OBS settings for an AMD graphics card

On a Radeon, the best OBS settings for an AMD graphics card start with one choice: select the AMD hardware encoder (AMF) rather than x264. That moves video compression onto the card and leaves your processor for the game. The rest is a handful of dropdowns, set once and tested on a real session.

Quick Answer

In Settings, Output, Advanced, choose the AMD hardware H.264 encoder, use CBR at about 6 000 kbps for 1080p streaming, and set the preset to Quality or Balanced. Update Adrenalin drivers before you start. Recent Radeon cards encode well; older ones look softer at low bitrates.

🔴 Pick and Configure AMF

Open Settings, then Output, and switch Output Mode to Advanced. On the Streaming tab set the encoder to the AMD hardware option. HEVC is available on newer cards but H.264 is the safest for platform compatibility.

• Rate control: CBR for live streams.
• Bitrate: about 6 000 kbps for 1080p60, less for 720p.
• Preset: Quality, or Balanced if frames drop.
• Keyframe interval: 2 seconds.

For files kept locally, switch the rate control to CQP and the recording tab to a quality-based setting.

A good microphone helps a stream more than extra bitrate, so browse streaming essentials once the video is stable.

🛠️ Drivers and Capture Troubles

Encoder fixes arrive through driver updates, and a stale Adrenalin install can cause stutter or a black capture. Update, and note the last version that worked so you can roll back.

If Game Capture shows black:

1. Run OBS as administrator.
2. Try Display Capture instead of Game Capture.
3. Move the game out of exclusive fullscreen into borderless windowed.
4. On a laptop with two GPUs, set OBS and the game to use the same graphics adapter in Windows graphics settings.

📡 Match Bitrate to Your Line

Settings that look great mean little if the upload cannot carry them. Test your upload at the hour you stream. A shared South African fibre line or an LTE connection may drop in the evening, so pick a bitrate that holds at the slowest reading.

Older Radeon encoders look softer at low bitrates. If that is you, lower the resolution to 720p rather than starving a 1080p picture. A decent webcam also gives viewers a sharp face even when the game footage is modest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which encoder should I pick with a Radeon card?

The AMD hardware H.264 (AMF) encoder in Output settings. It takes the encoding load off your CPU so the game holds its frame rate.

What rate control suits streaming?

CBR, with a bitrate your upload can sustain, such as 6 000 kbps for 1080p. Quality-based modes suit recording to a file.

Which AMF preset should I choose?

Start with Quality or Balanced and test. Speed saves resources but looks worse, and a higher preset can cost frames on an older card.

Do Adrenalin driver versions matter?

Yes. A stale driver can cause stutter or black captures, so update and keep a note of the last working version.

Why is my game capture black on an AMD system?

Run OBS as administrator, try Display Capture, and avoid exclusive fullscreen mode in the game.

Do older AMD cards stream well?

Older Radeon encoders give a softer picture at low bitrates. Raise the bitrate within your upload limit or stream at a lower resolution.