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Although AMD makes a few of the greatest graphics playing cards, they’ve been a lot much less competent than Nvidia GPUs for streaming. Nvidia GPUs have virtually at all times supplied higher encoding efficiency and additional options absent on AMD playing cards. It’s one of many the explanation why I’ve determined to change to Nvidia graphics regardless of being a longtime fan of AMD; I simply don’t wish to hand over streaming expertise.
But all that is likely to be completely different now thanks to 2 key updates to AMD software program: a model new encoder and AMD Noise Suppression, that are rivals to Nvidia NVENC and RTX Voice. I examined out AMD’s new instruments and the outcomes make me assume switching to AMD is a chance now.
Streaming appears to be like simply pretty much as good on AMD
When it involves streaming, it’s essential to have encoder, and in the event you’re streaming video games you’ll most likely wish to use GPU encoding fairly than CPU encoding. Not solely does Nvidia’s NVENC encoder have good high quality, but it surely additionally doesn’t use very a lot knowledge, which is essential for streaming. You need the most effective ratio of visible high quality to knowledge utilization doable, and on this space, Nvidia’s encoder was far forward of AMD’s. But now that the newest model of AMD’s encoder AMF is lastly out, I believe Nvidia has misplaced this benefit.
The above picture is from the opening shot of 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, which I recorded utilizing streaming optimized settings at 6000Kbps. I chosen this particular half as a result of there’s a lot of foliage, which is commonly troublesome to seize with good high quality (particularly when there’s little or no knowledge to go round), however as you’ll be able to see the distinction between AMF and NVENC is basically nonexistent. AMF did effectively in the remainder of the benchmark as effectively, and also you wouldn’t have the ability to inform the distinction if the 2 recordings weren’t labeled.
It’s particularly necessary that AMF was in a position to obtain this utilizing the identical bitrate that NVENC was utilizing. It could be fairly pointless if AMF appeared good however wanted a considerably larger bitrate to compensate. Twitch, arguably the preferred sport streaming platform, solely permits as much as 6000Kbps, which is a really small quantity of knowledge to work with. With respect to recording, every video was solely about 3 minutes lengthy and every was about 100MB, which is actually good for individuals who add unedited stream VODs to YouTube for archival functions.
That being stated, solely AMD GPUs based mostly on the RDNA2 structure (which incorporates RX 6000 collection GPUs) can take full benefit of the AMF encoder as a result of older GPUs don’t have assist for B-Frames, which assist to extend picture high quality. This is a limitation of the {hardware}, not the software program, so your RX 5700 XT won’t ever be fairly pretty much as good as an RX 6950 XT for streaming.
What AMD actually must give attention to sooner or later is updating its encoder simply as usually as Nvidia. The latest model of AMF was executed and simply sitting as open supply software program till Open Broadcast Software contributors lastly added it to the app, and now we now have to attend for all of the streaming providers to replace so you should utilize the brand new encoder. I’d prefer to see AMD assume as energetic of a task as Nvidia has on this space, not simply in relation to making updates but in addition distributing these updates.
AMD Noise Suppression is sweet however has poor assist
Audio high quality is a crucial (and typically uncared for) a part of streaming, and right here too Nvidia held the sting because of its RTX Voice software program, which is mainly an AI-enhanced noise gate. AMD is catching up on this space with its new Noise Suppression software, which is meant to do the very same factor as RTX Voice.
Given that AMD GPUs haven’t any AI acceleration options like Nvidia GPUs, I used to be skeptical that Noise Suppression could be any good. Much to my shock, the outcomes have been fairly good: my gaming keyboard was almost inaudible, even whereas I used to be speaking, and the standard of my voice wasn’t decreased. If I switched to AMD Noise Suppression, I don’t assume anybody that watches my streams would have the ability to inform the distinction.
But did AMD GPUs even want this characteristic? Why not simply set a noise gate in OBS? Well, the issue with noise gates is that they’ll solely work based mostly on quantity, and background noise can get fairly loud, particularly the clicky noises from gaming keyboards. RTX Voice is a vital a part of my streaming setup as a result of it may well intelligently separate my voice and my keyboard. Now that AMD GPUs have the identical precise performance, I can truly think about streaming on AMD {hardware}, like my ROG Zephyrus G14.
I additionally like that AMD’s Noise Suppression is constructed into the Radeon driver suite, whereas RTX Voice is simply usable by putting in Nvidia Broadcast. Not solely is AMD’s resolution extra easy, but it surely’s additionally extra dependable. I can’t inform you what number of occasions I began my stream simply to appreciate my mic audio wasn’t coming by as a result of Nvidia Broadcast was closed for some purpose. Nvidia may be taught a lot from AMD in relation to driver suites, not only for this particular characteristic however normally.
But I do have fairly a little bit of criticism for AMD right here in relation to assist. Not solely does Noise Suppression require an RX 6000 GPU, but it surely additionally requires a Ryzen 5000 CPU or newer. The CPU requirement particularly is irritating and virtually actually arbitrary. Not solely does it lock out customers operating older variations of Ryzen (most of that are nonetheless quick sufficient in 2022), but it surely additionally excludes everybody that makes use of an Intel CPU. It’s unimaginable to justify this requirement when a few of the greatest CPUs obtainable as we speak are made by Intel.
Finally caught up in key areas, for now
Having lastly bridged the hole in video and audio high quality options, AMD GPUs are lastly as succesful as Nvidia GPUs for streaming in crucial areas. While the extent of assist AMD presents leaves a lot to be desired, with present era AMD {hardware} you’ll be able to stream video games with the identical sort of high quality you’d see from an Nvidia-powered PC. There are another options that Nvidia presents, akin to a digital inexperienced display for webcam customers, however AMD doesn’t actually need to supply the identical characteristic when third-party software program can do the identical factor.
AMD’s focus proper now ought to be making certain it by no means falls this far behind ever once more. AMF was worse than NVENC for a number of years, and RTX Voice has been round since 2020. Technology is at all times a transferring goal, and it’s laborious to see Nvidia resting on its laurels any time quickly. In order to compete with Nvidia, AMD can’t simply depend on open supply software program and hoping somebody makes one thing. AMD wants to try this itself.
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