What are The Best Desktop Computers for OBS?
This guide is made for livestreamers, video podcaster, virtual teacher, or content creator who relies on OBS to capture scenes, encode video, and broadcast in real-time. We’ll walk you through the specs and system traits you should prioritize to get smooth, high-quality performance without stutters or dropped frames. If you record, stream, or produce content using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), your desktop computer is the heart of your entire production.
The challenge with desktops for OBS lies in balancing multiple compute loads simultaneously. You’re recording video, compositing webcam feeds, audio sources, overlays, gameplay or application windows, all while encoding everything in real-time. Many desktops built for office or even gaming workloads don’t handle this type of concurrent performance. And underpowered systems force you to choose: either drop resolution or cut scene complexity. That’s not a trade-off you should have to make.
We’ve analyzed the top desktops designed to excel with OBS at its most demanding. These machines support high-bitrate video capture, multiple scene transitions, plugin-heavy setups, and hardware-accelerated encoding. We focus on encoding stability, multitasking capacity, thermal endurance, and streaming fidelity.
Each desktop we recommend features, at minimum, a multi-core processor (Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7), 32GB of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM, NVMe SSD with read speeds above 3,000 MB/s, and a dedicated GPU with NVENC (for NVIDIA) or AMF (for AMD) encoding support. This is the baseline needed to stream in 1080p or 4K while capturing gameplay, camera, and desktop sources simultaneously.
Let’s start with CPU power. OBS is both single-thread and multi-thread intensive depending on your scene configuration and encoder. For those using x264 encoding, CPU power becomes the backbone of the entire system. We recommend high-frequency CPUs like the Intel Core i9-14900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which deliver top-tier single-core speeds and high multi-core throughput. These handle complex transitions, color correction filters, and real-time audio processing without choking.
Next, GPU encoding plays a huge role for those using NVENC or AMD’s AMF encoders. Offloading video encoding to your GPU lets OBS maintain stream quality while leaving the CPU free to handle browser sources, audio mixing, and game logic. NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 and above offer the latest generation NVENC encoders, capable of 4K60 recording with high visual fidelity. This reduces dropped frames and encoder overloads even at high bitrates.
Memory matters, especially when you’re layering multiple media sources. OBS benefits significantly from systems with 32GB of RAM, giving it enough headroom to load animations, effects, browser windows, and chat widgets without paging to disk. You avoid frame skips caused by memory bottlenecks, especially during scene changes or heavy multi-app workflows.
Storage speed affects both live recording and replay buffer functionality. An NVMe SSD with fast I/O allows OBS to write high-bitrate footage while pulling in scene assets from disk. If you save streams locally at 50–100 Mbps or higher, traditional drives will lag or drop frames during I/O spikes. NVMe also helps reduce scene load times during startup and transition.
Connectivity is often overlooked. You’ll need USB 3.0 ports for capture cards, webcams, audio interfaces, and MIDI controllers. A reliable Gigabit Ethernet port ensures stable uploads to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or Zoom. Thunderbolt or USB-C adds flexibility for external drives and cameras. HDMI pass-through support is essential if you’re using capture devices to stream from a console or second PC.
Finally, expandability should be considered. You may start with a two-camera setup and basic overlays, but you’ll likely grow. Choose desktops with open PCIe slots, extra M.2 sockets, and enough wattage overhead in the PSU to support future upgrades. This gives you a platform that evolves with your stream, not one you outgrow.
We’ve selected desktops that reflect all these considerations. These systems run OBS smoothly under real-world load. You can stream in Full HD or 4K, record to disk, apply real-time effects, and still maintain system responsiveness. They’re built for those who demand professional production quality.
