What is the "best" way to stream with the lowest input lag?

[uchihascar]

1: 2 PC setup. Gaming PC going through a capture card via passthrough to a 240HZ monitor and to a secondary streaming PC broadcasting with OBS. No additional latency from OBS and minimal latency from the capture card passthrough, but it is unfortunately limited to 240HZ due to capture card technology. Audio latency is also compromised a little bit.

2. 2 PC setup. Gaming PC sends the feed to the streaming PC via display cloning. 540HZ monitor. Slight latency increase from display cloning. Slight audio latency.

3. 1 PC setup with a 540 HZ monitor running OBS. Increase in latency from CPU/GPU usage.

Which is ultimately going to be the best? Or if there's a different option that I have not considered yet please let me know.

[pigzera]

I think with todays GPUs like 4090, you can stream using NVENC and call it a day. I have an ok PC (5700x, 16gb 3600mhz, 4070ti) and can stream CS2 on 1080p60 wih no issues related to input lag or FPS drops, i presume someone with 7800x3D, DDR5 ram, 4090 etc would even feel anything at all.

[daviddave1]

1: 2 PC setup. Gaming PC going through a capture card via passthrough to a 240HZ monitor and to a secondary streaming PC broadcasting with OBS. No additional latency from OBS and minimal latency from the capture card passthrough, but it is unfortunately limited to 240HZ due to capture card technology. Audio latency is also compromised a little bit.

2. 2 PC setup. Gaming PC sends the feed to the streaming PC via display cloning. 540HZ monitor. Slight latency increase from display cloning. Slight audio latency.

3. 1 PC setup with a 540 HZ monitor running OBS. Increase in latency from CPU/GPU usage.

Which is ultimately going to be the best? Or if there's a different option that I have not considered yet please let me know.

For 1080P a Two PC setup is best, Don't use cloning it tears screen in stream. Use Fullscreen Projector Mode . I tried NDI dualPC but its not good quality. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYjP2u8 ... el=FR33THY how to set Fullscreen Projector Mode up with a dual PC. ignore the NDI part. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCp1AYI ... el=FR33THY for more info about inputlag dual pc 1080p 1440p and 4k.
Best is 540hz 1080P HDMI 2.1 / DP 1.4 passthrough but there is no such card. max passthrough is 1080P 360hz with Avermedia latest 2.1 HDMI capture card.

[nursejoy]

1: 2 PC setup. Gaming PC going through a capture card via passthrough to a 240HZ monitor and to a secondary streaming PC broadcasting with OBS. No additional latency from OBS and minimal latency from the capture card passthrough, but it is unfortunately limited to 240HZ due to capture card technology. Audio latency is also compromised a little bit.

2. 2 PC setup. Gaming PC sends the feed to the streaming PC via display cloning. 540HZ monitor. Slight latency increase from display cloning. Slight audio latency.

3. 1 PC setup with a 540 HZ monitor running OBS. Increase in latency from CPU/GPU usage.

Which is ultimately going to be the best? Or if there's a different option that I have not considered yet please let me know.

For 1080P a Two PC setup is best, Don't use cloning it tears screen in stream. Use Fullscreen Projector Mode . I tried NDI dualPC but its not good quality. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYjP2u8 ... el=FR33THY how to set Fullscreen Projector Mode up with a dual PC. ignore the NDI part. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCp1AYI ... el=FR33THY for more info about inputlag dual pc 1080p 1440p and 4k.
Best is 540hz 1080P HDMI 2.1 / DP 1.4 passthrough but there is no such card. max passthrough is 1080P 360hz with Avermedia latest 2.1 HDMI capture card.

Not to bring up a necro ping but have you personally tried Full screen Projector mode yourself? If so did you find it didn't add lag to your setup as well?

Also would this apply if I used a 1440p monitor @360hz?

[daviddave1]

1: 2 PC setup. Gaming PC going through a capture card via passthrough to a 240HZ monitor and to a secondary streaming PC broadcasting with OBS. No additional latency from OBS and minimal latency from the capture card passthrough, but it is unfortunately limited to 240HZ due to capture card technology. Audio latency is also compromised a little bit.

