Best rig for streaming?

[VirtualLarry]

Curious which would be better - a SB dual-core, a SB quad-core, or a Phenom II X6, for video streaming.

Both screen-cam style streaming (PC games, emulators), as well as video-capture type streaming (console fighting games).

Is more cores better? Or faster cores?

Are most streaming rigs using multi-threaded software? Encoders?

Edit: To further clarify, I want this computer to be able to be the stream encoder/uploader. Not just viewing streams (which can be done on any contemporary video card without issue these days.)

 

[T_Yamamoto]

From what I believe, I feel like a combination of cores and speed would be the best, so maybe the x6?

 

[mnewsham]

If it were a combo of speed and cores I would say i5-2400 or something of that ilk, because they are more powerful then the AMD x6 clock for clock and also you still get a goodly number of cores (4)

 

[mfenn]

As in creating a stream or watching a stream? Any ol' thing (within reason) will do for stream watching. Creating a stream basically means that you need enough CPU power to both run the game smoothly and encode video in real time. Fast Intel quads are the way to go IMHO.

 

[zokudu]

It was my understanding video encoding was one of those things that really benefits from more cores. I would take the Phenom II but that's me.

 

[piasabird]

It depends who you ask about something like this. A computer gamer would say you need an i-5 and big video card. However, if you ask this question to a person that designs HTPC systems you may get a different answer. If you are really interested in Game emulation, then the porcessor does not have to be that powerful. If you want to create digital video that in uncompressed, then the Processor is not that important. I am not saying that a quad i-5 2500k is not a good processor. It is great for multitasking.

Assassin is a screen name for a person that has a lot of expertise in building HTPC systems.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1302559

http://assassinhtpcblog.com/

For streaming a lot of people are using processors like the Intel Sandybridge Pentiums. One of the objects is to use as little power as possible. Then maybe the i-3 2100T which is a 35 watt processor with a low profile cooler. Some people may prefer the newer i-3 2105 which has the Intel 3000 HD video. Of course for gaming you may opt for an i-5 2500k. Emulation does not require a fast processor.