For any of your Twitch strategies to become successful, it’s a no-brainer to have a powerful computer from where you can seamlessly game and stream. If you are someone who prefers a powerful laptop over a desktop in order to game and stream on the fly, you’ve come to the right place.
Introduction
The digital gaming realm is now stronger as a close-knit community as never before, thanks to new-generation platforms like Twitch that bring together fans of shared interest and passionate gamers. For gaming fans, viewing skilled gamers play live is no less than watching master craftsmen at work, allowing them to reverse engineer gamers’ techniques and strategy. Twitch offers immense value to aspiring and seasoned gamers as well. Whether you want to become a top streamer with a large fanbase and play with other pro gamers or convert Twitch into a revenue stream, you can use the platform to your advantage the way you want it.
Here, we’ve thoroughly reviewed some of the best laptops for streaming Twitch. By exploring the list, you will not find yourself short of mid-level as well as high-end hardware configuration options. Whether you want to game and stream to Twitch from a single laptop or prefer to stream your gameplay on your gaming console from a mid-level laptop, we’ve got you covered for your unique requirements.
Minimum requirements for best laptops for streaming twitch
Before proceeding, we recommend going through our minimum hardware requirement section to help narrow down your options.
- CPU – Intel 6 core i7 12 threaded CPU seamlessly renders game and encodes the stream to Twitch. Look for similar CPU configuration or higher.
- GPU – If you want to stream your gameplay to Twitch in a high quality, you’ll need a GPU that can support high resolution frame rates. Dedicated GPUs are the right option for HD gaming as well as streaming.
- RAM – 16 GB of RAM (or more) will help you effortlessly use multiple applications such as broadcasting software, chat bots, and preferably browser needed for live streaming your game to Twitch.
- Ports – Connectivity options through ports highly matter when it comes to gaming and streaming to Twitch. Ports such as USB C, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, ethernet port, SD card reader, and dedicated headphone and mic ports are essential to set up your Twitch streaming rig.
- WiFi – Laptops with WiFi 6 offer hardwired internet connectivity speed essential for HD Twitch streaming.
Review of Best Laptops for Streaming Twitch
Acer Predator Helios 300 – best overall
Acer has been highly successful with their Predator Helios 300 models over the years. By choosing just the right internal configuration, the brand has been able to pull off a mid-range gaming laptop that outrivals many in its price segment.
Acer Predator Helios 300 has a well-balanced performance optimization that is needed for CPU and GPU-demanding multitasking such as gaming while streaming your gameplay to Twitch at the same time.
high performance bundled in mid-tier pricing
The processing profiles of this laptop have been well calibrated to allow the 9th generation Intel i7 6 core CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 GPU to overclock when needed. Also, the cooling system revs up to effectiv\
ely to maintain thermal management and ensure consistent performance through and through. The mid-range 16 GB DDR4 RAM works in conjunction with 256 GB SSD storage to ensure seamless multitasking and faster load times.
Acer Predator Helios 300 also adds value with good wired and wireless networking performance. The Killer Wireless AC 1550 and Killer ethernet E2500 implementation gives you access to fast internet connectivity which, in turn, helps you avoid lag and interruptions when live streaming your gameplay to Twitch. That laptop doesn’t fall behind in the display territory as well. It’s 15.6 inches full HD thin bezels display has a 144 Hz refresh rate which can easily take on HD games and streaming.
Pros:
- Performance outweighs price
- Good thermal management
Cons:
- Body design is a bit on the bulkier side
Eluktronics MAX-17 – Best value: High configuration
New-generation computer hardware configuration plays an important part in supporting the consistent growth of the digital gaming community. And it’s companies like Eluktronics that help gamers access ultra-fast computing with the marriage of the right hardware. The MAX-17 laptop from the brand is solely focused on delivering a high performance that is backed by consistency.
All the bells and whistles of this laptop are utilitarian, making it an easy choice for those who prefer practicality over other factors.
redefining the gaming and Twitch-streaming experience
To start the specification rundown of Eluktronics MAX-17, it uses the 10th generation Intel i7 8 core processor to smoothly handle even the most complex multithreaded applications such as high-end HD games and fast live Twitch streaming encoding. Play and stream any high-end HD games in the highest graphics settings and the laptop’s NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU will be able to effectively handle all the graphics-intensive load you throw at it.
