

        just wonder if 30fps streaming wont do?

  • [Deactivated] on 01/09/2020 - 19:50

    Need to get a gtx 1660 minimum, just make the jump 👍👍

  • monky on 01/09/2020 - 21:10

    If you've got a second computer or laptop to stream from, you could just get a capture card for your gaming rig and route it to the PC/laptop doing the encoding. Might be an affordable alternative than just upgrading to a beefier card.

    Otherwise idk, I've done streams at 30 and 60fps and for the most part my viewers don't notice or comment on the difference.

    • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:12

      Sorry, that's not possible. I'm using Remote Desktop for streaming and it needs to run on the same computer and needs to use the GPU encoder.

      • monky on 01/09/2020 - 21:16

        That's an odd setup. What kind of content do you make if you don't mind me asking?

        • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:17

          I don't make any content. The setup is used for streaming the game to my laptop (over the internet) to play when I'm not at home.

          • monky on 01/09/2020 - 21:27

            @AwesomeAndrew: I getcha now! When I read streaming I thought twitch and YouTube.

            No experience with steamed gaming besides steam link to my tv but that works fine on my gtx1080, so maybe that's a place to start?

            • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:29

              @monky: Maybe it's a software issue that causes the FPS drop, i'll try steam link streaming and see if that helps solve the issue.

              • monky on 01/09/2020 - 21:32

                @AwesomeAndrew: Check out Parsec, too! It's more focused at multiplayer but there's a teams version that does remote sharing.

                Edit: Parsec teams is 30 bucks a month, my bad! Gaming version is still free though

                • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 21:42

                  @monky: Just tried using Steam streaming, it doesn't work properly and keeps disconnecting. Also not a good solution for accessing my computer remotely. Parsec costs too much so I guess I'll have to keep using Remote Desktop.

  • Leo Getz on 01/09/2020 - 22:28

    RDP is not designed for what you want to do.
    The host GPU will make no difference and hardware rendering is turned off by default for RDP.
    It can be changed in group policy though, YMMV.

    • AwesomeAndrew on 01/09/2020 - 22:32

      I have turned on h264 in group policy, also turned on 60fps with regedit.

      • Leo Getz on 01/09/2020 - 22:39

        Then you are hitting the video rendering limits across RDP.
        Upgrade the laptop to a 'gaming' laptop with a better onboard GPU and play the games on that while on the road.
        Dock it when you are home to get the bigger screen.

        • monky on 02/09/2020 - 09:53

          This is actually good advice, and something I've been considering more and more recently.

        • AwesomeAndrew on 02/09/2020 - 12:11

          I'm concerned about laptop battery life when gaming on the road. I need my laptop to last at least 5 hours without a charger. But the video rendering limits might be a problem.

  • trankillity on 02/09/2020 - 08:50

    Why use RDP for this? Why not use Steam Link/Steam Streaming? You can stream desktop straight through Steam Streaming too fairly easily. Then you can easily use any device to achieve your goal (Android TV, Android Tablet/Phone, iOS, PC/Mac/Linux device).

    • AwesomeAndrew on 02/09/2020 - 12:06

      I've tried Steam streaming, but it's unreliable (won't let me connect last time I tried it) and requires opening Steam on boot. Also it only works over LAN.

      • trankillity on 03/09/2020 - 08:26

        This is entirely false. Works over any connection. Just need to ensure proper ports are forwarded, or you set up a VPN (more desirable). I stream my PC to my iPad at work during lunch times all the time, and I only have 50/20 connection. Supports streaming of surround sound, game input devices, microphone input. You won't find that with RDP.

        As for opening Steam on boot - if you're gaming, you're likely opening Steam anyway. So I don't see the problem.

  • lew380 on 02/09/2020 - 09:39

    If cost a big factor for you, a second hand gtx 1080 would be the best deal. Why buy new when half your system is old anyway?
    I've brought and sold a few second hand GPU's, never had problems but it is always a gamble I guess, I always make a point of picking up a gpu from someone's house, if they want to meet in a maccas car park then it's probably stolen or faulty

    • AwesomeAndrew on 02/09/2020 - 12:08

      I want to buy the newer GPUs because they have a better NVENC, which is very important when I'm trying to encode 4k60.

      • lew380 on 03/09/2020 - 11:08

        Well that settles it then, no bargains for you! 😉

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