best $500-$600 micro livestreaming pc?

[Jason Romney]

I'm thinking about building a small form-factor PC for live streaming and I'm looking for the best build options for $500-$600. the smaller the PC is, the better and the price must include a windows OS and a built in capture card that records 1080p 60fps.

EDIT: I had to go a bit over budget to get the features and specs that I wanted for my live-streaming PC. So here's the cheapest live-streaming rig I could throw together totaling at $687.51 (prices, shipping costs & availability may vary/change.)

• 
  -OS: windows 8.1 pro global CD-key from G2A.com ($47.60. G2A shield protection is an additional $1.99.)
  -PSU: corsair builder series CX430 ($39.99)
  -CPU: intel core i5 4430 3.0ghz quad core CPU. ($179.99)
  -mobo: MSI h81i m-ITX motherboard. ($63.99)
  -RAM: 8GB Crucial ballistix sport 1600mhz single dimm kit ($58.99)
  -storage: 120GB Kingston HyperX 3K SSD ($77.99)
  -case: cooler master elite 110 m-ITX case. ($39.99)
  -capture card: Elgato HD60. ($159.99)
  -wireless adapter: Panda 300Mbps Whireless-N USB Adapter ($16.99)

 

[i7Baby]

Try -

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($104.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($61.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 260X 2GB Video Card ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Zalman ZM-T4 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.13 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $592.61

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Do you need WiFi?

For the system above, you could replace the motherboard with the ASRock H97 mITX/ac for $18 more, and the Thermaltake Core V1 case, saving $12.

 

[Jason Romney]

Try -

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($104.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($61.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 260X 2GB Video Card ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Zalman ZM-T4 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.13 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $592.61

i'm building a small live-streaming PC, not a low tier gaming rig. please read the full post next time.

 

[i7Baby]

There's no difference. Do some research.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Most( all) 260X cards capture video. What elements do you think need to be changed?

Are you capturing from software or live-streaming video from a camera?

 

[Jason Romney]

There's no difference. Do some research.

do you livestream? sure maybe if i wanted to stream at 720p 30-40 fps at a bit rate of 2000mbps-2500mbps and minimal graphical overlays in OBS i could pull it off. but i like my streams to be as good as they can be which means streaming at 1080p 60fps with the maximum bitrate obs can stream at (3500mbps) i'd need to go bigger then a dual core. also graphics cards are not as important for lives treaming, recording and video editing. so because i already have a pc for gaming with some pretty decent specs theres no need to spend money on a gpu for the braudcasting pc. crappy intel iris graphics will work well enough.

 

[Jason Romney]

Most( all) 260X cards capture video. What elements do you think need to be changed?

Are you capturing from software or live-streaming video from a camera?

i am live streaming with OBS. no plans to use a web cam and im told graphics cards aren't as important for livestreaming if the chip has integrated graphics. intel iris graphics may be terrible for gaming, but that's not what this system will be used for.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

So you are streaming a feed from another source. You are not authoring on this machine, only capturing?? (The games you are streaming will be played on anther device)