Laptop without a dedicated GPU - switch streaming possible?

My real question is in bold below, but I would like to anticipate the following:

I currently have a mediocre "gaming PC" with which I can play many games relatively smoothly, although not always at the highest settings.

Briefly summarized: https://ark.intel.com/...0-ghz.html, 12 GB RAM, https://www.gigabyte.com/...927XOC-4GD. These are far from being current components (the mainboard including CPU is almost 10 years old); However, as I mentioned above, I can cope with it wonderfully and do not want to top it up for the time being either. Unfortunately, the performance of the graphics card is not enough that I can stream on Twitch at the same time as OBS. I have not yet determined the cause 100%, but whenever the graphics card has a lot of work, OBS is not able to transfer the image smoothly (the more demanding the game, the more problems I have, regardless of whether I have a CPU or GPU encode).

Now my thought was whether I might buy a laptop for various purposes, which would then also be responsible for streaming on Twitch. Instead of investing in a new gaming PC, I would prefer to buy a second compact computer (also for convenience), which I can take with me.

My idea was as follows: I connect an https://www.elgato.com/de/gaming/game-capture-hd60-s-plus via HDMI to my PC and thus tap the game content. So my graphics card could concentrate on the game and would not have to give OBS any extra work. The laptop would therefore only be responsible for the stream (and corresponding software and music, if applicable).

With such a setup with a capture card, would the performance of a laptop with a comparatively weak (integrated) graphics card be sufficient to stream the content received via capture card?

I would then opt for a fairly strong processor since streaming via the CPU is recommended. So I'm primarily concerned with whether you need a good graphics card for streaming in any case or whether it is more secondary.

I look forward to experience or recommendations and wish you a nice day!

Increase laptop for various purposes, which would then also be responsible for streaming on Twitch.

Of course, this can work, but you will be able to get a problem that could affect the waste heat. You would also bring the laptop under permanent load, among other things. Not good for the battery. In short, it is not designed for this.

Instead of investing in a new gaming PC

Patchwork. You should do exactly that and put it in a Ryzen 7 system. Whether you spend 600… 700… Euro on a laptop that has at least one Ryzen 5 better 7 in it, or put the money into a better PC and have more of it (eg Ryzen 7 2700X) makes no difference.

Unfortunately, the performance of the graphics card is not enough that I can stream on Twitch at the same time as OBS. I have not yet determined the cause 100%, but whenever the graphics card has a lot of work, OBS is not able to transfer the image smoothly (the more demanding the game, the more problems I have, regardless of whether I have a CPU or GPU encode).

The cause is very simple since you already mentioned it. 1. Your hardware is very old and therefore 2. It does not offer enough power to handle everything.

With such a setup with a capture card, would the performance of a laptop with a comparatively weak (integrated) graphics card be sufficient to stream the content received via capture card?

ELGATO HD60S. Forget about encoding on the GPU. If you want an optimal GPU, an RTX card would be recommended. Forget about the laptop as a streaming PC. But yes would go if min. Ryzen 5 in there.

I would then opt for a fairly strong processor since streaming via the CPU is recommended. So I'm primarily concerned with whether you need a good graphics card for streaming in any case or whether it is more secondary.

Better put on a new PC so that you are better served. As I said at least Ryzen 7 from 2700 for the PC. And yes CPU encoding is better.

The GPU is secondary. Depending on how you want to stream.

First of all, thank you for answering my question and responding to many things!

Now my thought was whether I might buy a laptop for various purposes,

→ That was related to the fact that I was considering buying a laptop in general (because I no longer have a functional one), regardless of the streaming.

however you will be able to get a problem regarding the waste heat. You would also bring the laptop under permanent load, among other things. Not good for the battery.

I have already asked myself the question, since the CPU is then under constant load. Is the difference between desktop and laptop really so huge, because the CPU is ultimately there for such tasks?

Forget about encoding on the GPU

What does that mean in relation to my question? As I read it, streaming via OBS is not possible without a graphics card. It's about the need for performance.

A new PC + laptop would be too bad for me at the moment. Thank you again for your assessment and further explanations if necessary.

This was related to the fact that I was considering buying a laptop in general (because I no longer have a working one), regardless of the streaming.

Oh well, okay. I personally have a Huawei Matebook D14 with a Ryzen 5. Personally, I would also rather look at laptops with Ryzen because they simply have the best P / L ratio and also performance.

I have already asked myself the question, since the CPU is then under constant load. Is the difference between desktop and laptop really so huge, because the CPU is ultimately there for such tasks?

It's more about the pros and cons of a PC vs. Laptop. Of course there's enough performance if you rely on Ryzen or a significantly more expensive Intel CPU. You have to keep in mind the warmer a CPU gets and this is just generated when streaming> Heat, the CPU will start to throttle at some point and you will lose performance.

With a laptop, you don't have optimal airflow like with a PC. With a housing you have the circulating air, ideally you have cool air from the front and the warm / hot air comes out.

With a laptop you don't have such a flow, because the warm air is simply blown out. Of course you can stream with a laptop, but then you would have to make sure that you have one that has a strong CPU or if you want to stream via the GPU, it has AND a good cooling system. Here we quickly get a purchase price that would be equivalent to a high-end PC upgrade.

Therefore you will hardly find a streamer, for example. Who uses a laptop as an encoder for streaming.

As I read it, streaming via OBS is not possible without a graphics card. It's about the need for performance.

Of course it's possible. In theory, you could also use a Ryzen 3 3200G (which has an APU. Say a GPU in the CPU), but then this is not suitable for streaming or gaming. The relevance you have to face is: What do I want the streaming about?
Do I want to go over the CPU or GPU?

If you want to go over the GPU, the CPU is secondary. If you want to go via the CPU, which would be significantly cheaper and "normal" is 99% of the streamers, then the GPU is secondary. You can also e.g. Install a Ryzen 9 3900X but only a GTX 970 … It wouldn't matter for OBS. Of course, the GPU would make up a minimal part, but only to be able to display graphic elements or an image on the monitor.

I eg Use a Ryzen 7 2700X with a GTX 1080 and 16 GB of RAM (my gaming & streaming PC). Laptop just the above-mentioned Huawei. In theory, I could also connect a capture card and have the D14 encoded… But if unnecessary because my PC has enough power to handle everything.

By the way, you should also make sure that you also have at least 16 GB best installed from 2666 MHz. Most laptops have built 2400 MHz.

Thank you for the useful information! This is exactly what I wanted to do with regard to the graphics card for CPU streaming. So I can (if I actually want to implement this project) neglect the graphics card and put the budget into the CPU. Top!

Correct & happy.