Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Neither OBS nor FFmpeg is inherently the lower-electricity choice for looping videos on a 24/7 YouTube PC. The result depends on the whole computer and the configuration—especially the encoder, resolution, frame rate, and processing—so the fair answer comes from measuring both setups on your own hardware. Compare cumulative energy at the wall under matched conditions; CPU or GPU utilization alone cannot tell you which uses less.
Why the software name does not determine electricity use
OBS renders scenes as well as encoding
OBS can composite and render scenes on the GPU in addition to encoding the video. A simple scene containing one media source is not the same workload as one with animated overlays, filters, browser sources, or other graphics. Competing GPU work can also affect performance. OBS notes that CPU requirements vary with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity, and that meeting basic system requirements does not guarantee a particular system can stream or record reliably. OBS system requirements and OBS encoding performance troubleshooting describe these dependencies.
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FFmpeg can use different encoding paths
FFmpeg is configurable, including options for hardware encoding and hardware acceleration. OBS also supports hardware encoding, which moves encoding work from the CPU to a specialized component in a GPU when compatible hardware and drivers are available. OBS recommends hardware encoders for performance reasons, but that does not establish that they always reduce total wall energy on every computer. Hardware generation, encoder quality, compatibility, and settings all matter. See the OBS hardware encoding guide and FFmpeg documentation.
Therefore, comparing OBS with hardware encoding to FFmpeg with software encoding does not isolate the application: it compares two different configurations. Record the encoder and processing choices for each run, and compare equivalent encoding goals.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
How to measure a fair OBS-versus-FFmpeg result
- Use the same computer and stream workload. Keep the PC, power supply, operating-system power profile, source video and audio, output resolution, frame rate, bitrate, YouTube destination, and network conditions the same. YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends CBR and RTMPS; use the same output mode and destination where possible, and note any differences. Check YouTube’s current live encoder settings guidance.
- Define what the meter includes. Measure the PC alone or the PC plus its display and other equipment, and use the same scope in both runs. If the monitor is not needed for unattended streaming, turn it off for both tests. The U.S. Department of Energy advises turning off monitors when a networked computer must remain on; see its computer energy-efficiency guidance.
- Use a plug-in energy monitor with cumulative logging. Check that its electrical rating and outlet type suit your equipment, and confirm it records energy over time. It measures consumption; it does not reduce it. For fluctuating loads, the Department of Energy says to measure energy over an interval and divide by the measurement period to determine average power. Its standby-power measurement guidance provides instrument accuracy and resolution requirements for that procedure, but those requirements are not an OBS-versus-FFmpeg benchmark or a guarantee that a consumer meter meets them.
- Match or document the encoding configuration. Set equivalent output resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and stream destination. Record each application’s encoder, preset, hardware-acceleration setting, filters, and scene complexity. If one run uses a different encoder path or extra processing, report that difference rather than attributing the result to OBS or FFmpeg alone.
- Let the run settle, then measure equal intervals. Allow startup and other transient activity to pass before recording cumulative energy for equal, sufficiently long periods. Keep unrelated updates, downloads, backups, room cooling changes, and background workloads out of the comparison where practical. Repeat runs if you can, alternate which application runs first, and report interruptions or failed stream periods rather than silently excluding them.
- Calculate and report the result. Divide measured kilowatt-hours (kWh) by elapsed hours, then multiply by 1,000 to get average watts:
average watts = kWh ÷ hours × 1,000. For a 24/7 estimate, calculate annual energy as average kilowatts × 8,760 hours. Label this as an extrapolation from the measured interval, not a year-long measurement. Report kWh as well as average watts, plus meter, interval, PC specifications, software versions, settings, and any relevant uncertainty.
What the measurement figures can—and cannot—tell you
The Department of Energy’s standby-power procedure specifies that for standby measurements above 0.5 W, instrument uncertainty should be less than 2% at 95% confidence. It also specifies resolution of 0.01 W or less below 10 W, and 0.1 W or less above 10 W up to 100 W. These are requirements in a standby measurement procedure, not comparative streaming results and not a claim that any particular consumer plug meter satisfies them. A live PC workload is not the same as a standby-power test.
The cited official documentation does not provide an apples-to-apples electricity benchmark for OBS versus FFmpeg running the same looping video on the same PC with the same encoder and YouTube settings. There is consequently no supported universal wattage, percentage saving, or bill difference to quote. Your measured result applies to your hardware and tested configuration.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 16GB with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (16GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
Keep a YouTube stream running without leaving a home PC on
If your aim is a YouTube channel that loops uploaded videos continuously, a PC-based setup is only one approach. StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud handles the loop, so your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. StreamNeo streams to YouTube, not to other platforms. Learn more at StreamNeo.
Its per-slot price is flat across supported quality; uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, without re-encoding or quality tiers. Each slot includes 10 GB storage, pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and StreamNeo team support. Plans differ by duration, with the same product on every plan:
Rank #3
- CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Essentials Starter Kit
- Daily $0.99 per day
- Weekly $2.99 per week
- Monthly $9.99 per month
- 6 months $49.99 for 6 months
- Yearly $89.99 a year
There is one free day per account with no card required; billing is available for a day, a week, a month, six months, or a year, and you can cancel any time. UPI and cards are accepted in India; card checkout is available worldwide. For five or more slots, contact support. The upload-time calculator, cloud-versus-PC cost calculator, and copyright safety checklist are free tools.
Or let it run in the cloud
Upload your video or playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing needs to stay on at home; streams play at their uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and the service automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【What you Get】You will get 1*Pi 5 8GB Single Board,1*RasTech Case,1*Active Cooler,1*Screwdriver,1*Installation instructions,12-month free warranty, lifetime service, 24-hour prompt and friendly response.
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- 【 Support Dual 4Kp60 Display 】Each of the two microHDMI sockets can control a 4K display at 60 Hertz, now support HDR, offering super HD video for media streaming projects. RPi 5 is the first RPi model that comes with a PCI Express port (PCIe 2.0 x1 with 500 MB/s) to attach SSDs (requires separate M.2 HAT).
- 【 Excellent Chips And Applications】Pi 5 is a full-size Pi computer using silicon built in-house at Pi. The RP1 “southbridge” provides the bulk of the I/O capabilities for Pi 5. Pi 5 is more friendly and convenient in the development of Internet of Things, Web development, machine identification, automatic control and other electronic equipment applications and network.
- 【 Faster CPU, Better GPU 】 Pi 5 features a Broadcom BCM2712 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, it delivers a 2–3× increase in CPU performance relative to RaspberryPi 4. The 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU is compatible to OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, substantial uplift in graphics performance. Pi 5 Offers lightning-fast CPU speed, a PCI Express interface, a Real Time Clock (RTC) and a power button and runs significantly cooler than Pi 4.
Rank #4
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