Streaming can be expensive. Whether you're building a PC, or paying for editing software, the costs add up. Here is a simple guide to streaming on a budget.
Build with Used Parts
Brand-new GPUs and CPUs are costly. If you're building a PC from scratch and can't afford to shell out thousands of dollars, buy used parts.
Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craiglist, and Jawa are all good places to find affordable and like-new components.
Keep in mind what type of streaming quality you want. If audio is more important to you than video, you won't need to devote much money to every part.
Sometimes, buying components a few years out of date is okay. As long as the parts are still functional, manufacturers will release driver updates for a long time.
Before buying parts, check the seller's reviews and history. What are other buyers saying about them? Are parts shipped securely and delivered promptly?
Find out the condition of the parts - how often it was used, and what it was used for. For example, GPUs used for crypto mining might not be a good option.
Environment for used parts is important too; be wary of sellers who smoke. Ask them directly.
Cigarette smoke contains tar and it forms a layer on every PC component it touches. That layer builds up over time and combines with dust.
Upgrade Piece by Piece
You might have an older desktop, but you can't swing upgrading everything at once.
Upgrade things over time. If your desktop is still working fine but the audio stinks, focus on a new microphone or audio interface.
Storage is the cheapest thing you can upgrade; an SSD with more drive space can jolt some extra life out of your machine.
Adding a few extra gigs of RAM can improve performance. Find out the max your motherboard can handle and fill in all the slots.
Cases come in all types of shapes and sizes. Get something that can last for several years and has plenty of airflow.
Graphics cards and CPUs are the most expensive to upgrade, but you don't have to go overboard. Take some time to figure out how intense your streams will be.
If you're just pulling up a web browser, spending $2000 on a high-end GPU-CPU combo might be unnecessary.
The one component you should set money aside for is a fully modular power supply; if you can't power all the parts, all that money spent was a waste!
Use Open-Source Software
There are plenty of open-source software alternatives you can use and not break the bank. Subscription services add up.
GIMP is a solid alternative to Photoshop. It offers similar features like image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more.
For audio editing, consider Audacity. It's an extremely lightweight, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder.
For video editing, add Kdenlive to your arsenal. It offers all of the same tools most competitors have. Blender is great for 3D modeling or animation.
VLC is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files, and various streaming protocols.
And if you don't want to pay for a Windows 10/11 license, install a Linux OS. All of the software mentioned is fully compatible.
Wrapping Up
Check out online marketplaces for quality products. Avoid bitcoin miners and heavy smokers.
Upgrade the parts when time and budget allow. You can space out your purchases by certain pay periods.
Use free and open-source software. The amount of money you spend yearly can go to more upgrades!
PCPartPicker is a great place to spec out future builds. The build tool finds the lowest prices across multiple websites for new parts.
Even if you don't buy them new, use the build tool as a gauge for your exact budget.
