Top 13 Best CPU For Streaming 2023 Reviews + Buyer’s Guide

Perhaps you’re a pro gamer in need of an upgrade or a casual who’s just getting started, and you’re looking for the upcoming Best CPU For Streaming. It can be tough to choose the correct CPU for your Computer in 2022, given how far needs have evolved. However, in this post, we’ll show you how to pick the finest CPU for gaming and broadcasting based on your specific requirements.

When looking for the finest CPU for gaming and streaming, keep in mind that you’ll want to combine quality and performance with your budget. But don’t worry; all of the alternatives on this list will assist you in selecting the Best CPU For Gaming & watching live.

Gaming and video manipulation are often the two most intensive processes you can put your Computer through. Both will want a large amount of RAM, a modern GPU, and, of course, a faster computer. If you want to start streaming, you’re combining the requirements of both processes into one task, which increases the demand for all of them, particularly the processor.

Although the fact that there are only two firms that create CPUs makes the decision a little easier, the dilemma of decades and price vs. capability remains. So, we’ve compiled a list of the Best CPUs for broadcasting, with options from Intel and AMD to suit any budget.

The top-ranked CPU for streaming is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X. Due to the more affordable price and equivalent real-time metrics, we chose this model over the Zen 4 flagship. Without significantly straining the wallet, this 12-core (24 threads) processor offers more than enough horsepower to keep up with demanding software rendering and real-time transcoding.

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Our Recommendations

List Of Top 13 Best CPU For Streaming 2023

Following are the Top 13 Best CPU For Streaming 2023:

Our Top Pick Best CPU For Gaming And Streaming – AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core

This isn’t the processor for you if you want to stream in 4K. But if all you want to accomplish is stream some WoW raids or even contemporary games at a low or medium quality, this CPU can easily do the task. The best low-cost CPU now available is the Ryzen 5 5600X. The 10400F and 11400F are somewhat less expensive yet considerably inferior.

The i5-12600K, on the other hand. Therefore, if you’re on a tight budget, this is a great card even if you are not on a tight budget. When it comes to producing affordable CPUs that are nonetheless capable of doing the job, Intel and AMD frequently switch places. AMD’s creation of the Ryzen 5 5600X marked their change.

While you’re streaming, this should be able to run almost any game at a frame rate of more than 60. It has six cores and 12 threads, which is the minimum for streaming. Of course, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X will not support DDR5 RAM, in contrast to the i5-12600K CPU mentioned above. However, as I mentioned, DDR4 is now the more cost-effective option, so you don’t need to worry as much about future-proofing your PC.

Despite having fewer cores and less processing power than the Ryzen 7 5800X, this CPU surprisingly keeps up with it. Therefore, if you’re concerned about money in any way, whether or not you’re on a budget, this might be the superior choice.

If you want to use NVENC, there isn’t much difference between this and the 5800X below. However, if you want to rely on your processor for streaming and have the cash, you should buy a more powerful CPU, like the 5800X or the i5-12600K.

Personal Review

Strong single-core performance implies that this is a great entry/mid-range CPU for gaming because it can boost to higher frequencies to obtain good/consistent performance—the most excellent CPU for 1080p high frame rate gaming at the time of writing (December 2022).

Best Streaming CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-core

Actually, this processor and the Ryzen 5 above are relatively close. However, it is a more robust processor because it has more cores and threads. This list focuses on processors that are good for streaming rather than merely powerful ones.

There is a strong probability that NVENC encoding is available in OBS if you have an NVIDIA GPU. The quality of your stream will be largely unaffected by your CPU if you use NVENC. Because it will handle games and operate similarly to the Ryzen 7 5800X in this situation, you could choose the Ryzen 5 5600X.

But there are some exceptions. You’ll want this 5800X or more significant if the games you play are CPU-intensive (such as Valiant, Call of Duty Warzone, etc.). Due to the additional cores, this is preferable if you intend to employ x264 encoding.

The two cards would be similar if you compared this CPU to the i5-12600K. It is not surprising that they will perform similarly in most benchmarks and tests, given their similar costs. Overall, this great CPU can stream and run even CPU-demanding games.

