Though AMD makes a few of the best graphics cards, they’ve been a lot much less competent than Nvidia GPUs for streaming. Nvidia GPUs have nearly all the time supplied higher encoding efficiency and additional options absent on AMD playing cards. It’s one of many the explanation why I’ve decided to switch to Nvidia graphics regardless of being a longtime fan of AMD; I simply don’t wish to quit an excellent streaming expertise.
However all that could be completely different now thanks to 2 key updates to AMD software program: a model new encoder and AMD Noise Suppression, that are opponents to Nvidia NVENC and RTX Voice. I examined out AMD’s new instruments and the outcomes make me suppose switching to AMD is a risk now.
Streaming appears simply pretty much as good on AMD
With regards to streaming, it’s essential to have an excellent encoder, and if you happen to’re streaming video games you’ll in all probability wish to use GPU encoding reasonably than CPU encoding. Not solely does Nvidia’s NVENC encoder have good high quality, however it additionally doesn’t use very a lot knowledge, which is essential for streaming. You need the very best ratio of visible high quality to knowledge utilization doable, and on this space, Nvidia’s encoder was far forward of AMD’s. However now that the most recent model of AMD’s encoder AMF is lastly out, I feel 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 numerous 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 may see the distinction between AMF and NVENC is basically nonexistent. AMF did properly in the remainder of the benchmark as properly, and also you wouldn’t be capable of inform the distinction if the 2 recordings weren’t labeled.
It’s particularly vital that AMF was in a position to obtain this utilizing the identical bitrate that NVENC was utilizing. It could be fairly pointless if AMF seemed good however wanted a considerably greater bitrate to compensate. Twitch, arguably the most well-liked 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 basically good for individuals who add unedited stream VODs to YouTube for archival functions.
That being stated, solely AMD GPUs primarily based on the RDNA2 structure (which incorporates RX 6000 sequence GPUs) can take full benefit of the AMF encoder as a result of older GPUs don’t have help for B-Frames, which assist to extend picture high quality. It 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 deal with sooner or later is updating its encoder simply as typically as Nvidia. The latest model of AMF was accomplished and simply sitting as open supply software program till Open Broadcast Software contributors lastly added it to the app, and now we’ve to attend for all of the streaming providers to replace so you should use the brand new encoder. I’d wish to see AMD assume as lively of a task as Nvidia has on this space, not simply relating to making updates but additionally distributing these updates.
AMD Noise Suppression is sweet however has poor help
Audio high quality is a vital (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 device, which is meant to do the very same factor as RTX Voice.
On condition that AMD GPUs haven’t any AI acceleration options like Nvidia GPUs, I used to be skeptical that Noise Suppression could be any good. A lot to my shock, the outcomes had been fairly good: my gaming keyboard was practically inaudible, even whereas I used to be speaking, and the standard of my voice wasn’t diminished. If I switched to AMD Noise Suppression, I don’t suppose anybody that watches my streams would be capable of inform the distinction.
However did AMD GPUs even want this characteristic? Why not simply set a noise gate in OBS? Effectively, the issue with noise gates is that they will solely work primarily based on quantity, and background noise can get fairly loud, particularly the clicky noises from gaming keyboards. RTX Voice is a crucial a part of my streaming setup as a result of it will possibly intelligently separate my voice and my keyboard. Now that AMD GPUs have the identical actual performance, I can truly contemplate 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, however it’s additionally extra dependable. I can’t let you know what number of instances I began my stream simply to comprehend my mic audio wasn’t coming by way of as a result of Nvidia Broadcast was closed for some cause. Nvidia may be taught a lot from AMD relating to driver suites, not only for this particular characteristic however usually.
However I do have fairly a little bit of criticism for AMD right here relating to help. Not solely does Noise Suppression require an RX 6000 GPU, however it additionally requires a Ryzen 5000 CPU or newer. The CPU requirement particularly is irritating and nearly definitely arbitrary. Not solely does it lock out customers working older variations of Ryzen (most of that are nonetheless quick sufficient in 2022), however it additionally excludes everybody that makes use of an Intel CPU. It’s unimaginable to justify this requirement when some of the best CPUs available today are made by Intel.
Lastly 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. Whereas the extent of help AMD presents leaves a lot to be desired, with present technology AMD {hardware} you may stream video games with the identical form of high quality you’d see from an Nvidia-powered PC. There are another options that Nvidia presents, reminiscent of a digital inexperienced display screen 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 must 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. Know-how is all the time a shifting goal, and it’s onerous to see Nvidia resting on its laurels any time quickly. In an effort 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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