You upgraded to 1080p streaming, but your stream looks worse than when you were at 720p. What gives? The answer is simple math: you don't have enough bits to fill all those extra pixels.
🚀 Quick Fix: The BPP Rule
Your stream is blurry because your bitrate is too low for your resolution. The Fix: Lower your resolution to 720p 60fps or switch to 1080p 30fps. This doubles the data per pixel, instantly sharpening the image.
🔍 Check Your Settings
Find out instantly if your bitrate is too low for your resolution.
Open Quality Checker →The Problem: More Pixels, Same Bitrate
Here's the math that explains everything:
- 720p = 1280 × 720 = 921,600 pixels
- 1080p = 1920 × 1080 = 2,073,600 pixels
That's 2.25× more pixels. If you keep the same bitrate, each pixel gets 2.25× less data. The result? Blur, artifacts, and blocky mess during fast motion.
The "Bits Per Pixel" Rule
To measure stream quality, pros use a metric called Bits Per Pixel (BPP):
BPP = Bitrate / (Width × Height × FPS)
The "golden rule" is to aim for 0.1 BPP for good quality streaming.
What Does 0.1 BPP Mean in Real Bitrates?
| Resolution | FPS | Bitrate for 0.1 BPP |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 30 | 2,765 Kbps |
| 720p | 60 | 5,530 Kbps |
| 1080p | 30 | 6,220 Kbps |
| 1080p | 60 | 12,442 Kbps |
⚠️ The Twitch Problem
Twitch only allows 6000 Kbps max. At 1080p 60fps, that's only 0.048 BPP - well below the 0.1 target. This is why many pro streamers use 720p 60fps or 1080p 30fps on Twitch.
🧮 Check Your BPP Score
Enter your settings and see if they'll produce a blurry stream.
Use Quality Checker →How to Fix a Blurry Stream
Option 1: Increase Bitrate
If your platform and internet allow, simply raise your bitrate. For 1080p 60fps, aim for 8000-12000 Kbps if possible.
Option 2: Lower Resolution
Drop from 1080p to 720p. At the same bitrate, your BPP doubles, and the stream looks significantly sharper. Many viewers won't notice the resolution difference.
Option 3: Lower Frame Rate
Switch from 60fps to 30fps. This immediately doubles your BPP. Unless you're playing fast-paced shooters, 30fps looks perfectly fine.
Option 4: Use a Better Encoder
NVENC and x264 "slow" preset can extract more quality from the same bitrate. If you have GPU headroom, try NVENC Quality preset instead of Performance.
Quick Decision Guide
- Twitch: Use 720p 60fps or 1080p 30fps at 6000 Kbps
- YouTube: Use 1080p 60fps at 9000-12000 Kbps
- Facebook: Use 1080p 30fps at 4000-6000 Kbps
Summary
Blurry streams come from having too many pixels for your bitrate. Either increase bitrate, decrease resolution, or lower frame rate. Use our Quality Checker to find the right balance for your setup.
Ready to Fix Your Stream Quality?
Check your Bits Per Pixel score and get recommendations.
Open Quality Checker →