You can stream almost anything you want if your GPU has decent NVENC capabilities. You could get away with the Ryzen 5 5600X if you only play relatively simple and cost-conscious games. Actually, this processor and the Ryzen 5 above are rather close. However, it is a more robust processor because it has more cores and threads.

This list focuses on processors that are good for streaming rather than merely powerful ones. There is a strong probability that NVENC encoding is available in OBS if you have an NVIDIA Graphics Card. The quality of your stream will be largely unaffected by your CPU if you use NVENC.

Because it will handle games and operate quite similarly to the Ryzen 7 5800X in this situation, you could choose the Ryzen 5 5600X. But there are some exceptions. You’ll want this 5800X or greater if the games you play are CPU-intensive (such as Valiant, Call of Duty Warzone, etc.). Due to the additional cores, this is preferable if you intend to employ x264 encoding.

Personal Review

It’s a superb CPU, and the extra cache significantly cuts down on unnecessary stuttering in games like Call of Duty or e-sports games like FIFA that demand a burst of CPU performance in a single swift motion.

As I’d expect most of you guys who are buying this CPU to know, the more you scale up the resolution, the more GPU power it would need. As a result, you’d notice the biggest differences in terms of performance upgrading from a 2nd or 3rd GPU (A first-generation Ryzen CPU’s performance has increased by almost 50%) in gaming that is 1080p & under.

Best Processor For Streaming – Intel Core i9-12900KF Desktop

The i9-12900KF is a fantastic CPU if you have the money to invest and a motherboard that can handle it. You are aware that 5.1 GHz is an absurdly high speed. Of course, to get such speeds, you’ll need to learn to overclock this particular CPU, but it’s still a big thing.

This CPU has 16 cores and one of the highest clock speeds on the list. Because it contains 8P and 8E cores, which is great for gaming because it lets eight cores concentrate on your game while the other eight concentrate on background activities like running your stream, it is responsive.

As a result, this device will perform better than most other CPUs, but the price is a drawback. It also needs slightly newer motherboards, although that’s fine if you already have a compatible motherboard or are building a brand-new PC.

You pay for quality, as with other items, therefore investing in this CPU will be a wise decision because it will enable you to stream whatever content you like (as long as your GPU is strong enough).

Personal Review

When playing the most demanding games, here is where its high-efficiency cores shine and provide incredibly high frame rates. However, keep in mind that it consumes much more electricity than the Ryzen 5950x, despite the experience being highly recommended.

Customer Pick CPU For Streaming: Intel Core i7-8700K Desktop

The Intel Core i7-8700k is our best selection for a half-Intel CPU that’s good for streaming. It has six cores, 12 threads, a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz, a boost clock speed of 4.7 GHz, and a TDP of 95 W.

The Intel Core i7-8700k, like the other Intel selection on our list, excels in gaming efficiency while suffering a tiny drop in streaming video quality when compared to Intel. Whenever the Intel Core i7-8700k is paired with a competent GPU, you’ll have a hard time falling below 120 FPS while streaming.

The Intel Core i7-8700k is a fantastic value for individuals who want an Intel processor. It’s even more appealing now that Intel’s latest batch of chips has arrived, lowering prices. It’s a terrific way to get a taste of Intel’s gaming capabilities without breaking the bank on your streaming setup.

Personal Review

This 12-core (24 threads) CPU is powerful enough for software rendering and real-time transcoding without breaking the bank. Intel Core i7-8700K: 4133 MB RAM handles the 5.1 GHz Intel Core i7-8700K desktop processor well. Gaming is fun and operations run well. I definitely recommend this CPU. If you deliver it, good luck and a big temperature reduction, but take your time.

Editor Choice Best AMD CPUs : AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core

Many people preferred AMD’s Ryzen 5 Processors in both the first and second generations. The 3rd generation, as well as the Zen 2 architecture, appear to be in a similar scenario, with the Ryzen 5 3600 being a terrific bang for the buck model for everybody, from gamers to creatives to streamers.

So, what exactly does it have to offer? The Ryzen 5 3600 is a slightly less expensive counterpart of the Ryzen 5 3600X, with slightly slower clock rates. The basic clock is 3.6 GHz, but if that isn’t enough, it may be increased to 4.2 GHz, which should suffice.

