Best Pc for Streaming Review

Ehsan Ul HaqAugust 25, 2022Last Updated: August 25, 2022

5 minutes read

Building a PC for streaming from scratch sucks!
You’ve to go through countless intimidating callings such as buying the right hardware, optimizing it for streaming, lighting the backdrop, and then actually try getting the best performance. It’s so bizarre.
But, I’m here with an easier, affordable, and more enjoyable solution for you to become the best streamer ever. And that is…buying a pre-built PC for streaming. It’s so serene and you can start your streaming on any platform like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook, right away! So here it is, best PC for streaming review of iBUYPOWER Element 9260.
Let’s dig deep down, and discover what makes it the best, and what the alternatives are if you don’t vibe with this PC.

Table of Contents

About this Item

System: Intel Core i7-9700F 8-Core 3.0 GHz (4.70 GHz Max Turbo) | 16GB DDR4-2666 RAM | 1TB HDD | 240GB SSD | Genuine Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB Dedicated Gaming Video Card | VR Ready | 1x DVI | 1x HDMI | 1x Display Port
Connectivity: 4 x USB 3 .0 | 2 x USB 2 .0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | Audio: 7.1 Channel
Special Add-Ons: Tempered Glass RGB Gaming Case | 802. 11AC Wi-Fi Included | 16 Color RGB Lighting Case | Free Gaming Keyboard & RGB Gaming Mouse | No Bloatware
Warranty: 1 year parts & labor + free lifetime US tech support | Assembled in the U.S.A

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Pros & Cons

Pros

Best price No hassle of assembly, just plug & play Powerful silent fans don’t let it heat up Great stream quality Play all modern games on high settings Beautiful design

Cons

Missing flash card reader

Now let’s submerge into the detail of specs, features, and performance.

Aesthetic Appeal

Aesthetics catch hearts. Through its sleek tempered side glass, you’ll get a handsome aesthetic appeal for your PC. Not only does it make the PC look more futuristic, but it also helps it remain clean, dust-free, and scratch-free. The three multi-color ring lights are also visible through this glass, which makes it look more beautiful.
Now I’m not saying this feature is only unique to iBUYPOWER, of course, there are other well-famous brands that offer the same. But just so you know, paying a relatively lower price, and still getting those sassy features is major merit. Plus, you get an RGB gaming mouse and keyboard, too. So the PC is all covered up with some cool lightning to keep you cheered up, and give you the vibes of endless streaming!

Ports

The PC is gamer-focused. I like how the front-desk is free from the messy ports. Although some gamers may not like it, it’s a matter of preference.
On the right top edge of the panel, you’ll see a separate headphone jack and a microphone jack. Next to them, there are two Type-A 3.0 USB ports. And on the extreme left of the edge of the ceiling, there is a power button.
You get one of each HDMI, VGA, and DV-ID outputs to connect external monitors. With the help of the GeForce GT 710 graphics card, you’ll be able to set up a multi-monitor system. And the card is powerful enough to render 3D content, on the supported TVs or displays of course.
All the messy ports are on the rear side of the tower. There you’ll see an Ethernet jack, 7.1 surrounds sound audio output, video outputs, four USB ports including the two 2.0 ports. For your older keyboard and mouse, you get two PS2 legacy ports. And yes, we’re missing out on a flashcard reader here. Well, that adds up to, considerably, a con.

Performance

The performance of the PC is so satisfying — after all, you’re buying a 9th-gen Intel Core i7-9700F. Test it with any task. Be it Photoshop, web browsing, typing, coding, whatever. The 16GB DDR4 RAM and the capable processor and graphics card perform the tasks just like that.
Play whatever games you love. Just Cause 4, Sniper Elite 4, or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds — all of these you can play at max settings for hours! Its built-in four fans keep it cool all the way, and they don’t make unbearable noise, too. It’s so quiet. With a quick boost, you can start streaming on Twitch using maybe OBS Streamlab, or any other you prefer — all without lag but with great quality.
With a mid-range graphics card, NVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, you’re getting more performance by paying less money at the end of the day. Of course, you won’t be enjoying DSSL, which comes with a great cost, and only found in high-end graphics cards like RTX 2080 Super. But for the initial startup, you’ve to compromise on features like DSSL in order to enjoy streaming by paying less money.

Don't miss our article on PCI Express 4.0 Speed Review

The best part, if you feel the PC is lacking performance according to your preferred games or in the near future, you can upgrade its RAM or CPU cooler. It’s best because you don’t want to overburden yourself with a lot of money to spend at the initial stage of your streaming career. Just start with this pre-built PC. And then you can upgrade it with time.

Want to Try an Alternative Instead?

iBUYPOWER has its competitors, and you may find them more appealing. For example, HP Pavilion, offers the same 1TB storage, a well-framed design, 16GB RAM, and a Windows 10 Home 64-bit operating system. But instead of getting Core-i7, you’ll be getting Core-i5. That means a slightly lower price and a slightly lower stream quality.
Another high-end choice would be the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme. With Intel Core-i9 9900k, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage, and VR capability, this PC is an absolute beast! But it costs twice as the iBUYPOWER Element 9260!

Final Words: Should You Buy this PC for Streaming?

iBUYPOWER Element 9260 has its separate fan base. Anyone who is looking to buy a pre-built capable PC that can run all the modern games, and endure hours of streaming — should buy it. It is worth it. Later on, if the need arises, you can upgrade it as well.
So I hope my efforts in compiling the best PC for streaming review have been helpful for you. If you feel like buying this PC — well, go get it now on Amazon before the stock ends.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What specs do you need for a streaming PC?

In order to stream movies, you need a PC with an Intel Core i5-4670 (or its AMD counterpart), 8GB of RAM, and Windows 7 or later. A minimum upload speed of 3Mbits per second is also required for streaming.

Do you need a powerful PC to stream?

You don’t need a lot of graphical power to output to a monitor if you plan to use this as a secondary gaming rig. You do not need a very powerful streaming PC compared to a gaming PC. A low-end motherboard and 4GB of RAM are sufficient.

What PC is best for gaming and streaming?

1-Ryzen Edition of the Alienware Aurora R10.
2-Alienware Aurora R12.
3-Corsair Vengeance
4-HP Omen
5-Corsair One.
6-Origin Chronos.

How much does a good streaming PC cost?

Build a dedicated streaming PC if you want better performance. You can build a streaming PC for about $1,200 (excluding Windows 10 and peripherals).

Does streaming affect FPS?

Streaming can use a lot of your computer’s resources. Streaming will affect frame rates, though it might not be too noticeable when you get dropped frames depending on your computer’s hardware and software.

How do I optimize my computer for streaming?

1-Windows Video Hardware Acceleration should be disabled. Uncheck the box.
2-Video accelerator software.
3-Line of sight.
4-Turn off other Internet connections.
5-Watch during low activity times.
6-Test Your Internet Speed.
7-Updates.

Is AMD better for streaming?

AMD is a great option if you’re on a tighter budget or you typically work with streaming/rendering. It is excellent for multithreaded workloads like these, and its single-core performance is still competitive with Intel’s.

Ehsan Ul HaqAugust 25, 2022Last Updated: August 25, 2022

5 minutes read