We are taking a closer look at what goes into a streaming PC.
Streaming is a booming aspect of the gaming industry. We love to see people playing our favourite games, speedrunning, and all the fun mod content out there. What we love even more is sharing our own content via live stream! But what do we need from our gaming PCs to facilitate this? In this article, we are going to virtually build a gaming PC that is spec’d out for streaming, with a few cheeky peripherals to go with it.
What do You Need for a Streaming PC?
Streaming is when you live broadcast your gameplay (or whatever your content niche may be). Common platforms to stream from are Twitch and YouTube, but we’ll be focusing on Twitch, using their recommended specs to build this gaming PC.
According to the Twitch website, the minimum specification recommendations are a quad-core CPU, 8GB RAM, and a dedicated GPU. However, your hardware is going to be processing both the live stream and your gameplay, so it stands to reason your PC needs to pack a little more oomph.
Given that many games require 16GB RAM now and all the best gaming features are supported by the latest generation of hardware, it’s sensible to opt for higher end hardware. You don’t necessarily need an RTX 5090 and you absolutely can stream on an RX 9060, but aiming for the upper mainstream hardware is going to provide that sweet spot of powerful performance and friendlier budget.
If you need more advice on streaming, the hardware you need, and how to get started, we have an extensive collection of articles that we have grouped together for your convenience.
Our Streaming Gaming PC Specs
For our streaming spec, we are going to aim for that upper mainstream tier. This will provide the headroom you need to run cinematic games and stream them to your audience, with minimal latency. This is an ATX build, and we’ve opted for some fun aesthetic features in places. You’ve got to look good on camera, right?!
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS TUF Gaming B850M-PLUS WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU |
| Graphics | Gainward GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS 16GB GPU |
| Memory | Corsair Vengeance XMP/EXPO RGB 32GB DDR5 RAM |
| Storage | Corsair Force MP700 PRO SE 4TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 SSD |
| Power | Phanteks AMP GH 1000W Modular PSU |
| Cooling | Lian Li HydroShift LCD 360S AIO Cooler |
| PC Case | HAVN BF 360 Flow PC Case |
The Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B850M-PLUS WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard
Our foundation is the ASUS TUF Gaming B850M-PLUS ATX Motherboard. Equipped with an AMD AM5 socket, this motherboard is primed to work with AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 CPUs. The DDR5 DIMM slots can support memory overclocking up to 8000MHz, so you can boost performance as you need. Plus, the PCIe lanes for graphics card and storage support Gen 5, so you can take advantage of the latest gaming hardware and the innovations they bring.
Asus TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard
MOT-ASU-03844
£199.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
Pre order
ADD TO BASKETThe CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Processor
For our processor, we’ve opted for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU. This is equipped with AMD 3D V-Cache which enhances the efficiency of your processor by allowing more simultaneous access to the increased capacity cache. Paired with the eight cores, sixteen threads, and a 5.20GHz boost clock, and this processor is ready for anything your live stream may bring.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Eight Core 5.20GHz (Socket AM5) Processor – Retail
PRO-AMD-03517
£409.99 £ 368.99
-10%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETThe GPU: Gainward GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS 16GB GPU
For graphics, you could have easily picked the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 XT, but for that little extra oomph, we’ve selected the Gainward GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS GPU. Harnessing Blackwell architecture and AI-enhancements, this graphics card will render your games in beautiful detail and smooth frame rates. On top of this, there is an AV1 encoder and NVIDIA Broadcast software to support all streaming workflows. Plus, the 16GB GDDR7 VRAM will keep all operations smooth and efficient, even when live streaming.
Gainward GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS 16GB GDDR7 PCI-Express Graphics Card
GRA-GNW-03980
£1229.99 £ 1129.99
-8.13%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETMemory: Corsair Vengeance XMP/EXPO RGB 32GB DDR5 RAM
To ensure this PC is able to handle both gaming and streaming, we’ve picked out the Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 Dual-Channel RAM Kit. This kit has two 16GB modules, providing increased access to system memory, at speeds up to 6000MHz. Plus, this memory solution is supported by AMD EXPO tuning software, so you can optimise performance as needed. On top of this, the stylish RGB lighting will look fabulous on stream and you can full customise the effects using Corsair iCUE software.
