You can leave the base (canvas) resolution as 1920x 1080 since, in most cases, that is the standard size of the content you are streaming. To adjust your resolution, select “Video” from the side panel in the setting window. For example, streaming at 1080p vs 720p will double the number of pixels, meaning your computer will be using more resources. The output of your video resolution can have a significant impact on the quality of your live stream and the performance of Streamlabs Desktop. To ensure your CPU isn’t being overworked, you can adjust a few settings to optimize for performance and quality. In most cases, the software encoder (x264) will be able to handle the encoding process, as long as your CPU isn’t being overly taxed in other areas. If you have a particularly powerful GPU or a dedicated streaming PC, consider using a hardware encoder. However, the advantage is a decreased load on your CPU. In general, the output quality of a given bitrate for GPU-based encoders won’t be as high as software encoders.

Picking the encoder that works best for you depends on a few factors. The software encoder (x264) will use your CPU to encode video, while hardware encoders like NVENC will offload the encoding process to your GPU.

When it comes to encoders, there are two types: software (x264) and hardware (NVENC).

How to set up stream labs