This, together with the 6-core and 12-threading, enables the 3600 to deliver excellent streaming performance. The CPU is built on TSMC’s 7nm FinFET technology and supports AMD’s AM4 socket, which has a large number of motherboards available.

Overclocking is possible with this unlocked CPU, however, it’s probably best to acquire a liquid cooling and replace the supplied Wraith Stealth. There’s also 3200 MHz dual-channel memory support, however, keep in mind that fast memory is required for optimum performance. All things are given; this could be the Best CPU for streamers on a tight budget.

Personal Review

It was my first time installing something, and it was straightforward. Compared to my old one, it runs much faster. My computer is brand-new.

Best Seller Best Processor For Gaming : Intel Core i7-10700K Desktop

We’ve been focusing on AMD CPUs so far, but now it’s time to turn our attention to the Intel Core i7-10700K, which impressed us with its ability to give the finest gaming-while-streaming performance in our list of broadcast CPUs thanks to unrivaled single-core performance.

We’re trying to look at 8 cores, 16 threads, a base clock rate of 3.8 GHz, a peak frequency of 5.1 GHz, and a TDP of 125 W. The encoding quality isn’t quite as good as what AMD has to offer. Still, in circumstances where a streamer is prepared to compromise a little quality of the video in exchange for a consistent, high FPS, environment gaming experience, the Intel Core i7-10700K is hard to beat.

It’s also a great option to the Intel Core i9-10900expensive K’s pricing, with gaming capability that isn’t considerably poorer. In most cases, retailers have greater stock, making it easier to find.

Other than the decoding capability, the Intel Core i7-10700K demands an LGA1200 power supply motherboard as well as ample PSU juice due to its high TDP requirements. When contemplating the i7-10700K, keep in mind that purchasing a new board may put some setups above their budget.

Personal Review

Quick, good temperatures 35 at ideal and about 60 at load. Those complaining about how hot it is don’t have this CPU. Only in India is it pricey due to the 42% tax; it is not very expensive in other nations. The core i9 10900K is now out of stock, so if you adore Intel and want the same performance as the core i9 9900K, this is for you.

Customer Pick Best CPU For Gaming : Intel Core i7-9700K Desktop

For streamers, having excellent in-game performance when streaming is critical, therefore a CPU like the Intel Core i7-9700K will be an excellent choice. The i7-9700K has a standard clock frequency of 3.6 GHz, though it may be increased to 4.9 GHz for huge increases in computational capability.

This type of processor will benefit most games with a lot going on behind the scenes (heavily employed physics, complicated AI, enormous volumes of data, etc.). During peak loads, Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 allows this CPU to enhance processing speeds even more.

The Intel i7-9700K only has 8 cores, thus it’s not as good as the Ryzen 7 2700X for heavy media creation or specific video streaming codecs. Though, with two more scores for a maximum of eight, this is still a terrific CPU for broadcasting and gaming. With this processor and the right GPU, you’ll be able to hit 4K in-game with ease.

Given this chip’s amazing capabilities, you’ll be able to generate seamless live feeds at 1080p 60fps or better. The Intel i7-9700K is an excellent alternative for streamers who want high graphics and frame rates while gaming but don’t mind sacrificing slightly less multitasking efficiency than the Ryzen 7 2700X.

Personal Review

Although Nvidia Surround limited me to 60 Hz, I could push a 7680×1440 three-monitor setup to a minimum framerate of 60 fps in GTA Online. Average framerates were in the 90s. With my previous setup, a Z77/3770K@4.4 GHz-based system, the same 1080Ti could only manage 23 frames per second at the very least.

I can quickly push my ROG PG279Q to its maximum framerate of 165 Hz when playing almost any other game. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could keep Rocket League’s frame rate over 200 and still obtain what that game refers to as “excellent” graphics on both the single-monitor and triple-monitor configurations. I typically play Rocket League at 250 fps to reduce input lag. I’m old enough to take any advantage I can get!