2. 2 PC setup. Gaming PC sends the feed to the streaming PC via display cloning. 540HZ monitor. Slight latency increase from display cloning. Slight audio latency.

3. 1 PC setup with a 540 HZ monitor running OBS. Increase in latency from CPU/GPU usage.

Which is ultimately going to be the best? Or if there's a different option that I have not considered yet please let me know.

For 1080P a Two PC setup is best, Don't use cloning it tears screen in stream. Use Fullscreen Projector Mode . I tried NDI dualPC but its not good quality. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYjP2u8 ... el=FR33THY how to set Fullscreen Projector Mode up with a dual PC. ignore the NDI part. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCp1AYI ... el=FR33THY for more info about inputlag dual pc 1080p 1440p and 4k.
Best is 540hz 1080P HDMI 2.1 / DP 1.4 passthrough but there is no such card. max passthrough is 1080P 360hz with Avermedia latest 2.1 HDMI capture card.

Not to bring up a necro ping but have you personally tried Full screen Projector mode yourself? If so did you find it didn't add lag to your setup as well?

Also would this apply if I used a 1440p monitor @360hz?

Yes I tried all 3 modes on a dual pc streaming setup ( mirroring, ndi and fullscreen projector mode) On 1440P 360hz fullscreen projector mode gives the less lag plus it gives less tearing on streaming. Has the most benefit. Check out the stats on https://youtu.be/TCp1AYI7BlM?si=sBeq-1y8Ic9YLkDN

The best is mode nr 4: passtrough. I remember when I had the xl2546k a 240hz 1080p monitor that can use passtough cause it's only 240hz 1080p. Screen quality onstream was best by far. Inputlag was lowest too.

[nursejoy]

1: 2 PC setup. Gaming PC going through a capture card via passthrough to a 240HZ monitor and to a secondary streaming PC broadcasting with OBS. No additional latency from OBS and minimal latency from the capture card passthrough, but it is unfortunately limited to 240HZ due to capture card technology. Audio latency is also compromised a little bit.

2. 2 PC setup. Gaming PC sends the feed to the streaming PC via display cloning. 540HZ monitor. Slight latency increase from display cloning. Slight audio latency.

3. 1 PC setup with a 540 HZ monitor running OBS. Increase in latency from CPU/GPU usage.

Which is ultimately going to be the best? Or if there's a different option that I have not considered yet please let me know.

For 1080P a Two PC setup is best, Don't use cloning it tears screen in stream. Use Fullscreen Projector Mode . I tried NDI dualPC but its not good quality. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYjP2u8 ... el=FR33THY how to set Fullscreen Projector Mode up with a dual PC. ignore the NDI part. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCp1AYI ... el=FR33THY for more info about inputlag dual pc 1080p 1440p and 4k.
Best is 540hz 1080P HDMI 2.1 / DP 1.4 passthrough but there is no such card. max passthrough is 1080P 360hz with Avermedia latest 2.1 HDMI capture card.

Not to bring up a necro ping but have you personally tried Full screen Projector mode yourself? If so did you find it didn't add lag to your setup as well?

Also would this apply if I used a 1440p monitor @360hz?

Yes I tried all 3 modes on a dual pc streaming setup ( mirroring, ndi and fullscreen projector mode) On 1440P 360hz fullscreen projector mode gives the less lag plus it gives less tearing on streaming. Has the most benefit. Check out the stats on https://youtu.be/TCp1AYI7BlM?si=sBeq-1y8Ic9YLkDN

The best is mode nr 4: passtrough. I remember when I had the xl2546k a 240hz 1080p monitor that can use passtough cause it's only 240hz 1080p. Screen quality onstream was best by far. Inputlag was lowest too.

Thank you. And yeah man I wish there was a capture card that supported 1440p@360hz. I currently use the Viewsonic XG2431 240hz monitor as my main monitor for the gaming PC. It uses passthrough with the GC553G2 and it works so flawless. By far the best stream quality, smoothness, and audio transfers without any issue. Passthrough (when it works) literally solves all problems. It makes dual PC streaming **VERY** easy. But I think it might be worth going through the trouble for that sweet 360hz OLED.