How to Set Up a Dual PC Streaming Setup

Streaming with a dual PC setup allows for higher performance, better stream quality, and reduced CPU load on your gaming PC. Whether you are using a capture card or NDI, this guide covers everything you need to get started.

Why Use a Dual PC Streaming Setup?

Using two PCs for streaming has several advantages:

Better performance by offloading encoding to a second PC.
Higher stream quality with smoother frame rates.
More flexibility, allowing you to stream and game at max settings.

What Hardware Do You Need?

To set up a dual PC stream, you will need:

A gaming PC that handles gameplay.
A streaming PC that handles encoding and broadcasting.
A capture card such as Elgato, AverMedia, or Magewell (recommended for best quality).
A stable network connection, preferably gigabit Ethernet.

Connection Methods: Capture Card vs. NDI

Option 1: Using a Capture Card

A capture card connects your gaming PC to your streaming PC via HDMI, providing the best latency-free video signal.

Setup Steps:

Connect an HDMI cable from your gaming PC�s GPU to the capture card.
Install capture card software, such as Elgato Game Capture.
Open OBS Studio on the streaming PC and add the capture card as a video source.
Configure OBS settings for optimal streaming quality.

Option 2: Using NDI

NDI (Network Device Interface) allows you to send video over your network without extra hardware.

Setup Steps:

Install the OBS NDI Plugin on both PCs.
On the gaming PC, enable NDI output in OBS.
On the streaming PC, add an NDI source in OBS.
Optimize network settings for low latency.

Pros: No extra hardware needed.

Cons: Requires a strong network with gigabit Ethernet recommended.

Best OBS Settings for Dual PC Streaming

On your streaming PC, configure OBS for high-quality output:

Set resolution to 1080p or 720p for lower bandwidth.
Bitrate should be 6000 Kbps for Twitch and 10,000+ for YouTube.
Use NVENC (if using an NVIDIA GPU) or x264 for CPU-based encoding.
Set keyframe interval to 2 seconds.
Use a CPU usage preset of "Faster" or "Fast" for CPU encoding.

Troubleshooting and Common Issues

OBS Capture Card Not Detected? - Check driver installation and use the correct HDMI input.

NDI Stream Laggy? - Switch to a wired gigabit Ethernet connection.

Audio Desync? - Use OBS's audio sync offset to fix delays.

Start Dual PC Streaming Today

Setting up a dual PC stream takes effort, but the performance benefits are worth it. Follow this guide and start streaming with the highest quality possible.

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