7 Best Laptops for Streaming on Twitch in 2023

Since you’re here, your current laptop probably isn’t made for Twitch, or this will be your first streaming device. In either case, you’ll want to ensure that the new laptop you pick will meet all system requirements for a smooth streaming experience. 

While it’s not too hard to find a laptop that meets the platform’s system requirements, finding the right one that fits your budget, specific needs, and preferences might be. For example, someone who is looking for a decent laptop for Roblox doesn’t necessarily need to splash the cash on a top gaming machine. 

That’s why we put together this article to serve as a comprehensive guide into the world of streaming laptops. Besides discussing the main things you need to consider before finally making your pick, we’ll showcase some of the best laptops for streaming on Twitch.

Excited? Let’s begin.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

The basic system requirements for Twitch on the official page may differ from those listed in our table below. That’s because streaming includes running other applications that may put an additional burden on the laptop’s hardware. This is especially important if you’re trying to stream demanding video games. 

On that note, considering the minimum requirements from our specs table is a good starting point if you are looking for a good streaming laptop for Minecraft or a capable machine for League of Legends. On the other hand, a device featuring our recommended specs will make a great WoW laptop for embarking on the latest and greatest Dragonflight adventure.

Keep in mind that these are general requirements and are subject to change based on your stream quality settings, selected encoder, and the game you are trying to stream.

Top 7 Laptops for Streaming on Twitch

Let’s now count down our top 7 picks for Twitch streaming! We’ll start our list with the best of top and the entry-level models towards the bottom on this page.

1. Powerful Beast from MSI: MSI Titan

MSI Titan

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i9-13980HX
• RAM: 64GB DDR5
• Storage: 2TB SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch UHD (‎3840 x 2160)
• GPU: 12GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$3,579.68

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If you want one of the best gaming beasts on the market today, look no further than MSI Titan. Top-notch specs, awesome display, and practical I/O make Titan a great laptop for streaming on Twitch.

To start with, Titan packs the latest-and-greatest of the specs today: a 13th Gen. i9 HX processor and an RTX 4080. Not only are these awesome for Twitch, but they will run any AAA title without a sweat.

Plus, with a whopping 64GB of fast DDR5 RAM, you just know that there will be no lags or stutter while you’re streaming.

MSI Titan’s display measures 17.3”. It’s a gorgeous UHD panel with mini LED and high refresh rate, and the whole thing looks and feels amazing. Whether it’s eSports, Witcher, or Cyberpunk 2077, the visuals are great.

And I love the design. The chassis feels sleek, polished, with a fancy RGB-backlit mesh in the back.

Like all the great gaming laptops, MSI Titan isn’t the best in terms of portability. This behemoth weighs 7.3 lbs, so if you thought about carrying it to office or college every day — think again.

And let’s face it, this is one of the pricier laptops, just like most MSI laptops.

But for the price, you get amazing specs that will fly as you stream and share your passion for gaming. All things considered, Titan is a ridiculously good laptop for streaming on Twitch.

2. Top Premium 17″ Laptop: Alienware M17

Alienware M17

• CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
• RAM: 64GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 12GB AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT
• Battery: Up to 6 hours

$2,099.00

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Maybe you like Dell’s little extraterrestrials, and who could blame you? Alienware M17 is a great, powerful, elegant laptop for streaming that will pay lots of dividends.

Alienware runs on one of the latest Ryzen 9 processors and a powerful Radeon RX GPU. Coupled with the same 64GB DDR5 RAM like in MSI Titan, Alienware M17 performs well with AAA titles and works wonderfully with Twitch.

Add to that a 17.3” display with a crazy-high 360Hz refresh rate, and you’ve got a mean playa. The display is awesome for first-person shooters and especially car chases and eSports. Just sit back and enjoy.

I also like the somewhat understated, yet really elegant gamer look Alienware is sporting. Oh, the whole gang is there: the hive mesh, thin profile, and the alien head — but the whole thing looks very cool on a darker model.

Unlike some other Alienware models, M17 comes with a solid battery life. I got around 4-5 hours, which beats a lot of its bros with the abysmal 1-2 hours of battery.

The weight is, of course, a different story. It’s not Titan-level, but 6.6 lbs can still be considerable weight if you want to travel with this one.

With a significant price, Alienware remains one of the best gaming laptops for streaming on Twitch. It’s got a crazy good display, powerful specs — and an unforgettable look to match them.

3. Budget Option for Streaming: Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5

• CPU: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-12500H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 6 Hours

$693.00

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So maybe you’re a little strapped for cash but still want to start a streaming channel. If that’s your jam, Acer Nitro 5 is an evergreen and very popular budget gaming laptop — and for a good reason.

Nitro 5 runs on a 12th Gen. i5 processor and an RTX 3050. While you won’t get the ultra-high settings you’d have with MSI Titan and Alienware, Nitro 5 can still handle AAA titles very well and provide good fps.  

Moreover, with a 15.6” display and 144Hz refresh rate, Nitro’s visuals truly come to life in fast-paced games.

