Can I stream on a laptop?

Yes. Any laptop with an NVIDIA RTX 4050 or better can stream at 1080p60 using NVENC hardware encoding with minimal performance impact. You'll want 16 GB RAM minimum and an external webcam for best quality.

Do I need two PCs to stream?

No. Modern NVENC encoding is so efficient that a single laptop with an RTX 4050+ handles gaming and streaming simultaneously. Dual-PC setups are only needed for absolute maximum quality at 4K or for professional esports broadcasts.

Best Laptops for Streaming 2026