Best CPU For Gaming : AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

The 3700X is AMD’s significantly less capable Ryzen 7 CPU that debuted with their Zen 3rd gen range, but that doesn’t mean it’s awful just the opposite. It still has a lot of cores, good operating frequencies, and plenty of room for overclocking.

It contains eight cores & sixteen threads, the same as its more capable brother, although the rates at which it works are a little lower. A 3.6 GHz base clock and a 4.4 GHz max boost clock are used here.  This one, on the other hand, has a TDP of 65W, which is a significant difference. It’s also produced on the TSMC 7nm FinFET technology and contains 32MB of L3 cache.

This variant uses the AM4 socket and supports a double memory at 3200 MHz, much like the other greater models. If you’re streaming something a little less demanding, it may not be worth it to pay for the increased model. The 3700X has sufficient cores and thread to handle and broadcast the majority of recent competitive games without sacrificing image quality.

Personal Review

I purchased a 3700x to replace my Ryzen 5 1600 and installed it in my ASUS Prime B350-Plus with the most recent BIOS (Version 5007). When not all cores are required, the 3700x boosts to its maximum speed of 4.4GHz right out of the box; however, when all cores are used, mine slows to 4.1GHz. When running Prime 95 under load, the processor’s idle temperature fluctuates between 36° and 43°, settling at roughly 62°.

Best Gaming Processor : AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 8-Core

AMD’s Ryzen 7 3800X is a CPU worth considering if you don’t want to pay as much but still want one of the finest processors for streaming. It’s a true powerhouse, yet it also comes at a reasonable price. It has enough cores for broadcasting and is capable of handling most other tasks as well.

It’s an unlocked CPU with 32MB of L3 cache, and it’s part of the Zen 2 family. It’s produced using the TSMC 7nm FinFET technology. While the default clock is 3.9 GHz (which is pretty high), it can accelerate up to 4.5 GHz and can also be overclocked.

You do receive the Wraith Prism cooling, but given the 105W TDP, anything a little more significant could help a lot with overclocking. For streaming, the 8-core 16-thread setup should be sufficient.

The processor is based on AMD’s AM4 socket, which was used by earlier Ryzen generations. Since gen 1, AMD has stuck to their claim that you may buy one nice motherboard and then upgrade the CPU later. The Ryzen 7 3800X is a wonderful option if you want a streaming powerhouse but don’t want to spend a lot of money on the most powerful versions.

Personal Review

Anyone who wants gaming performance compared to the 9900K needs productivity performance superior to the 9900K. When properly overclocked, this processor may easily exceed the “greatest gaming processor” in terms of productivity (rendering, editing, and converting).

Best Streaming CPU : Intel Core i9-9900K Desktop

The Intel Core i9-9900K processor is ideal for gamers and streamers. It has a 3.6 GHz base clock speed that may be increased to 5 GHz, resulting in huge increases in computational capacity. Despite having the same number of cores and connections as the Ryzen 2700X (8cores/16threads), this CPU provides significantly higher single-core speeds and, more importantly for streamers, significantly faster multi-core speeds.

This enables it to outperform the 2700X and the 9700K in terms of streaming and gaming. Furthermore, the 9900k is equipped with a Solid Thermal Interface Polymer (STIM) that allows for more effective heat transfer from the CPU to the cooler, resulting in lower temps even when the system is under stress.

Personal Review

I9-9900K test CineBench R15 multi-threaded rendering score at default frequency is approximately 2000+, instant overclocking to 5G, and the score is only increased to 2100+. The increase in power consumption is not inversely correlated with fever. In other words, the benefit of overclocking is much less unexpected than anticipated. Hence I advise it if it’s necessary for the task.

It has functioned admirably by default. It doesn’t even differ from the I9-7900X default frequency. It’s still an excellent way to use it by default unless you’re genuinely a user that lives on overclocking. Lastly, I9-9900K is better suited for creating a primary workstation. It supports single-threaded processing at high frequency and has good rendering capabilities.

Top Streaming Processor : AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12-Core

AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X is half of the latest Zen 2 architecture, which provides a slew of new features while also putting some pressure on Intel. It’s also one of the priciest new AMD CPUs available, but considering the performance you’ll get, it might be well worth the going-to-ask price.

