Double the Power: Setting Up Dual PC Streaming with Elgato HD60s

Release Your Streaming Potential

Ever watched your favorite streamer and wondered how they maintain buttery-smooth gameplay while broadcasting crystal-clear video? The secret might just be a dual PC setup. How to setup dual PC stream with elgato hd60s is the game-changer that's revolutionizing content creation for serious streamers.

Think of it as dividing and conquering – your gaming PC focuses solely on delivering those sweet high framerates, while your streaming PC handles all the encoding heavy lifting. If you're short on time, here's the quick rundown:

1. Connect an HDMI cable from your gaming PC's GPU to the Elgato HD60S input
2. Link the Elgato to your streaming PC using the USB-C to USB 3.0 connection
3. Clone your displays through Nvidia Control Panel on your gaming rig
4. Configure the Elgato output at 1080p60 for optimal quality
5. Add the capture device in OBS Studio on your streaming PC
6. Set up your audio routing (either through HDMI or a separate mixer)

I've seen countless streamers make the switch and never look back. As one Twitch partner told me, "My gameplay feels like butter again, and my viewers notice the difference too." That's because your gaming PC high performance isn't being compromised by simultaneous encoding tasks.

The Elgato HD60S is particularly well-suited as your bridge between machines. It captures at full 1080p60, offers impressively low-latency pass-through, and connects via USB 3.0 for stable performance. Plus, it plays nicely with OBS, Streamlabs, and other popular broadcasting software.

Yes, setting up two computers requires more initial investment and configuration than a single-PC solution. But for those serious about creating professional-quality content, the performance benefits are absolutely worth it. Your viewers will enjoy a consistently smooth stream, and you'll experience your games exactly as the developers intended – with no compromised performance.

Want to explore similar streaming setups? Check out these related guides:- 2 computer stream setup- dual pc streaming setup without capture card- second computer for streaming

At Syber, we've helped countless streamers build the perfect dual PC setups for their specific needs. Whether you need a powerhouse gaming rig, a dedicated streaming machine, or both, our team can design a custom solution that delivers flawless performance without compromise. Ready to take your streaming to the next level? Let's build your dream setup together.

Why Go Dual?

Let's face it – trying to play demanding games while streaming from a single PC can feel like asking your computer to run a marathon while juggling flaming torches. This is exactly why dual PC streaming setups with the Elgato HD60S have become so popular among serious content creators.

When you offload streaming duties to a dedicated second computer, the numbers speak for themselves. Industry data shows that gamers experience 20-30% better gaming performance compared to single-PC streaming at identical quality settings. Your gaming PC's high performance remains focused on what matters most – delivering smooth, responsive gameplay.

"Offloading the rendering process to a dedicated streaming rig offers creators limitless positives," says Cole Erickson, a lead technician who specializes in streaming setups. And he's absolutely right.

Think about what happens when your gaming PC doesn't have to handle encoding. You'll enjoy smoother gameplay with higher and more stable frame rates. You can crank those graphics settings up without watching your performance tank. The dreaded dropped frames that plague single-PC setups become much rarer. And here's a bonus – if your game crashes (we've all been there), your stream keeps going while you recover.

The current gold standard for streaming is 1080p at 60 frames per second – exactly what the Elgato HD60S delivers with reliable precision. By dedicating your high performance gaming PC to gameplay and using a separate machine for encoding, you're essentially creating the same professional broadcast setup that many top streamers rely on.

This encoder offload approach isn't just about better performance – it's about peace of mind. When you're in the middle of an intense gaming session, the last thing you want is to worry about whether your stream quality is suffering. With a dual PC setup, you can focus entirely on your gameplay while your streaming PC handles the broadcasting heavy lifting.

How to Setup Dual PC Stream with Elgato HD60s: Hardware & Cabling

Setting up a dual PC streaming rig might seem intimidating at first, but with the right guidance, you'll be up and running in no time. Think of it as building a bridge between your gaming powerhouse and your dedicated broadcasting station.

