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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Sometimes, but not reliably enough to assume your electricity bill will fall. Hardware encoding can reduce CPU workload compared with x264 software encoding, yet it does not guarantee lower whole-computer power draw. OBS still renders scenes, and the GPU, frame rate, resolution, and other running programs all affect energy use. The only sound way to estimate your own cost is to measure your complete setup during the stream workload you actually use.
What hardware encoding changes—and what it doesn’t
OBS can encode video using CPU-based software encoding such as x264 or a hardware encoder such as NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV), or Apple VideoToolbox. Hardware encoding moves compression work from the CPU to a supported media component. OBS generally recommends hardware encoders for performance because they take work off the CPU and use a specialized component; that is not the same as a promise that the whole computer will draw less electricity. OBS’s hardware encoding guidance also notes that earlier generations of hardware encoders may produce lower image quality than x264 at the same bitrate.
In particular, less CPU use does not translate directly into an equal percentage reduction in wall power. A CPU may change its power state, the GPU may use more energy, and OBS must still composite and render scenes. Scene complexity, sources, filters, resolution, frame rate, and other GPU workloads affect the available capacity. See OBS’s encoding performance troubleshooting guidance and its system requirements, which note that requirements vary with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity.
What the available OBS power test found
A 2015 study by Simon Fraser University researchers measured OBS streaming and recording of a 1080p game benchmark using x264 and NVENC at 30 and 60 frames per second, with a 3,500 kb/s constant bitrate and a two-second keyframe interval. Its results show why encoder choice and workload matter, but they are not a current benchmark for modern hardware or a forecast for an all-night stream.
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| Test condition reported in the 2015 study | Finding | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| 30 FPS, x264 | OBS x264 used nearly 37% CPU; the configuration raised system power by about 100 W over baseline. | These are findings for the study’s particular equipment and game workload, not typical or universal values. |
| 30 FPS, NVENC | Energy consumption was reported as nearly identical to baseline. | The study gives a qualitative finding here, not a general percentage saving. |
| 60 FPS, NVENC | Encoding increased energy consumption by almost 16%. | Even hardware encoding increased energy in this test condition. |
The study measured average energy consumption and processor use in its test runs. The 30 FPS and 60 FPS results differ, so they cannot support a claim that hardware encoding always saves a fixed share of power—or that one encoder will lower every 24/7 streamer’s bill. NVIDIA describes NVENC as a fixed-function encoder independent of NVIDIA graphics/CUDA cores in its Video Codec SDK documentation; that component-level design description is not a measurement of total system power.
How to measure your own 24/7 streaming cost
For an individual cost estimate, measure cumulative electricity use for the complete computer and attached equipment at the wall. A plug-in electricity monitor that reports cumulative kilowatt-hours (kWh) can do this. The result is whole-system energy, not energy isolated to the encoder.
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- Keep the stream workload consistent. Use the same OBS scenes and sources, resolution, frame rate, stream content, and background programs in each test.
- Measure one encoder at a time. Run equal-duration trials and change only the encoder where possible. Record the monitor’s cumulative kWh at the beginning and end of each run.
- Compare the measured energy. Subtract the start reading from the end reading for each trial. Compare those kWh totals, noting any workload or run-time differences that could affect the result.
- Apply your electricity rate. Multiply the measured kWh difference by the rate that applies to you to estimate the cost difference. Your tariff and the measured difference are specific to your location and setup.
A shorter trial can help compare matched encoder settings, but it may not reflect every condition of continuous operation. If the stream uses different scenes, GPU work, or background tasks overnight, include those conditions in a separate representative measurement rather than treating an idle or simplified test as your 24/7 cost.
How to choose an encoder without assuming it saves power
- Check compatibility first. Encoder availability depends on the media hardware, operating system, OBS build, and drivers. OBS lists NVENC, AMF, and QSV on Windows and Linux; Apple VideoToolbox behavior differs between Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Check OBS’s hardware encoding guidance for the applicable platform and encoder.
- Consider image quality at your target bitrate. OBS warns that earlier hardware encoder generations may deliver lower quality than x264 at the same bitrate.
- Consider the complete OBS workload. Encoding is only one part of streaming: OBS also composites and renders scenes, while resolution, frame rate, filters, sources, and competing GPU tasks influence performance.
- Measure wall energy if cost is the goal. CPU utilization and the encoder’s architecture do not tell you the whole computer’s electricity use.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the purpose of your 24/7 stream is to keep a YouTube channel live, another option is to avoid running OBS on your home computer. StreamNeo is a cloud service for uploaded videos and playlists: upload your video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It does not stream from a camera and streams to YouTube only.
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StreamNeo runs the stream in the cloud, so nothing has to stay powered on at home for the stream to continue. Any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps streams as made at one flat price per slot, with no re-encoding or quality tiers; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. A cloud service has its own price, so compare it with the electricity and equipment costs you actually measure rather than assuming either option is cheaper for everyone.
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