Corsair Vengeance XMP/EXPO RGB 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C28 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit – Grey
MEM-CRS-04234
£499.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
out of stock
ADD TO BASKETStorage: Corsair Force MP700 PRO SE 4TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 SSD
Having plenty of storage space is a must for streamers. You need somewhere to store any saved footage, your branding media, and, of course, the games you want to stream. We’ve picked the Corsair Force MP700 PRO SE SSD for the 4TB capacity and PCIe 5.0 connectivity. This provides ample space for all your files, with 14,000MB/s read and 12,000MB/s write speeds. Never again will your streams be bogged down by slow loading screens!
The PSU: Phanteks AMP GH 1000W Modular PSU
Making sure your gaming PC has enough power is vital. Each of your components needs ample power and then some extra headroom for upgrades and spikes. As such, we always recommend using a PSU calculator to help with this. Using ours, all you have to do is input the spec you want to use, any cooling devices that will be included, and whether or not you’ll be overclocking. From here, our website will do all the tricky maths for you and recommend some suitable PSUs! Putting this spec in, we got suggestions for 850W and 1200W power supplies – so we’ve opted for somewhere in the middle.
Our chosen PSU is the Phanteks AMP GH 1000W 80 PLUS Platinum Modular Power Supply. This is compliant with ATX 3.1 standards and has a modular design, so you only need to plug in the cables you require. Less clutter! Our favourite feature is the 80 PLUS Platinum rating, meaning it is up to 92% efficient at half load.
Cooling: Lian Li HydroShift LCD 360S AIO Cooler
Now, our chosen case comes with three fans pre-installed, so cooling is already partially covered. For a sleek aesthetic touch and optimal CPU cooling, we’ve included the Lian Li Hydroshift LCD 360S AIO Cooler. This all-in-one cooler features a 360mm radiator paired with high performance fans and a CPU block that efficiently draws heat away from your processor and exhausts it out the case. The star feature we love – and what we think will make it great for streaming – is the 2.88” IPS LCD screen on the pump cap. This can be customised to show system information, images, or even GIFs – whatever is going to look best on your stream.
Lian Li HydroShift LCD 360S Black All In One CPU Cooler – 360mm
COO-LIA-02329
£149.99 £ 119.99
-20%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETThe Case: HAVN BF 360 Flow PC Case
To house all this spicy hardware, we’ve picked the HAVN BF 360 Flow PC Case. With smooth corners and optimised airflow paths, this case has it all! Plus, the Flow Edition comes with three fans pre-installed – one H14 140mm and two H18 180mm fans. As a mid-tower chassis, this PC case has plenty of room for all the hardware we picked, and the tempered glass panel does a fabulous job of showing it all off!
HAVN BF 360 Flow Premium Mid Tower Case – Black
CAS-HVN-05948
£169.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETPaired with Peripherals: The Streaming Accessories
No streaming set-up is complete without some streaming accessories. To successfully stream from your PC, you will need a webcam, microphone, and ring light. This is the basic trifecta, providing footage and audio of you with suitable lighting. Adding in stream decks, green screens, and mic arms will streamline and evolve your set-up into something a little more professional. Thankfully, Streamplify produces an exciting range of streaming accessories to suit all budgets and needs. We’ll highlight a few essentials here, but you can shop the full range with just the click of a button.
Streamplify MIC ARM Microphone
- Cardioid microphone
- Includes articulated arm mount
- RGB lighting
- Two audio out modes
- Plug and play functionality
Streamplify CAM PRO 4K Webcam
- 4K 8.5 megapixel webcam
- Records 4K at 30 FPS
- Adjustable tilt and swivel
- 105° viewing angle
- Rotating shutter with mute function
Streamplify LIGHT 14 Ring Light
- 14″ free-standing ring light
- Four colour temperatures
- Ten brightness levels
- Two camera mounts
- Two-in-One tripod selfie stick
Not Ready to DIY?
Not ready to build your own gaming PC for streaming yet? We got you, boo. At Overclockers UK, we have an extensive range of gaming PCs and laptops that are ready to take your stream to the next level!
OcUK Gaming Mach 6 – Ryzen 9800X3D, RTX 5080 Pre-Built Gaming PC
FS-PB08-EP
£2999.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKET
OcUK Gaming Vulture – Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming PC
FS-1EV-OG
£2099.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
out of stock
ADD TO BASKET
OcUK Gaming Indigo – GeForce RTX 5080 Pre-Built Gaming PC
FS-1DN-EP
£2999.99
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETBuilding a Gaming PC Series
What’s Your Streaming Gaming PC Build?
What spec is your streaming PC rocking? What do you think of our spec? Let us know in the comments below!
- 8 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK since 2020, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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