The GPU’s 240 Hz calibration is there to back you up should you need to game and stream at HD (1280 x 720) or full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution.
The fascination doesn’t stop here. The laptop also grabs attention with its 32 GB DDR4 RAM which is more than enough to help you get through intensive multitasking. Eluktronics MAX-17 gives fierce competition to other models in the storage department as well. Its whopping 2TB SSD storage helps you keep all your games, gaming-related files, and streaming-related applications consolidated under one single unit.
This, in turn, helps you get the benefit of quick access. All of these best-in-class internals are bundled in a sleek 17.3 inches display size footprint.
Pros:
- Top-level performance and connectivity
- Sleek and fairly lightweight despite the 17.3 inches form factor
- Good battery backup
Cons:
- No Thunderbolt 3 charging feature
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 – the best bang for your buck
ASUS TUG Gaming A15 isn’t cheap, neither is it highly expensive. ASUS has perfectly balanced this model with ultra-high performance of the likes of premium laptops with a price point that is totally justifiable. And compared to other gaming laptops from Asus, TUF Gaming A15 comes as one of the best laptops for streaming to Twitch, with one of the reasons being the inclusion of a webcam.
You can use the webcam to sync a live recording of yourself into your gameplay that you’re streaming to Twitch. This helps you improve fan engagement and interaction.
High-end processors from AMD are gaining popularity and recommendation traction. AMD CPUs with higher numbers of cores perform well in multithreaded applications, and the 8 core AMD Ryzen 4800H bears testimony to this. In fact, the 8 core CPU is what makes this laptop highly competitive against others placed in a similar price segment.
It’s Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 GPU is well-suited for HD gaming and streaming. The laptop’s 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage helps you load broadcasting software, chatbots, and your webcam interface in a jiffy.
One of the biggest highlights of ASUS TUF Gaming A15 that usually gets left out is the customization option that it offers. The hardware arrangement and chassis of this laptop has been designed with scalability as the main priority. As you climb up the ladder of success in your gaming and Twitch streaming, you can easily add extra SSD and upgrade RAM for better performance.
Pros:
- Value for price
- Great battery backup
Cons:
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
Razer Blade 15 – high end
Razer Blade 15 is built for those who want desktop-class performance for HD gaming while having the convenience of easy mobility. Looking at the sleek body design, it can be unconvincing for some that the RazerBlade 15 makes its stand among some of the best laptops for streaming Twitch. However, Razer has made it all possible with top-of-the-line hardware configuration.
If you want a compact and powerful laptop which you can use to stream your gameplay to Twitch from anywhere you want, you cannot go wrong with the Razer Blade 15.
mobility with the power of a desktop rig
The laptop does not shy away when it comes to delivering consistently high gaming performance. Its 8th generation Intel i7 6 core CPU works together with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU to handle even the most high-end HD games. When playing intensive games, the CPU can crank a computing power of up to 4.1 GHz to help you avoid performance compromises. You can use the power of the CPU and GPU combined together with the 16 GB DDR4 RAM to your Twitch-streaming advantage.
Gaming and streaming to Twitch in full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) isn’t a problem, thanks to the 144 Hz refresh rate of the display that ensures lag-free visuals. Further improving the viewing experience is the design of the thin bezel of the laptop’s 15.6 inch display.
The dual-fan cooling system of the laptop helps avoid thermal throttling going into overdrive which is usually the case when playing high-end processor-intensive games. Razer Blade 15’s 512GB SSD storage is a good capacity for storing all your gaming and Twitch streaming essentials
Pros:
- Great gaming performance in a compact footprint
- High-quality build
Cons:
- Can run hot at times
Alienware M15 – big display gaming beast
For years, Alienware laptops from Dell have been the go-to choice for pro-level gamers. Things haven’t changed much when it comes to the outstanding reputation of Alienware laptops as the brand continues to offer well-configured laptops, one of the newest ones being the M15. The laptop positions itself in the thin body profile segment while offering performance of the likes of larger-size models.
carries the gaming legacy of its predecessors
Just like the Acer Predator Helios 300, Alienware M15 comes under the segment of best laptops for live streaming to Twitch with its CPU thermal management. The laptop employs Alienware’s latest thermal management technology, the cryo-tech v3.0 which efficiently optimizes performance even under the most demanding loads.
Alienware M15 gets its high processing power from the 9th generation Intel i7 6 core CPU and NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU. Unlike many high-end gaming laptops that automatically adjust overclocking power, this model lets you adjust performance profiles the way you want it.
