Streaming has grown popular enough that many people are basing their setups off of the industry in hopes of growing a following. For some, it's an ambition toward a new career, while others are happy to share games they love with others.
Regardless of what your motivation is, you'll need the right setup to stream with a Nintendo Switch. Some equipment is non-negotiable, while other items are great for making the process easier for you. Here are our picks for the best things to add to your setup so you can start streaming on your Nintendo Switch.
Elgato HD60 X Capture Card
Best Capture Card for Nintendo Switch $180 at Best BuyAVerMedia Live Gamer Mini
Best Budget Capture Card See at AmazonNintendo Switch
Most Important Streaming Equipment See at AmazonDell G3 Gaming Laptop - i5 8GB RAM GTX1650Ti 512GB SSD
Best Laptop For Capturing Streaming Footage $888 at WalmartRazer Iskur Ergonomic Gaming Chair
Best Ergonomic Streaming Chair See at Amazon- See More
SanDisk 512GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card Licensed for Nintendo Switch
Best Storage For The Switch $64 at Walmart
Elgato HD60 X Capture Card
Top performance and easy to use
Brand Elgato Max Passthrough Resolution 4K60 HDR10 Max Capture Resolution 1080p60 HDR Interface HDMI OBS Compatible YesThe Elgato HD60X is the newest capture card from Elgato, long considered one of the best brands in the field. We recommend this capture card for a top-of-the-line experience.
Pros & Cons- Affordable and easy to find
- Captures in the highest resolution the Switch can handle
- Can be used on other platforms if you switch consoles
One thing you'll need for streaming is a capture card. Capture cards are responsible for capturing and streaming the footage. They're necessary for high-quality recordings and can bring a more professional appearance to your footage.
The Elgato HD60 X is the current frontrunner from the titanic brand Elgato. It's capable of recording in resolutions that are higher than what the Switch can offer, so you'll never have to worry about low-quality footage. We recommend this as the best capture card for your Switch.
Best Budget Capture CardAVerMedia Live Gamer Mini
Capturing on a budget
Brand AverMedia Max Passthrough Resolution 1080p60 Max Capture Resolution 1080p60 Interface USB (Micro) 2.0 OBS Compatible YesThe AverMedia Live Gamer Mini is a great capture card on a budget. It records at up to 1080p, making it the perfect fit for the Switch
Pros & Cons- Good budget price
- 1080p resolution is the Switch's cap
- Easy to install and use
- Caps out at 1080p resolution, making it bad if you intend to record on something other than a Switch
If you're looking to keep the cost of your streaming budget low, we suggest the AverMedia Live Gamer Mini. This capture card is cheaper than competitors like the Elgato without sacrificing quality. But why is the price lower?
Mostly, because the AverMedia caps out at 1080p. If you were trying to record footage of a new triple-A PC title or the beauty of a new PlayStation release, that could pose issues. But the Switch caps out at 1080p, making this a non-issue for Switch streaming and recording.
Most Important Streaming EquipmentNintendo Switch
Inherently important!
Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC Headset Compatibility 3.5 mm jack (through adapter) Display 6.2" LCD or 7' OLED Output resolution Up to 1080p HD Ports USB-C, 3.5 mm jack, Game card slot, microSD card slotYou won't be streaming anything on a Nintendo Switch if you don't have one! This piece is inherently integral to your streaming setup.
Pros & Cons- Library of countless classics
- Membership gives you virtual consoles
- Easy streaming setup
Clearly, you'll need a Switch if you want to stream on one. But one difficulty you might run into is that there are several types of Switches out now! Our preference lies with the original over the OLED version. Since you'll be streaming, the OLED's better screen is irrelevant.
The other version you'll find is the Nintendo Switch Lite. This version is meant for younger players and doesn't have removable Joycons. It's better to just stick with the standard Switch for streaming purposes.
Best Laptop For Capturing Streaming FootageDell G3 Gaming Laptop - i5 8GB RAM GTX1650Ti 512GB SSD
Necessary, but replaceable
Operating System Windows 10 Home CPU Intel Core i5 10300H - 2.5GHz (4.5GHz boosted), 4 cores, 8MB smart cache GPU NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti RAM 8GB DDR4-SDRAM Storage 512GB SSDTo stream on the Switch, you'll need to connect your capture card to a PC for footage. A gaming laptop is perfect, as it'll be just as portable as your Switch while also being a bit cheaper than a full desktop.
Pros & Cons- Great budget option
- Good starting point for streaming
- Portable to match your Switch
One thing you'll need in your streaming setup is a PC. Your PC will connect with your capture card to transfer footage over and allow you to stream. As such, we've picked a good starting PC for you to think about while you consider what you'll need for your streaming setup.
Your PC should be personalized to what you'll use. To that end, we're using the Dell G3 15 3500 as our example because it's a perfect starting PC for your streaming career. It comes in for less than $1,000, is portable to match your Switch, and has adequate RAM, storage, and GPU components.
Best Ergonomic Streaming ChairRazer Iskur Ergonomic Gaming Chair
Keeping back pain away while you play
Upholstery Material PVC Leather Color(s) Black and Green Adjustability 139° recline Brand Razer Chair Weight CapacityStreaming sessions will often take hours. While you're not streaming, you'll still be in your chair editing footage and preparing future streams. The Razer Iskur's ergonomic features will help keep away pain and soreness while you work.
Pros & Cons- Plentiful ergonomic features
- Fashionable for your stream
- Expensive for a gaming chair
Streams often take several hours, while capturing footage can be a full-time job if you also make video content to accompany your streams. You'll want a comfortable and ergonomic gaming chair to sit in while you do so. Ergonomic features can fend off discomfort and pain from long periods of sitting.
Our choice for an ergonomic gaming chair is the Razer Iskur. While it has a high price, it also has all the ergonomic features you'll need for your health and comfort. It's also a fashionable chair from a recognizable brand, which will help your aesthetics if you intend to stream on cam.
Best Storage For The SwitchSanDisk 512GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card Licensed for Nintendo Switch
Install more than two games onto your system
Brand SanDisk Capacity 512 GB Flash Memory Type NAND Speed (Read/Write) 100MB/s read, 90MB/s writeThe Switch has agonizingly low storage fresh out of the box. This MicroSD will add 512GB of storage, helping you keep your games loaded up.
Pros & Cons- Adds storage for dozens of games
- Cheap and easy to find
- Easy installation
Out of the box, the Nintendo Switch has an abysmal storage space. The system requires you to install most games and store the files for those games locally as well. The paltry 32 gigs of storage is worsened even further by the fact that the Switch's system uses some of this limited storage.
To remedy this, you can purchase a cheap and easy-to-install micro SD. Our choice is the 512GB SanDisk Micro SD. The extra 512 gigs of storage will make it so you can install dozens of games without much of an issue. It's also cheap enough that it won't eat up much of your streaming budget.
FAQ
Do I Need A PC To Stream On The Switch?
The Switch has no built-in streaming functionality like other consoles do. A capture card is needed to remedy this problem.
How Expensive Is A Switch Streaming Setup?
Not counting the price of the switch, the only real cost is a capture card and a PC. If you're interested in streaming, there's a good bet you already have a PC, so the financial barrier to entry is pretty low! Perfecting your setup afterward will depend on your tastes.
Is It Difficult To Stream From A Switch?
It's more difficult than it is on other consoles that have built-in streaming functionalities, yes. But if you take the time to learn how to stream from your Switch, it's as viable as any other platform.
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