Setting up OBS correctly makes the difference between a professional stream and a laggy, pixelated mess. This guide covers every setting you need for the best quality stream.
🚀 Best Settings Summary (2026)
- Encoder: NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (or AV1 if available)
- Rate Control: CBR
- Bitrate: 6000 Kbps (Twitch) / 10000 Kbps (YouTube)
- Keyframe Interval: 2 Seconds
- Preset: P6: Slower (Good Quality)
⚡ Generate Your Settings
Answer a few questions and get personalized OBS settings.
Open Settings Generator →Quick Start: Recommended Settings
For 1080p 60fps (Gaming)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Output Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Frame Rate | 60 FPS |
| Encoder | NVENC (NVIDIA) or x264 |
| Bitrate | 6000 Kbps (Twitch) / 9000 Kbps (YouTube) |
| Keyframe Interval | 2 seconds |
| Preset | Quality (NVENC) / veryfast (x264) |
For 720p 60fps (Lower-End PC)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Output Resolution | 1280×720 |
| Frame Rate | 60 FPS |
| Encoder | NVENC or x264 |
| Bitrate | 4500-6000 Kbps |
| Keyframe Interval | 2 seconds |
Output Settings Deep Dive
Encoder: NVENC vs x264
- NVENC (NVIDIA) - Uses GPU, minimal performance impact. Best for most streamers.
- AMD VCE/AMF - AMD's equivalent. Quality has improved significantly.
- x264 - Uses CPU, better quality at same bitrate, but impacts game performance.
💡 Which to Choose?
If you have an NVIDIA GPU (GTX 1650+), use NVENC. It's fast and looks great. Only use x264 if you have a powerful CPU (8+ cores) and a weak GPU.
New for 2026: AV1 & Enhanced Broadcasting
AV1 Codec: The new gold standard. It offers 40% better quality than H.264 at the same bitrate. Supported by YouTube and Twitch (in beta).
- Pros: Incredible quality, no blockiness.
- Cons: Requires RTX 40-series or RX 7000-series GPU.
Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting: This new feature lets your GPU handle multiple encodes (1080p, 720p, etc.) locally, guaranteeing quality options for your viewers without needing Partner status.
Rate Control: CBR vs VBR
- CBR (Constant Bitrate) - Best for streaming. Consistent quality.
- VBR (Variable Bitrate) - Best for recording. Smaller files.
Keyframe Interval
Set to 2 seconds for all platforms. This is required by Twitch and YouTube.
Video Settings
- Base Resolution - Your monitor resolution (e.g., 1920×1080)
- Output Resolution - Stream resolution (often same as base)
- Downscale Filter - Lanczos (best quality) or Bicubic (faster)
- FPS - 60 for gaming, 30 for Just Chatting
🎯 Not Sure What Settings to Use?
Our generator creates a custom config based on your PC specs.
Generate My Settings →Audio Settings
- Sample Rate - 48 kHz (default)
- Channels - Stereo
- Audio Bitrate - 160 Kbps (good balance)
Advanced: Scene Collection Tips
- Starting Soon - Countdown timer with music
- Gameplay - Game capture + webcam + alerts
- Just Chatting - Webcam fullscreen + chat overlay
- Be Right Back - BRB screen with music
- Ending - Thank you screen with follower goal
FAQ
Why is my stream laggy?
Usually encoder overload or internet issues. Lower bitrate, use NVENC instead of x264, or lower resolution to 720p.
What causes "Encoding overloaded" error?
Your CPU/GPU can't keep up. Switch to NVENC, lower x264 preset to "superfast", or reduce output resolution.
Should I stream at 1080p or 720p?
For Twitch (6000 Kbps max), 720p 60fps often looks sharper than 1080p 60fps. For YouTube, 1080p 60fps works great.
Get Your Personalized OBS Settings
Answer a few questions and we'll generate the perfect config for you.
Open Settings Generator →