Tips for getting into PC gaming/capturing console runs.
6 years ago
Texas, USA

Hey gang, so Im looking to acquire my first PC this Christmas (I know...28 years old and have yet to own my first computer...its tragic! Lol) and am having some difficulties knowing what exactly to look into spec-wise for what my needs are. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

I dont plan to be doing anything too crazy, I basically just need a set-up that can capture PS1/2 & Gamecube runs, and also can handle running some older PC games (stuff such as Resident Evils 2 & 3, maybe some SNES emulator stuff for fun). I already know the monitor and capture card I want, I just need help deciding what actual PC to get that's cost-effective and can handle these basic tasks, bc as I said it doesnt need to be up to running games by today's standards. Just games from like 2005-6 and can capture my console runs without issues.

A bit embarassing to ask a question like this, but as Ive said in these forums previously Ive never been big on PC gaming, so Im a little PC ignorant when it comes to terms/jargon, specs, models, etc etc. Thanks in advance for the help! Greatly looking forward to finally capping some runs and getting on the leaderboard's top 10.

One tip: If you just capture gameplay footage and nothing else, it'll be much easier to record.

ConkyJoe89 likes this
Texas, USA

Oh yea I should probably have mentioned that at most all I'll be recording is the gameplay and occasionally my splits (bc it's required for RE2, and I think 3). Like I said I'm not doing anything TOO fancy, I just need to know a good PC to capture PS2 footage so I can submit some barebones runs for verification, as well as a PC that can handle games as graphically stout as RE2 and 3. I'm into older games.

Esperanto

An i5 and pretty much any graphics card with 2 gb of ram will record/stream the capture card and splits no problem, and I doubt you'd' have much problem emulating up to ps1/gcn games if you are just recording alone (and not streaming).

ConkyJoe89 likes this
Texas, USA

Thanks for the input Nihilist! That's along the lines of what I was looking for. Yea I don't have any current plans to stream my runs, just capture and submit them. Maybe I can make a Twitch channel sometime next year though if I start running a wider selection of games. Right now its just Resident Evils and some random SNES games. Lol

Texas, USA

Wow really Furry?! Dang, if I can do this on a laptop then that makes this SO much easier/affordable. I can run Biohazard 2 on a laptop with no issues then? Could you maybe suggest to me the barebones specs I'd need to basically just play BH2 and also capture PS2/Gamecube? From what I've read it's an i-5, like 8gb ram, and either Windows 7 or 8, bc 10 can have issues. But Idk how accurate my findings have been. Like I said, I'm computer illiterate (Idek what GPU means).

Edited by the author 6 years ago
Esperanto

@FurryWulfz can you stream with those specs too?

United Kingdom

Yeah I streamed for like 2 years straight pretty much using those specs, including even some PC games like Silent Hill 2/3, Biohazard 1/2/3. Final Fantasy 8 and a few others.

All the runs I've done baring the HD ones from PS4/PSTV were done using that above laptop. Games capturing itself SD wise and even low-end PC games isn't too hard on mediocre specs. People ramping up their OBS settings to ridiculous degrees is usually what causes the issues. Like 720p/1080p output without a GPU or 60fps.

The general precedent should be. No dedicated GPU (Nvidia as an example) = do not use 720/1080p or 60fps. You can still get away with 720p on an integrated, low-end laptop or PC, but it can cause issues.

Edited by the author 6 years ago
Texas, USA

Wow what great news! Getting a streaming set-up just became SOOO much more feasible for Christmas :) I have no plans to stream HD... I don't even own a current gen system :( lol

Texas, USA

Hey Furry what brand/model is the laptop you used? I've found a couple different models with those specs, I'm just curious what you have.