Best OBS Encoder for AMD and Intel (No BS)
Quick answer (No BS)
No NVIDIA? Prefer AMD AMF or Intel Quick Sync (AV1/HEVC/H.264) over heavy x264 if your iGPU/dGPU supports it. Start with H.264 CBR for Twitch, keyframe 2, and only move to AV1/HEVC when the platform and your viewers can handle it.
This guide is the non-RTX companion to Best OBS Encoder for RTX. Same philosophy: stable first, “best on paper” second.
September 2026 Update
- AMD AMF and Intel Quick Sync continue to improve; newer iGPUs make AV1 recording/streaming more realistic.
- Twitch live still defaults to H.264 for maximum compatibility for most small channels.
- If encoding melts your game FPS, offload to AMF/QSV before dropping to potato x264 presets.
Pick your path
| Hardware | Start here | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AMD GPU (RX) | AMD HW H.264 (AMF) | Good live default; watch VRAM/driver quirks after updates |
| Intel ARC / modern iGPU | Quick Sync H.264 (or AV1 where supported) | QSV shines when the game is on a discrete GPU |
| Weak CPU, no useful iGPU | x264 veryfast / faster | Lower resolution before slow presets |
| NVIDIA | NVENC (new) | Use the RTX encoder guide |
Baseline live settings (Twitch-friendly)
- Rate control: CBR
- Bitrate: up to 6000 kbps (lower if upload is weak)
- Keyframe interval: 2
- Audio: 48 kHz, ~160 kbps
Full platform pass: Twitch settings. Upload limited? Low upload guide.
AMD AMF tips
- Prefer the “new” / quality-oriented AMF H.264 option when OBS exposes it.
- After driver updates, re-check dropped frames, AMD + OBS mismatches show up as random instability.
- If quality looks muddy at 6000, fix lighting/downscale filter before blaming AMF alone.
Intel Quick Sync tips
- Enable the iGPU in BIOS even when gaming on a discrete card.
- Quick Sync H.264 is the safe live choice; AV1 is excellent for YouTube/recording when supported.
- Do not run game + encode on a starving iGPU laptop without testing FPS.
When to use x264 anyway
Old PCs, weird dual-PC capture setups, or broken hardware encoders. Use veryfast or faster, lower resolution, and see low-end OBS settings.
FAQ
Is AMF or Quick Sync “as good as” NVENC?
Close enough for most live viewers at sane bitrates. Obsessing over VMAF charts will not fix empty chat.
Should I stream AV1 on Twitch?
Only if you understand the compatibility trade-off. Most small channels should stay on H.264 until they have a reason to switch.