I’m a sucker for Nitro’s design. I love the polished chassis that looks more premium than the price range, and also the signature red-backlit keyboard.

Plus, for all you gadgeteers out there, Nitro 5 has a great selection of ports: HDMI, USB-C, three regular USB ports, combined audio jack, and of course the Ethernet.

The main concern with Nitro 5 is the RAM, since the base model comes with only 8GB RAM. This isn’t the best solution if you’re streaming gameplay, so I’d upgrade to 16GB asap.

Overall, if you want a great, capable device that doesn’t cost an arm and leg, Acer Nitro 5 is one laptop for streaming on Twitch that will happily oblige.

Watch our Acer Nitro 5 Review

This YouTube review was created by the Not Just Laptops team. The specs may slightly differ from the laptop in the article.

4. Stunning Display & Great Build Quality: ASUS ROG Strix G16

ASUS ROG Strix G16

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-13650HX
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SDD
• Display: 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: 8GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
• Battery: Up to 8 Hours

$1,247.64

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For all you gamers who appreciate the display and build quality above all, ROG Strix G16 is one streaming laptop to look out for.

With an awesome 16”, fast, and color-accurate display, Strix G16 is definitely a rarity among gaming laptops. It’s a great panel for both gaming and video editing.

The visuals and the gaming run on the latest 13th Gen. i7 and the RTX 4060, which make an awesome combo with 16GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s a powerful combo, for sure — and excellent for AAA titles, editing, and streaming on Twitch. I’d upgrade the RAM to 32GB at some point, to further future-proof it.

ROG Strix is made of both plastic and aluminum — the chassis looks sleek, gamerish, with beautiful RGB lights. To me, it seems like a bigger bro to ASUS ROG Zephyrus: beefier, sturdier and overall more impressive (though I dig Zephyrus too).

And this is one of the longer-lasting gaming laptops: I got around 7-8 hours of juice on a single charge. Well done, ASUS.

Occasionally, the machine does get hot under heavy load, so make sure to get a good cooling pad.

I wouldn’t recommend keeping only 256 gigs of storage as these will fill up fast. Especially with gigantic AAA titles and video files around.

Overall, you get the latest specs, premium display and build quality for a pretty reasonable price. ROG Strix is easily one of the top picks for gaming and streaming.

5. Great Mid-Range Option: ASUS TUF Gaming

ASUS TUF Gaming

• CPU: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-12500H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$849.99

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Not every laptop for streaming needs to be a ROG Zephyrus, and the best proof is another ASUS’ child — TUF Gaming. This machine is powerful, sleek, and affordable.

TUF houses a 12th Gen. i5 and a strong RTX 3050, so you can expect to run most titles at good fps and stream at the same time, since it also comes with 16GB RAM.

I also like the display a lot, because it’s elevated so the gaming feels very immersive and lifelike. This is a 15.6” hi-res display with 144Hz refresh rate, typical for most gaming laptops.

The chassis doesn’t fall behind either. Military-grade body feels and looks polished, clean, with a gorgeous yellow-backlit keyboard.

As for portability, TUF is reasonably lightweight at 4.85 lbs, but battery life could have been better. I got around 4-5 hours, which isn’t too bad — and I definitely wouldn’t discard it — but if you’re on a gaming spree, plug in the charger.

More importantly, you may want to rethink the original 512GB of storage. Depending on the games you play and how much video editing you do, the gigs can drop quickly. Luckily, you can upgrade the SSD.

For this price, ASUS TUF Gaming is a great, capable laptop for streaming on Twitch that will bring you lots of fun and connection to your audience.

6. Value-packed Streaming Laptop: HP Victus

HP Victus

• CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core i5-13420H
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$799.99

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HP isn’t really the first brand that comes to mind when talking about gaming, but their budget machine HP Victus is an excellent laptop for streaming.

Victus brings a powerful 13th Gen. i5 processor to the table, along with the budget veteran RTX 3050, just like in ASUS TUF. A stronger processor means higher fps, so Victus is a few steps ahead of TUF, and definitely stronger.

The laptop carries unmistakable HP design features: compact and spacious keyboard, elegant yet practical look, and the overall sleek appearance.

In terms of I/O, Victus is on par with Nitro 5 and MSI Titan. Two USB-A, a USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader, and AC smart pin are all you can ask for.

I also like the display. Similarly to ASUS TUF, the 15.6” panel is elevated, so you can enjoy gaming and accompanying commentary. This one also comes with a 144Hz refresh rate for all the fans of fast-paced games out there.

That being said, there is some screen wobble which often gets triggered by a bump on the desk.

Furthermore, I can’t say that battery life is stellar. Just like TUF, it hovers around 5 hours of juice.

Overall, though, if you want a powerful processor in your streaming laptop but don’t want to pay exorbitant price, HP Victus is one sleek machine you should consider.

7. Entry-Level Twitch Streaming: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

• CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$658.00

Check on Amazon

If you’re just starting out with your Twitch channel and you need a laptop for streaming to get the ball rolling, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a great pick.

