Recommended Computers For Streaming

Introduction

Choosing a laptop is a huge purchase and one that we can directly help with. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Striv Support with questions or for recommendations based on your school's exact goals and needs.

Apple Laptops

For almost all schools, we recommend an Apple MacBook Pro. However, in our testing, while adequate, the entry-level MacBook Pro does struggle to handle all but the most basic Wirecast setups, so we recommend at least the mid-range 13" MacBook Pro.

For more ambitious schools, we recommend the 15" MacBook Pro due to the addition of dedicated graphics, better cooling, and additional RAM.

Windows Laptops

Some schools may choose to use a Windows-based machine. Therefore, we recommend looking for specific hardware specifications for those schools, and we have a few recommended brands.

Hardware Specifications to look for:

The minimum specifications will be able to handle a minimal setup in Wirecast but may have problems handling anything beyond a simple camera feed with the scoreboard. We recommend looking at Dell or Lenovo for a minimum laptop.

The recommended will be able to handle most complex Wirecast setups such as playing media files, transitions, overlaying images, and video over a camera feed. However, the recommended computer will fall short of comfortably handling multiple camera feeds. Therefore, we recommend looking at Dell or Lenovo for a recommended laptop.

The ambitious computer, after some configuration, will be able to handle multiple cameras feeds. The biggest concern is keeping the laptop cool, but a computer with the ambitious specifications will make quick work of almost everything Wirecast can throw at it. We recommend looking at either Lenovo or Razer for an ambitious laptop.

Desktop Computers

We only recommend desktop computers for the most devoted schools. This is because laptops are much quicker to set up and easier to transport. However, there are some reasons schools may consider using a desktop computer.

1. Multiple Camera setups are easier to achieve
2. If setup/teardown is not a factor
3. More screen real-estate is available to create elaborate streams

For schools wanting to use a desktop computer, we ask that you contact Striv Support to discuss the options available and your school's individual goals and needs.