This has been made possible with the inclusion of the Alienware command center where you can choose between different overclocking profiles or create your own. A combination of 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage improves load times. The 76Whr battery of this laptop is one of the best in its segment.
Pros:
- Good overclocking performance management
- 144 Hz refresh rate offers lag-free visuals
Cons:
- Can run hot during higher loads
MSI GS65 – best value: starter pick
MSI laptops are one of the top picks for high-performance gaming. This model carries the high-performance DNA of other MSI gaming laptops with its powerful hardware configuration that’s bundled in a 15.6 inch footprint. With this laptop, you get the benefit of performance gains over its predecessor with the 9th generation Intel i7 6 core processor.
In the GPU department, MSI GF65 sports NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics which augments the CPU’s gaming performance and the full HD display’s lag-free visuals.
an unmistakable performance and connectivity speed combo
Its 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage effectively handle intensive multitasking which is a major requirement in even the best laptops for playing and streaming games. Load times are exceptionally faster in this laptop, thanks to the enhanced NVMe SSD read speeds. Whether you are switching between games or loading multiple files, the fast read capability of the SSD will not let you down.
MSI GS65 takes the path that Alienware M15 charts in terms of performance optimization. The laptop includes several presets of performance optimization cooling profiles.
Good wireless internet connectivity is a must in any laptop when it comes to streaming your gameplay to Twitch in high-resolution. And it turns out that this laptop includes an updated Intel Wi-Fi chip which boosts wireless internet connectivity speeds. Also, the combination of the display’s 15.6 inches footprint and thin bezels design helps you get the most out of your gaming and Twitch streaming task under one single screen.
Pros:
- Sturdy and high-quality build
- Good loading and internet connectivity speed
Cons:
- Weight is a bit on the heavier side
Dell Inspiron 2020 – low budget console streaming
There are PC gamers, and then there are console gamers. If you are the latter kind who wants to live stream your gameplay to Twitch, a laptop with a mid-level hardware configuration will suffice for your requirement. The Dell Inspiron 2020 isn’t designed to be the best laptop for streaming games, but it sure can keep up with your console streaming requirement on a tight budget.
It’s worth mentioning up front that this laptop does not pack the fancy features that you normally find in high-end gaming laptops. What it does bring in decent pricing are mid-range specifications that work well for encoding your live console gameplay into Twitch stream.
console streaming in a budget
The processing power of this laptop outweighs its price. A 10th generation Intel i5 4 core processor gives this laptop its core computing power. The CPU is also able to deliver an overclocking performance of up to 3.7 GHz. The GPU of Dell Inspiron 2020 isn’t the best, but it can suffice for streaming your console gameplay to Twitch at HD (1280 x 720) resolution.
Handling multitasking duties at decent levels is the laptop’s 8 GB DDR4 RAM. Similar to RAM, the model’s 256 GB of SSD storage falls in a mid-tier segment which is a good tradeoff for its affordability. However, you do get the option of expanding SSD storage in this laptop.
Also, Dell did a good job of keeping the weight on this laptop to just 4.41 pounds which is also the courtesy of the laptop’s 14 inch footprint.
Pros:
- Higher processing power than other mid-tier laptops
- Option for upgrading hardware
Cons:
- Lack of full HD support
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
HP Pavilion 2020 – best low-budget
Another affordable, mid-tier laptop that can back you up as a Twitch stream encoding machine is HP Pavilion 2020. This laptop shares several similarities with the Dell Inspiron 2020 in terms of mid-level CPU performance.
However, the one area where it surpasses the latter is thin bezels design on its 14 inch HD display.
Another strong standing point of this laptop is its HD TrueVision using the webcam. You can share your live footage in a mid-level resolution along with the live console gameplay that you are streaming to Twitch. Overall, it’s safe to say that HP Pavilion 2020 definitely deserves a spot amongst some of the best laptops for webcam streaming in the mid-level price segment.
a strong budget performer
One of the best features of non-gaming, mid-tier laptops is lightweight design. And this HP Pavilion 2020 capitalizes on this winning point with a body weight averaging at just 3.2 pound. The 14 inch form factor further improves the portability of this model.
