Created with the help of industry experts such as the fine folks at XSplit, the new systems are selected to maximise performance in key areas without charging the world.
Created with the help of industry experts such as the fine folks at XSplit, the new systems are selected to maximise performance in key areas without charging the world.
As July comes to an end, and students and young professionals start planning a glut of summer gaming, Overclockers UK are introducing a new set of systems which could have the next budding Pewdiepie sit up and take notice. Dubbed StreamR, the range aims help you set up streaming your gameplay over the internet or recording it to upload to Youtube, so slowly but surely you can plan your media empire from the grass roots. Or you could just have a tonne of fun gaming, broadcasting to friends and whomever else may happen upon your content.
Overclockers’ StreamR systems have been designed to be hassle-free with the major live streaming platforms including Twitch and Hitbox, and are listed alongside key hardware and software options which will improve the overall quality of your audiences viewing experience. Rather than put in the leg work of hunting for parts, you can instead concentrate on budget considerations and uncovering exactly what sort of stream quality and performance you’re in need of (and notably that your internet connection can handle). Overclockers StreamR systems are powered by NVIDIA, Intel and HyperX, and come in three distinct flavours:
StreamR Elite
Elite members of the StreamR range are tailored to high-end streaming performance at 1080p60fps. They’re built around an Intel Core i7 5820K CPU, MSI X99S GAMING 9 motherboard and high-end NVIDIA graphics, whilst also being configurable within that envelope to better match your own needs. This motherboard in particular is an intriguing choice – it features an on-board Avermedia capture encoder, reducing the load placed on GPU or CPU within a typical streaming system. As a result the FPS you play at will be higher, and at the very least periods where you drop below V-Sync should be reduced (resulting in a smoother stream).
All StreamR Elite systems also come with a free 12-month license for XSplit broadcasting software, the premium choice for independent and professional streamers.
StreamR Pro
StreamR Pro systems are for those on a more modest budget but with solid expectations for their own system. Each is tailored to providing a 720p30fps stream on your platform of choice, starting from a price of around £699, but unlike many systems you tend to see at that price it includes an NVIDIA GTX 960 GPU, Intel i5 4690 CPU, solid state drive and storage drive. In fact, the all-round specifications make the base configuration quite a tempting proposition indeed if you’re not one to build your own, and that’s without delving into the plethora of configuration options.
StreamR Pro systems also come with 3 months of XSplit, putting you well on the way to broadcasting greatness. Overall, the system seems pretty good, especially for those with limited internet upload rates that wouldn’t be able to support 1080p60 in any reasonably quality.
StreamR Console
Those who intend to play most of their games on console can opt for a much more streamlined experience in the form of an Intel NUC mini-PC-based StreamR system. Small but powerful, the system features an i5-5250U processor, 120GB M.2 SSD and 8GB of HyperX DDR3 SODIMM memory; however it will also require an additional USB capture box such as the Avermedia Liver Gamer. At £469 for the base model and another £100 for capture hardware, it may be an option if you do most of your gaming off-PC and don’t have suitable surplus hardware lying around.
Additional Hardware and Software
In common with the majority of Overclockers UK pre-built systems, StreamR hardware doesn’t include OS in the base specification. That may be academic to you, especially if you’re replacing an old rig but intend to hold on to its Windows license and upgrade to Win 10, but needs to be something that’s factored into your calculations.
As part of the service Overclockers also highlight high-quality complementary hardware and software options for streaming. A good example would be webcams, but the best has to be a choice of audio hardware – viewers will often forgive muddy facecam quality but instantly turn off poor audio setups. That’s going to add more to your final cost, but again it’s crucial to bear in mind and not a service typically provided by the competition.
Overclockers dipping into streaming as a means of marketing is an interesting direction to go in to. They’re also preparing a streamer affiliate program to provide yet more value to the range (and to potential users of their products), adding grassroots campaigns to their recent drive into the eSports arena.
For more information on these system visit the landing page at https://www.overclockers.co.uk/LP/streamr.php