These are the Best Desktop Computers for OBS (2025):
Contents
- ASUS 2023 ROG G22CH Gaming Desktop PC, Small Form Factor, Intel® Core™ i9-14900KF, NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070
- CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i9-14900KF 3.2GHz, GeForce RTX 4090 24GB, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD
- Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i9-13900F, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- iBUYPOWER Y40 Black Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y40BA9R79XTX01 (Ryzen 9 7900x, RX 7900 XTX 24GB, 32GB
- MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop Intel Core i7-13700KF, RTX 4070, 32GB DDR5, 2TB
- CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i9-13900KF 3.0GHz, GeForce RTX 4070 12GB, 16GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD
- CyberpowerPC Ryzen 7 - RX 5700 Desktop Computer
- iBUYPOWER Elite Gaming PC Trace PRO9300 - Desktop Computer
- SkyTech Blaze -Computer Desktop – I5 - GTX 1660 - 500G - 8GB
- Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled Intel Core i7 14700KF CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti GPU - 32GB
- Lenovo Legion Tower T5 Gaming Desktop, Intel Core i7-11700F Processor, GeForce RTX 3060, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD
- Alienware Aurora R15 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7-7700X, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti
- CORSAIR ONE a100 Compact Desktop PC
- ROG Strix GL10DH Desktop - Ryzen 7 - GTX 1660 Ti
- Alienware Area 51 R5 Extreme Desktop Tower
ASUS 2023 ROG G22CH Gaming Desktop PC, Small Form Factor, Intel® Core™ i9-14900KF, NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | Intel® Core™ i9-14900KF |
| Processor Speed | 5.6 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 Dual |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 12.72 x 11.3 x 4.53 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Top performance |
| Disadvantages | Price |
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i9-14900KF 3.2GHz, GeForce RTX 4090 24GB, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900KF |
| Processor Speed | 3.2GHz |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4090 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 24GB |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 21.6 x 20.7 x 12.1 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i9-13900F, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900F |
| Processor Speed | 5.6 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB GDDR6X |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | Compact |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Very good performance, size |
| Disadvantages | Price |
iBUYPOWER Y40 Black Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y40BA9R79XTX01 (Ryzen 9 7900x, RX 7900 XTX 24GB, 32GB |
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| CPU | Ryzen 9 7900x |
| Processor Speed | 3.7 GHz |
| GPU | RX 7900 XTX |
| Graphics Card Memory | 24GB |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 2TB NVMe |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17.28 x 9.44 x 18.58 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Price, Value for money |
| Disadvantages | None |
MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop Intel Core i7-13700KF, RTX 4070, 32GB DDR5, 2TB |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700KF |
| Processor Speed | 2.5 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB M.2 NVMe |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 25 x 23.25 x 12.4 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Price, Storage |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i9-13900KF 3.0GHz, GeForce RTX 4070 12GB, 16GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900KF |
| Processor Speed | 3.0GHz |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 21.85 x 21.26 x 16.14 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance. |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
CyberpowerPC Ryzen 7 - RX 5700 Desktop Computer |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Processor Speed | 3.6GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 500GB PCI-E NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 19.7 x 8.1 x 20.5 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included in Sale |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Quite Expensive |
iBUYPOWER Elite Gaming PC Trace PRO9300 - Desktop Computer |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel i9-9900K |
| Processor Speed | 8-Core 3.6 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 23 x 22.5 x 11.75 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Storage |
| Disadvantages | NA |
SkyTech Blaze -Computer Desktop – I5 - GTX 1660 - 500G - 8GB |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core I5 9400F |
| Processor Speed | 6-Core 2.9 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 500G SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 15.4 x 8.1 x 15 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage Capacity |
Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled Intel Core i7 14700KF CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti GPU - 32GB |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i7 14700KF |
| Processor Speed | 3.4 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17.8 x 9.1 x 18.3 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | design and performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Lenovo Legion Tower T5 Gaming Desktop, Intel Core i7-11700F Processor, GeForce RTX 3060, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-11700F Processor |
| Processor Speed | 2.5 GHz |
| GPU | Nvidia Ge Force Rtx 3060 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 21.65 x 19.09 x 14.57 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Value for Money, Very good performance, Large storage |
| Disadvantages | N/A |
Alienware Aurora R15 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7-7700X, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7-7700X |
| Processor Speed | 5.4 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 20.83 x 8.86 x 20.08 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Value, Design, Performance |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
CORSAIR ONE a100 Compact Desktop PC |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X |
| Processor Speed | 3.6GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 11GB |
| RAM | 2x16GB DDR4-3200 |
| Storage Space | 1TB FORCE MP600 M.2 NVMe SSD 2TB 5400RPM 2.5” HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 200mm x 172.5mm x 380mm |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Storage |
| Disadvantages | na |
ROG Strix GL10DH Desktop - Ryzen 7 - GTX 1660 Ti |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| Processor Speed | 4.4 GHz |
| GPU | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 6GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 16.9 x 7.1 x 16.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Not Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Perfornance, Design |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Alienware Area 51 R5 Extreme Desktop Tower |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core 7th Generation i7-7800X Processor |
| Processor Speed | 6 Core, 3.5GHz, |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage Space | 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 25.2 x 10.7 x 22.4 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Not Included in Sale |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Large Storage, Good Performance |
| Disadvantages | |