The fact that it’s produced on a TSMC 7nm FinFET technology and uses AMD’s AM4 socket is the first thing you should know. Yes, that’s the same socket as prior Ryzen models, thus you could utilize an older X470 or B450 motherboard. However, with such a strong CPU, we suggest one of the newer X570 boards.

Its large core count has 12 cores and 24 threads, which is a lot by anyone’s standards making it one of the best processors for streaming. It can handle pretty about anything you throw at it, with a base clock of 3.8 GHz and a max boost rate of 4.6 GHz, and 64MB of L3 cache.

Dual-channel memory capability at 3200 MHz and a TDP of 105W round out the package; because it’s an unlocked CPU, you can overclock it, but you’ll need a cooler that’s a little more efficient than the supplied Wraith Prism. The 3900X is a better deal than the 9900K because of the bundled cooler.

Personal Review

This CPU comes highly recommended. This is pricey compared to CPUs like the Ryzen 7 2700x and others, but it is worth 430 dollars. My old PC, which was rebuilt and still includes a GTX 1070, is a competent modern PC and will continue to be for a few years. There will be a significant need to change the CPU for at least three to four years unless you decide to upgrade the video card to the 3090 within the next year (maybe).

Best CPU For Streaming : Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop

Intel’s 12th Generation Alder Lake CPU is a welcome return to form. When it was first unveiled, its fundamental hybrid design was considered a risk, with its combination of performance and frugal cores not offering much to the PC experience. It’s a risk that has paid off handsomely, as the gaming performance provided by Intel’s newest CPUs is a little short of remarkable.

To put it plainly, it is the greatest CPU for gamers because it offers quality gaming performance across the board and does it at a fair cost. It not only exceeds the $560X in almost every game, but it also excels with the $750 Ryzen 9 5950X in several tests.

The fact that it outperforms the Core i9 11900K is just icing on the cake. For a $320 semi-chip, this is quite impressive. Because this is a new system, you’ll need a new motherboard and, most likely, new memory as well Alder Lake supports both DDR5 and DDR4 memory.

That means the initial investment may be higher than anticipated, but the performance is well worth it, and it isn’t a power hog, so you won’t need a crazy cooler to get the most out of it. With the addition of PCIe 5.0 support, we have a modern gaming CPU king. Long may the king reign.

Personal Review

A sweet spot for a powerful CPU is available. I bought the core I512600K after looking at the CPU chart on Tom’s hardware because it is incredibly fast and costs $100 to $200 less than comparable CPUs. It was by far superior to my previous Intel core I5 9400 CPU, which I upgraded from. This CPU is filthy. I’m pleased with the buy all around.

Top AMD CPUs : AMD Ryzen 9 3950X 16-Core

Over the last three years, AMD has held a significant advantage over Intel as the go-to option for streaming CPUs. With the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X, that advantage will only grow. The 3950X will handle anything you throw at it, especially running all the apps you want and need to make a high-quality stream, thanks to its 16 cores and 32 threads, as well as the faster clock speeds.

Streamers, in particular, require as much multi-threaded performance as possible, which the 3950X provides in spades. The main issue you’ll likely have with 3950X is the price, as well as the lack of a cooler included in the bundle.

Given that third-generation Ryzen processors are known to run hotter than previous generations, particularly at higher resolutions and under load, which is where the 3950X will most likely be used, the overall cost of the 3950X and a competent CPU cooler will likely exceed $850, or perhaps $900 for a decent liquid cooler.

But, then again, we’re talking about a processor with 16 cores and 32 threads. You won’t need to look much farther than the 3950X if you want to pursue a job as a professional streamer or if you want to upgrade your streaming setup to better respond to the needs of your audience.

Personal Review

My 64GB (2x32GB) of Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 memory (CMK64GX4M2E3200C16) operates calmly, stable, and pretty quiet on my MSI MEG X570 Unify motherboard with a Noctua NH-D15 air cooler and overclocked to 3600-18-22-22-42.

A Phanteks Enthoo Luxe enclosure, a Seasonic FOCUS GX-850 (SSR-850FX) 80+ Gold power supply, an EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 (08G-P4-2081-KR) video card, and a 1TB Samsung SM961 NVMe SSD running Windows 10 Pro 1909 are the other crucial components in my system design.