For a very affordable price, IdeaPad Gaming packs a newer Ryzen 5 and the RTX 3050. Coupled with 8GB of fast DDR5 RAM, you can expect this laptop to perform reasonably well with AAA titles and Twitch. If you want the best performance, I’d upgrade the RAM to 16GB.

I also like what Lenovo did with their whole IdeaPad series. The entire lineup is very elegant, great-looking, and just looks high-quality. IdeaPad Gaming 3 is no different, and I especially dig the gorgeously backlit, comfy keyboard.

Additionally, this laptop also comes with a 15.6” FHD display and a 120Hz refresh rate. This is an excellent option for entry-level gaming and streaming, since the high refresh rate will allow you to play first-person shooters like a pro.

In the vein of other gaming laptops, IdeaPad Gaming also struggles with portability. Weighing 5 lbs and with 5 hours of battery life, this device is best used at home, with a charger.

Plus, you may want to upgrade the storage and RAM as soon as you get the chance.These are small things considering the price. For the price tag, Lenovo delivers on what it does best: awesome value for money and right where it matters most for entry-level Twitch celebrities.

Buying Guide for Laptops for Streaming on Twitch

Before we get to our favorite streaming laptops, here are a few factors that might be essential to your buying decision.

1. Get a Capable Multicore Processor 

Having a capable processor with multiple cores is the most vital factor for a seamless streaming experience. 

For optimal performance and better streaming quality, we recommend a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor or an AMD Ryzen equivalent. If those are above your budget, a quad-core Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 should get the job done. 

2. Skimping on RAM Is a Bad Idea

RAM is an essential component for smooth streaming and efficient multitasking. Running modern AAA titles requires a lot of RAM, well above 8GB. If you don’t have enough RAM, adding streaming software, chat boxes, music players, etc. into the mix, will make your system crash and stutter. 

For most users, 16GB RAM is the sweet spot, but pro streamers who aim for the best possible streaming quality should consider getting at least 32GB or higher.

3. Pick a Dedicated Graphics Card 

While streaming with an integrated GPU is possible to some extent, having a dedicated graphics card can massively improve your streaming experience, even if you’re using CPU-based encoders. 

Besides, you probably already know that running demanding games on a dedicated GPU results in higher FPS and smoother overall performance. That being said, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series are currently the best graphics cards money can buy. However, the previous generation RTX 30-series is still a solid bang for the buck.

Moreover, the RTX 30-series are excellent choices if you’re looking for a good GTA V laptop or a CS:GO machine that delivers high FPS. 

4. Consider the Storage 

Pick an SSD (Solid State Drive) over the traditional HDD (hard disk drive). SSDs improve your computer’s overall performance and provide faster data access. 

As for the space, having more can be beneficial if you plan to record some of your streams. A 512GB SSD is a good starting point, and if that’s not enough, you can upgrade or get external storage later. 

5. Choose a High-Quality Display 

While there isn’t a minimum requirement for display size and resolution, in our experience, a laptop display for streaming should be at least 15.6-inch, with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution.

However, if you are looking for a desktop replacement, a 17-inch display size would provide more workspace for all apps you might use as a streamer. Moreover, getting a display with a higher refresh rate (120Hz or more) makes for a smoother and blur-free visual experience while gaming. 

Last but not least, getting an external monitor is a popular choice among streamers. This way, you benefit from faster access to the chatbox, video recorder, and other supporting apps without having to minimize your game screen. 

6. Get a Laptop With Plenty Ports 

Besides everything else we mentioned before, a good streaming laptop should have many ports to be able to connect with all the external peripherals (monitors, mics, cameras, capture cards, etc.) 

But the most important thing for a seamless streaming session is fast and stable internet connectivity. So, look for a laptop with a built-in Ethernet port for a wired network. On the other hand, for users who often need to stream on the go, choosing a laptop that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards is recommended. 

7. Set a Budget 

As you can see, choosing a good streaming laptop takes a long and careful consideration of many factors. That’s why setting a budget helps you narrow down your options and get a clear picture of what is within your reach. 

Luckily, splashing the cash on a mighty and expensive gaming machine is not always a reasonable — or a necessary — approach for every streamer. 

Having this in mind, we made our list of best Twitch laptops for different types of users and budgets ranging from cheap entry-level laptops all the way to premium gaming beasts.

FAQs about Laptops for Streaming on Twitch

Here are some FAQs about streaming laptops.

Verdict

Growing a streaming channel is difficult, but with an unsuitable laptop, it could be damn near impossible. Hopefully, our article helped you better understand what makes a good streaming laptop and what you can expect to get within your budget. 

If you wish to learn more about laptops before finally making your pick, our comprehensive buying guide might be a good idea.

Now let’s do a quick recap of our top picks: 

• If you are looking for the ultimate desktop replacement without a budget constraint, MSI Titan is one of the best money can buy, 
• As a solid mid-range option for enjoyable gaming and streaming experience, we recommend ASUS TUF Gaming.
• Finally, if you’re looking for something cheap to handle the load of streaming and light gaming, we can’t think of anything better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. 

Now, over to you. Which laptop are you getting? Let us know in the comment section below.