[Streaming Guide] Optimization – Bitrate, Resolution, CPU/GPU Tuning

Introduction: Best Settings Don’t Exist

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“Best settings” are a myth. Only “best-for-you” settings matter. This article teaches you to find YOUR sweet spot.

Step 1: Check Your Internet Speed

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1. Visit speedtest.net
2. Click “Go” and wait for results
3. Note your UPLOAD speed (not download)

Formula: Max safe bitrate = (Upload speed in Mbps × 0.7) × 1000

Example: 10 Mbps upload → 7000 kbps max bitrate

Resolution vs. Bitrate Tradeoff

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Quality formula: Bitrate + Resolution + Encoder = Perceived Quality

• 1080p@3000 kbps looks worse than 720p@5000 kbps (same encoder)
• Why? Lower bitrate = more compression artifacts at high res
• Solution? Start with 720p@4500 kbps

Common Profiles

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• 720p @ 4500 kbps: Quality-focused, stable internet
• 720p @ 3500 kbps: Balanced, moderate internet
• 1080p @ 6000 kbps: Expert, very stable internet (10+ Mbps upload)

CPU vs. GPU Encoding Deep Dive

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CPU (x264):

• High CPU load impacts game FPS if you’re not careful
• Better quality per bitrate
• Use “faster” or “veryfast” preset if game lag occurs

GPU (NVENC/QuickSync/VCE):

• Minimal game impact (dedicated hardware)
• Slightly lower efficiency per bitrate
• Recommended for gameplay streaming

Performance Monitoring

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Enable OBS Stats (View → Stats) and watch for:

• FPS: Should match your setting (60 or 30). If dropping, lower bitrate or CPU preset.
• Dropped Frames: Should be <1%. If >1%, bitrate too high for your internet.
• Output Bitrate: Should match your setting ±10%.
• Audio Bitrate: Should be ~128 kbps for stereo.

Optimization Decision Tree

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1. Run speedtest → note upload speed
2. Calculate max bitrate (upload × 0.7)
3. Pick resolution (start with 720p)
4. Pick bitrate (based on upload, or lower for safety)
5. Run test stream (10 minutes)
6. Monitor stats: dropped frames? audio pops?
7. If issues: lower bitrate 500 kbps, repeat step 5
8. If quality bad: raise bitrate if internet allows, repeat step 5
9. When satisfied: save as profile

Optimization Checklist

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• Internet speed tested (upload speed noted)
• Max bitrate calculated (70% of upload)
• Resolution chosen (720p recommended)
• Encoder selected (GPU if available)
• FPS set (60 for action, 30 for talk)
• Scene sources streamlined (remove unused)
• Audio levels normalized (peak at -6dB)
• Test stream run (5-10 min, metrics checked)
• Backup verified (recent backup exists)

Game Capture Optimization

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• Game Capture: Lowest CPU, works for most games
• Window Capture: More compatible, slightly higher CPU
• Screen Capture: Highest CPU, last resort

Try Game Capture first. If black screen, try Window Capture (game in windowed mode).

Scene Complexity Impact

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Too many sources/filters = lag. Checklist:

• Remove unused sources
• Disable filters you’re not using
• Simplify overlays (lower resolution if possible)
• Reuse sources across scenes (don’t duplicate)

Adaptive Bitrate (When to Use/Disable)

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• Use: Unstable internet, auto-adapts to conditions
• Disable: Stable internet, want consistent quality

Most streamers: Disable it.

Next Steps: Troubleshooting

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Hit an issue? Article 5: Advanced Troubleshooting & Debugging has symptom-indexed solutions.

FAQ

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“Why does my bitrate keep changing?”

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Likely adaptive bitrate is on. Go to Settings → Stream, find the bitrate field. If there’s a checkbox for “Use Adaptive Bitrate”, uncheck it.

“Game lag when streaming”

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Lower encoder preset (x264: fast → faster → ultrafast) or switch to GPU encoder (NVENC/QuickSync).

“Quality still bad even with high bitrate?”

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Check: (1) Your internet is actually stable, (2) You’re not dropping frames, (3) Your encoder preset isn’t too fast.

“Can I use different settings for different games?”

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Yes—create profiles (Article 2). Example: “Gaming_HighFPS” for competitive games, “Gaming_Cinematic” for single-player.