The core computing unit of this laptop includes a 10th generation Intel i5 4 core CPU and an Intel UHD GPU. The CPU is calibrated to overclock up to 3.6 GHz. The overclocking computing power comes helpful when encoding your console gameplay stream to Twitch. An 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage completes the main hardware set up of this model.
Pros:
- Fast and quiet processing
- Good connectivity options
Cons:
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 – budget friendly
When it comes to offering high-performance hardware configuration in competitive pricing, Lenovo knows better. While the brand’s ThinkPads offers immense value to business and technology professionals, its IdeaPad lineup caters to gamers and content creators.
The IdeaPad L340 is a unique offering from the brand. It packs the performance of the likes of premium gaming laptops while positioning itself in the mid-range price segment. In short, if you want a high-performance gaming laptop while keeping a limited budget, you can’t go wrong with Lenovo IdeaPad L340.
a powerful mid-range positioning
This laptop delivers consistently-high gaming performance with a 9th generation Intel i7 6 core CPU that can overclock up to 4.5 GHz. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU of this laptop works well in augmenting the processing power of the CPU. The multitasking and file/document access experience on this model is on par with that of premium laptops; the credit goes to its 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB SSD storage.
There is no lack of options when it comes to connectivity as well. The full HD resolution of its 17.3 inches display offers immersive visuals. Further contributing to the laptop’s stunning viewing experience is the thin bezels design of the display. Given the larger footprint of the laptop, it checks out with a weight of 4.8 pounds.
Pros:
- Good performance and graphics
- Fairly lightweight for a 17.3 inch form factor
Cons:
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
Dell XPS 15 – an all-rounder powerhouse
Dell XPS 15 is not solely marketed as a gaming laptop. And that approach is totally justifiable considering the uncompromised versatility of this model. From high-end HD gaming to HD streaming to Twitch and doing other tasks, the CPU and GPU of this laptop are well-synced to offer unfailing performance. The model’s core computing unit features a marriage of a 9th generation Intel i7 6 cores CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. A 16 GB DDR4 RAM completes the powerful computing ensemble.
1TB SSD storage capacity is one of the biggest highlights of Dell XPS 15. The 4K Ultra HD resolution of the model’s 15.6 inch display puts this laptop under the category of the best laptops for streaming videos and live gameplays to Twitch.
It’s worth noticing that Dell innovatively managed to include a good quality webcam despite the design of the thin bezel of the display. Also, Dell took good advantage of the laptop’s 15.6 inches footprint by including a 97 Whr battery that delivers a good backup.
Dell XPS 15 performs exceptionally well in the connectivity territory as well. The laptop employs a Killer AX1650 Wi-Fi 6 module which can deliver internet connectivity speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps. The 1650 module works well in prioritizing current connectivity tasks over the ones that are running in the background.
Despite the high-end hardware configuration, the laptop’s portability factor doesn’t take a hit. Its lightweight 4 pounds of body profile does all the talking.
Pros:
- High performance
- Premium look and feel
Cons:
- Can throttle when handling computing-intensive loads
FAQs
1) Can you stream with a laptop?
Yes, it is possible to stream with a laptop, given the fact that modern laptops are available with high-end, desktop-class hardware configuration. In fact, many digital entrepreneurs, and content creators who travel throughout the year prefer a laptop for streaming videos and audios (in the form of podcasts) to various digital platforms.
2) Can you stream on Twitch with a laptop?
Yes, many gamers, both beginners and professionals, use a laptop to live stream their gameplay to Twitch. Good laptops for streaming to Twitch are the ones that have the good graphics processing power and RAM to handle gaming and streaming multitasking.
3) What is a streaming laptop?
There’s no laptop that solely specializes in streaming. For audio and video streaming to consistently work, you’ll need to install a broadcasting software. If you wish to stream the content of your external devices, such as a gaming console or a camera, you’ll need an appropriate capture card to transcode it into your laptop.
Conclusion
Sure, it is important to choose the right laptop when it comes to achieving success in your Twitch streaming journey. However, it’s equally important to boost your laptop’s performance in order to make your Twitch streams more appealing to fans. Here’s a list of add-ons you’ll need to take your Twitch streams to a professional level:
- Good Wi-Fi adapter and a strong internet connection.
- Good (preferably licenced) streaming software.
- A professional headset with good audio input and output quality.
- A high-quality external webcam.
- A capture card (for streaming gameplay from a gaming console to Twitch using a computer)
And that’s a wrap to our review. Hope you found it informative and helpful.