Why It Matters
Running a game and streaming a game are two very different things. Your computer specs will determine your what you can stream and your ability to stream overall.
TL;DR: I would recommend at least an i5 (10th gen or above) or equivalent CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1060 or equivalent, you should have the ability to stream most games on medium settings as a VTuber. If your computer specs do not meet these, I would highly recommend investing in a better setup than this one.
CPU? RAM? GPU? What Does It All Mean?
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| CPU | Also known as the processor, the CPU does most of the computing and processing for your computer. |
| RAM | RAM (random-access memory) provides temporary storage for applications and other processes so they can run more quickly. |
| GPU | The GPU or graphics card is used for graphics and video rendering. A better GPU allows you to play more graphically-intensive games, watch videos at higher resolutions, the use more monitors. |
What is the Minimum Computer Specs for VTubing/Streaming?
Everyone you ask will have a different answer for this question. Twitch previously recommended a $1,000 laptop and PC parts manufacturer MSI recommends a $900 graphics card for a “minimum spec” streaming PC build but realistically, the threshold is much lower. Ultimately, what specs you need will depend on what type of VTuber model you plan on using and what games you intend on streaming.
You can technically stream with any laptop released within the last 5-10 years but I would recommend at least the following if you plan on using a Live2D model and be able to stream modern-ish game running at 1080p with medium graphics settings:
| Component | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| CPU | A modernish-gen (10th gen or above) i5 or equivalent |
| RAM | At least 16 GB of RAM |
| GPU | A GTX 1060-equivalent |
These specs are what I consider passable if you already have them and what I’ve used before for streaming. If your computer specs do not meet these, I would highly recommend investing in a better setup than this one.
How Do I Know if I Meet These Requirements?
If you aren’t tech savvy, I found that Speccy is one of the easiest ways to find out what CPU, RAM, and GPU specs you have. If you don’t want to download anything, you can also look up how to do it on Google.
| Component | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| CPU | For Intel CPUs, a 10th gen i5 (2020) will show as i5-10XXX, an 11th gen (2021) as i5-11XXX, etc. Generally, an i7 is better than an i5 an an i9 is better than an i7.For AMD CPUs, you can compare benchmark scores by searching for your CPU and seeing if their benchmark scores meet or exceed the recommended CPU (Intel Core i5-10400). |
| RAM | At least 16 GB of RAM |
| GPU | You can compare benchmark scores by searching for your GPU and seeing if their benchmark scores meet or exceed the recommended GPU (GTX 1060). |
Example Comparison
It’s important to take everything with a grain of salt. You won’t really know if you can run something until you try it out yourself but you can at least rule something in or out if your benchmarking scores are vastly inferior or superior to the minimum requirements of a game.
Let’s use my current computer’s specs and compare them to the minimum requirements to run Dragon’s Dogma 2, a very resource-intensive game that came out recently. Since both Intel and AMD CPUs are listed, as well as NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, we will compare our components with the respective brand listed (bolded).
| Components | Dragon Dogma 2’s Minimum Requirements | My Computer Specs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 10600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Avg. CPU Mark: 13675 / 17767 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Avg. CPU Mark: 18216 | PASS |
| RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB | PASS |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT with 8GB VRAM Avg. G3D Mark: 13510 / 9164 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Avg. G3D Mark: 12776 | FAIL |
Based on the above, in theory, I should expect frame drops or stuttering gameplay when running the game alone before accounting for VTubing and streaming software. I might be able to get it to run more smoothly and stream it if I reduced the resolution to 720p and turned down additional graphics settings like texture quality, shadow quality, and anti-aliasing.
Hololive Comparison
Thanks to some Redditors, we can take a look at how our minimum requirements compare to some of the computers used by the talents in Hololive (data from 2021, 2023, and 2024 onwards, RAM is speculative):
| Component | Minimum | Median | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-10400 Avg. CPU Mark: 12130 Price: $75-150 | Intel Core i9-9900K Avg. CPU Mark: 18311 Price: $250-400 | Intel Core i9-13900KF Avg. CPU Mark: 58656 Price: $400-600 |
| RAM | 16 GB Price: $50-100 | 32 GB Price: $80-120 | 64 GB Price: $150-250 |
| GPU | GTX 1060 Avg. G3D Mark: 10073 Price: $50-150 | GTX 2080 Ti Avg. G3D Mark: 21785 Price: $200-400 | GTX 4080 Avg. G3D Mark: 38579 Price: $600-1600 |
Should I Upgrade My Computer?
Warning: I would not recommend upgrading or building a computer if you do not know what you are doing. Building a computer can be cheaper than buying a pre-built one but if you are not handling or installing components correctly, you could easily cause irreparable damage to them and be worse off.
If you don’t meet the minimum requirements to play the games you want, you have 2 options:
- Upgrade parts
- Build a new computer
- Buy a new computer
Upgrade Parts
If your computer meets most of the minimum requirements for a game but needs an upgrade in only a few departments, you may be able to upgrade it. However, keep in mind that this might be difficult if you have a laptop or an older desktop:
- Laptops are nearly impossible to upgrade and the only components that are easily upgradable are often the hard drive and the RAM.
- Old desktops are held back by their motherboard, which limits what other components are compatible with it. Older component can also be harder to find and you may spend more money on worse hardware simply due to compatibility limitations. While you can upgrade a desktop’s motherboard, you would basically be building a computer pretty much from scratch at that point.
Building a Computer
If you are experienced and looking to build a PC but need suggestions on hardware that fit your budget or help with hardware compatibility, you can check out these Reddit communities:
- r/BuildAPC – “A community-driven subreddit dedicated to custom PC assembly. Anyone is welcome to seek the input of our helpful community as they piece together their desktop.”
- r/BuildMeAPC – “If you are new to computer building, and need someone to help you put parts together for your build or even an experienced builder looking to talk tech you are in the right place!”
Buying a Computer
If you are looking to buy a pre-built computer, a computer that I’ve seen recommended at a price point that checks all these boxes is the NZXT “Player: One” at $829 (before taxes at time of writing). While this isn’t an endorsement for this product or company, you can use this as a benchmark in computer specs and price when shopping for other pre-built computers.
However, before pulling the trigger on a new computer, there are some things to take into account for desktops vs laptops:
Criteria | Desktop | Laptop | |
Initial Cost | Tend to be cheaper than a comparable laptop | Tend to be more expensive than a comparable desktop | |
Overall Cost | Pre-built desktops tend to only come with a cheap keyboard and mouse | Has a built-in monitor, keyboard, and touchpad Often times have a built-in webcam and microphone. | |
Upgradeability | Every component can be upgraded with compatible parts | Tend to only have upgradable RAM |
I Have a Potato PC. What Can I Stream?
If you’re on older hardware and/or have “integrated graphics” (meaning you don’t have a dedicated graphics card), chances are your computer will struggle to be able to run a modern video game let alone stream it. If this is the case and you don’t have the resources for an upgrade at the moment, there is nothing wrong with starting as a PNGTuber playing retro or indie games that require less resources.
You can check out the community below for games that might run on your hardware:
- r/CanIRunIt – “A community with the goal to help computer enthusiasts figure out if they can run certain video games or applications.”
- r/LowEndGaming – “A community for anyone struggling to find something to play for that older system, or sharing or seeking tips for how to run that shiny new game on yesterday’s hardware.”
