In this post, I'm giving you the list of the must-have live streaming equipment, recommending one cheap and one a bit more expensive device to complete your streaming setup. At the end of the post, I will summarize the total cost of these devices, so you can see how much you should spend on your equipment before you start your live streaming career.
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MINIMUM PC REQUIREMENTS
Twitch recommends having at least an Intel Core i5-4670 processor (or its AMD equivalent), 8GB of RAM, and Windows 7 or newer. If you don't have these minimum specs, I recommend building a new PC or upgrading your current one. Otherwise, your stream will lag or will be super low quality, and you want to avoid that.
If you are building a new PC, you should spend at least around $900. Here I'm giving you example components. With these or with equivalent PC specs, your stream will be smooth as silk.
PC specs, ready for live streaming games:
Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Ti OC 6G 192-bit - $279.99
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core - $199.99
CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
Motherboard: MSI Performance Gaming AMD X470 Ryzen 2 AM4 DDR4 Onboard Graphics CFX ATX Motherboard (X470 Gaming Plus) - $129.99
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4 DRAM 2400MHz - $39.99
HDD: Seagate BarraCuda 1TB Internal Hard Drive - $45.99
SSD: ADATA SU635 240GB 3D-NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD - $34.99
Power supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 750W 80+ Gold SLI - $119.99
Case: Cooler Master MCB-Q300L-KANN-S00 MasterBox Matx Tower - $49.99
Grand total: $931.95
If you are not editing videos or have fewer data kept on your PC, you can choose a smaller HDD and/or SSD which can cut back around $50-70 on the price. You should have at least 120GB of SSD to have Windows and one of your preferred games installed on it for better performance.
CAMERA / WEBCAM
I highly recommend using a webcam while you are live streaming, so the audience can see your facial expressions and reactions which helps them connect with you.
Before you buy one, make sure that it is compatible with your operating system!
Cheap webcam recommendation: Hrayzan 1080P webcam - $29.99
For this price, this camera is GREAT. This cam can be attached to the upper side of your monitor. Please keep in mind that for better results, you should use an external microphone and good lighting while you are streaming.
Expensive webcam recommendation: Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam - $70
This webcam is amazing for live streaming. The quality is top-notch, with a crystal clear image. You can catch this on sale around $50-55. No tripod or any other attachment included in the package, but you can secure this cam on the top of your monitor.
If you already have a high-quality camera: Elgato Cam Link 4K - $129.99
You can attach your own camera onto a tripod and put it behind your monitor and just plug it in into your PC with this camcorder. This makes it possible to live stream with a super high-quality picture of yourself.
MICROPHONE
I stand by using a microphone and not a headset when I'm streaming. Adding a windscreen in front of your mic can increase your voice's quality, so you can give your production the value it deserves.
Cheap microphone: Neewer USB Microphone with clamp kit - $39.99
This mic comes with a sturdy scissor arm stand, a mounting clamp, and a windscreen filter included in the package. It is an amazing deal for starting live streamers.
Expensive microphone recommendation: Audio-Technica AT2020PLUS - $125
This microphone is quality built. There is a small stand mount included in the box. For a better experience, you should buy and extra windscreen for this microphone.
LIGHTING
Your video thrives off of lighting. If you are using a webcam while streaming, you should have good lighting to look professional and crystal clear on your live stream.
Cheap lighting: Neewer LED Ring Light 18-inch - $127.99
This is an amazing deal for a lighting kit because it has everything included in one package. The light is very bright and dimmable manually. Although, this light might be too big for some.
Expensive lighting: Elgato Key Light -$175.99
There is only one light included in this package, but it is extremely well built - made out of sturdy materials. This key is designed to be attached to your desk. Elgato developed a special software and mobile app to control the brightness and temperature of your light.
In total, to have basic streaming equipment with a webcam, a microphone, and one lighting included and ready to use, you should spend at least $197.99.
If you are willing to get more professional gear, you will spend around $370.99.