Product Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12700K is the most excellent Intel CPU for streaming, even though Raptor Lake is just around the corner. The Hybrid Architecture, a combination of P-cores and E-cores that make up this chipset thanks to the Intel 7 10nm process, is primarily to blame for this.

The most power-efficient i7 model to date has a total of 12 cores and 20 threads, especially when the 125W TDP is taken into account. Furthermore, when overclocked, this processor barely reaches the 5 GHz threshold. Creating video projects or streaming at resolutions higher than Full HD (1080p) will require all the extra power you can muster.

Our top recommendation for the best low-cost CPU for streaming is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X. This is because, under certain conditions, the new standard Zen 4 processor beats the best of Alder Lake while maintaining an exceptionally aggressive price point. If you decide to make the switch, remember that you’ll need to upgrade to a motherboard with only an AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM.

The 6-core (12 threads) processor doesn’t hold back, despite that. This is demonstrated by the fact that this chipset performs better than the previous flagship model from the previous generation in various simulated benchmarks for less than half the cost. This model might be what you’re looking for if you want the best price without compromising speed and efficiency.

The Intel i5-12600K is best viewed as the top competing chipset to the most recent AMD Ryzen range. Even over a year after its sale, this mid-range mainstream model can still produce VOD video and perform excellently in real-time streaming in all standard resolutions.

Product Testing

We constantly compare data from several CPUs simultaneously, using compatible parts to ensure proper testing. Performance is measured using a combination of synthetic and in-game benchmarks and taking into account extra features and costs. We also monitor power usage and peak temperature under stress to gain a sense of performance efficiency.

Best CPU For Streaming Buyer’s Guide

Let’s look at how a gaming CPU differs from a broadcasting CPU before we go into the list. Or, more precisely, what variables should you consider when purchasing a CPU, whether for gaming or broadcasting?

Threads And CPU Cores

When buying a new CPU, the number of cores and threads is the most important consideration. There was a period when the majority of games used only two cores. Today, however, this is not the case. The number of minimal cores needs to be increased from two to four as gaming system requirements increase.

Even some of the most recent AAA games require using six cores to get the coveted 60 frames per second. However, this does not imply that the more Cores you have, the greater the CPU performance. Furthermore, the more you search for Cores, the higher the CPU price will rise.

For example, simply playing games with more than six cores does not provide significant benefits. On the plus side, processes like streaming and rendering benefit from the additional Cores. For streaming, graphics, and other efficiency tasks, high Cores, and Thread CPUs are used.

Speed Of The Clock

The number of commands a CPU can process per second determines its clock speed. The CPU can execute 4.2 billion calculations per second at a clock speed of 4.2 GHz. Is it true that the clock speed of a CPU determines how fast it will be? The greater the clock speed of the CPU, the better its performance.

As a result, the clock speed of the CPU is important in both gaming and streaming. In gaming, a CPU with a clock speed of 5.2GHz can surpass one with a clock frequency of 4.7GHz. Even if both CPUs have the same number of cores.

Per-Core Performance

Let’s start with the distinction between single-core and multi-core performance. Some apps used single-core processors, while others used multi-core processors. Only one Core is active during single-core use. On either hand, some programs make efficient use of multi-core processors. So, what about video games?

As previously said, games make use of multi-core processors and divide tasks to increase efficiency. Not all, but the majority of games do not take advantage of each core’s full potential. As a result, single-core performance is more important in gaming than multi-core performance.

Gaming CPUs are usually those with superior single-core performance. Because broadcasting is one of the CPU-intensive jobs, multi-core performance is preferable to single-core performance. Any productivity work, such as editing or graphics, makes better use of the multi-core performance.

Conclusion

That’s all I’ve got to say about it. These are the Best CPU For Streaming that you should be considering purchasing for a new PC build or updating an existing processor for improved gaming performance.

For gaming PCs, all of the low-cost CPUs are good. Thanks to the strong CPU, you can even stream your gaming. The price of these CPUs may vary based on when you read this. Choose the right CPU for your budget and requirements.

Last Edited By: Iqra Hameed

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