The streaming world is a daunting adventure of cultivating a community and defining the type of content to make for one's viewers. At Apex Gaming PCs, we want to make sure that you are equipped with the best streaming prebuilts we offer. We have compiled a list of Streaming PCs for almost every price point.

List of PCs we offer:

1. Zen with upgraded options.
2. Apex extreme with our new 12th gen processors.
3. Streamer with a preference on the graphics card (3060ti/3070)
4. Apex Build 21874 As it is only a last generation CPU and a current-generation 3060ti
5. Apex Bronze with an upgraded PSU so you can source your GPU.

1. Our Apex Zen is featured in a Lian Li O11, well known for its fantastic airflow qualities and component configuration.
2. Our Apex Xtreme offers a stylistic interpretation of the streaming setup. This PC's presence and upgradability are not to be trifled with as it is our flagship PC for high-end Intel components.
3. Those getting into streaming will love the streamer for its impressive options, all under 2500$, suitable for streaming native 720p while playing games.
4. Our 50% builds are also in league with wanting to get into streaming for the price of a discounted refurbished system. With only a generation-old processor(at writing) and an RTX 3070, you can expect the same performance from a 2500$ streamer. 
5. For those wanting to source your GPU in this hectic PC market, The Apex bronze is an excellent purchase for those who don't mind installing their GPU. Our Customization options for our PSU go all the way up to a 750W that can support up to an RTX 3070 comfortably (You could put an RTX 3080 in there, but its power delivery will become more unreliable due to only being on a single power cable)

The Apex Zen

Our Apex Zen comes with low-end components to upgrade. The case featured is the O11- Dynamic by Lianli and is a prevalent case in the PC enthusiasts market.  If you want to get a reliable set of components for this airflow-oriented case, here is a configuration for those wanting to spend around $4,000.

• CPU: Ryzen 9 5950X
• COOLER: Apex 360MM AIO
• MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte X570 AROUS ULTRA
• RAM: 32GB of 3600 (Non-RGB)
• GPU: RTX 3080
• SSD: 512GB NvME
• PSU: 1000W Power Supply
• FANS: 6 high-performance apex fans

Total Price: $4,180.23

The Apex Xtreme

The Apex Extreme is a highly performant system for our Intel 12th gen pre-builts, and it can handle a multitude of streaming demands. The Extreme offers the best components and has many customization options, from extra storage to RGB Lights and Strimmer Cables. Here is a configuration for the best intel 12th gen streaming prebuilt:

• CPU: Intel i9- 12900KF
• COOLER: Apex 360MM cooler
• MOTHERBOARD: Asus Z690 TUF-Plus
• RAM: 32GB DDR4-3600 (Non-RGB)
• GPU: RTX 3080
• STORAGE: 512GB NvME
• PSU:1000w Power Supply

Total Price: $4,294.99

The Apex Streamer

The Apex Streamer is our flagship PC for people looking into streaming on a budget. With an option to upgrade to most mid-tier components, here is a configuration around $2500 able to stream most FPS games at medium/low settings for outputting 720p/1080p on streaming using CPU encoding.

• CPU: Ryzen 7 5800x
• COOLER: Apex 120MM AIO 
• MOTHERBOARD: Asrock B450M HDV
• RAM: 16GB non-RGB 3600
• GPU: RTX 3060
• STORAGE: 512GB NVMe
• PSU: 750W Power Supply

Total Price: $2,427.87

Apex Build 21874

• CPU: Ryzen 7 3700x
• COOLER: Apex 360MM AIO 
• MOTHERBOARD: Asrock B450M HDV
• RAM: 16GB non-RGB 3600
• GPU: RTX 3060ti
• STORAGE: 500GB Sata SSD
• PSU: 750W Power Supply
• RGB FANS: 6 Apex RGB fans
• CASE: Lianli-O11 Dynamic

Total Price: $2,728.54 $1,789.95

Apex Bronze

While the Apex bronze does not look like the best streaming contender, It is a reliable option for finding and installing a GPU in the PC market. With options to upgrade to a 750W PSU, the Bronze can support an RTX 3070. With this in mind, you can get a comparable streaming prebuilt system for under $1700 if you track a card down for MSRP with the following configuration.

• CPU: Ryzen 5 5600G
• COOLER: Apex 120MM AIO 
• MOTHERBOARD: Asrock A320 HDV
• RAM: 16GB non-RGB 3600
• GPU: RX Vega Integrated Graphics
• STORAGE: 500GB Sata SSD
• PSU: 750W Power Supply

Total Price: $1,147.95

What to Consider When Buying a Streaming PC

Depending on the type of games you play and stream, the answer can differ for everyone.

Using OBS for games, there is a preference of using the CPU to encode (264x, 265x) over the GPU encoding (NVEC) due to smoother image quality rendering in real-time. However, if you want to take the load off the CPU due to having a better GPU, NVEC may be the way to go.

Let's break down what each component is responsible for in a system, playing and streaming a game.

CPU Usage

The CPU is one of the most critical components when building a streaming PC. Due to the 264x/265x encoding method above, CPU encoding offers real-time rendering for whatever is on the screen at a designated resolution. Overall, any mid-range or above 11 series CPU or the 3000/5000 series facilitates playing and streaming games simultaneously with little to no bottlenecking between components. 

GPU Usage 

Besides being a reliable output device for monitors, the GPU in a system is responsible for rendering all frames displaying on any output device in the system. The GPU uses a specific encoder different from the CPU, which relies heavily on a “bitrate” or, in better terms, a pixel allocation for a recording on screen. The bitrate needed for average quality recordings at 1920x1080@60FPS is 30Mb/s, and this is necessary for both the internet and storage solution to keep the quality. 

Internet Usage

Besides keeping a low ping and downloading games fast, streaming relies on encoded packets sent via the OBS broadcasting software. When an internet connection can't keep up, you get “packet loss.” which affects the result of the stream quality. The problem isn't solved by increasing your bit rate but by improving your internet speed with your ISP or using an Ethernet cable to have a more reliable service than wireless due to possible interference.

Take Away for Streaming with Prebuilt Gaming PCs

Whether you are an up-and-coming streamer looking to upgrade your machine or a person who wants the best quality streams from a system, Apex Gaming PCs can facilitate all of your hardware needs. Other techniques include creating a dedicated encoder for streaming or investing in capture cards for different gaming media, which can be covered later. Whatever your gaming intentions, we hope to fulfill them at Apex!

Written by Will Wilson