Checklist: how to setup dual pc stream with elgato hd60s in 60 seconds

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let's gather everything you'll need for your dual PC streaming trip:

• Gaming PC: Your trusty gaming machine that handles all the heavy lifting of running your favorite titles
• Streaming PC: Your broadcast companion that takes care of encoding your stream
• Elgato HD60S: The magic box that captures your gameplay
• 2 × HDMI cables: One connects your gaming PC to the Elgato, the other handles pass-through if needed
• USB-C to USB-A cable: Comes with your HD60S and links it to your streaming PC
• DisplayPort cable: For connecting your primary gaming monitor (especially important for high refresh gaming)
• USB 3.0 port: The HD60S absolutely demands USB 3.0 or newer for proper functionality
• Headset/microphone: Because your viewers want to hear your victory cheers (or rage quits)

I can't stress this enough – the Elgato HD60S requires a USB 3.0 port or better. This isn't just a recommendation; it's a necessity. Elgato's support team regularly handles cases where streamers try to use USB 2.0 ports and end up with dropped frames or no signal at all. Save yourself the headache and double-check your streaming PC's ports first.

Physical Connections & Display Clone

Let's walk through the physical setup step by step:

First, connect your main gaming monitor to your gaming PC using DisplayPort. This connection gives you those silky-smooth high refresh rates that make gaming feel responsive and fluid.

Next, take your first HDMI cable and connect it from your gaming PC's GPU HDMI output to the "IN" port on your Elgato HD60S. This is the primary video feed that will be captured for your stream.

Now grab the USB-C cable that came with your Elgato and connect it from the capture card to a USB 3.0 port on your streaming PC. This creates the data highway that carries your gameplay to your streaming software.

If you want to use the Elgato's pass-through feature (handy for zero-lag monitoring), connect the second HDMI cable from the "OUT" port on the HD60S to a secondary monitor.

With the physical connections in place, it's time to tell your gaming PC to send its display signal to both your monitor and the Elgato. For NVIDIA users:

1. Right-click on your desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel
2. Steer to Display > Set up multiple displays
3. Check both your main monitor and the Elgato HD60S display
4. Select Clone these displays (not "Extend")
5. Hit Apply and confirm the changes

Now you'll need to fine-tune your resolution and refresh rate settings:

In the NVIDIA Control Panel, head to Display > Change resolution. For your main gaming monitor, select your preferred resolution and refresh rate – maybe 1920×1080 at 144Hz for that competitive edge. For the Elgato display, set it to 1920×1080 at 60Hz, which is what the HD60S is designed to handle.

Don't forget to visit Display > Adjust desktop size and position and set both displays to "No scaling" with "Perform scaling on: GPU" selected. This helps maintain image quality during the conversion process.

High-Refresh Gaming, Smooth Capture

One of the beautiful things about a dual PC setup with the Elgato HD60S is enjoying the best of both worlds – you get to play at high refresh rates while delivering a rock-solid 60fps stream to your audience. Here's how your displays compare:

While you're enjoying the butter-smooth experience of 144Hz or even 240Hz gaming, your viewers receive a consistent, professional-quality 1080p60 stream. The Elgato HD60S handles this 60fps capture perfectly, which remains the gold standard for high-quality streaming across platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

By using GPU scaling rather than display scaling, you're ensuring the best possible image quality when converting from your high-refresh gaming display to the 60Hz capture feed. This is particularly important in games where visual clarity can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

With these hardware connections properly set up, you've built the foundation for a professional streaming setup that separates gaming performance from broadcast quality – giving both systems room to excel at their specialized tasks.

Software, Audio & Monitoring

With the hardware connected, it's time to configure the software side of your dual PC streaming setup. This involves setting up your streaming software, configuring audio routing, and ensuring everything works together smoothly.

Add HD60S in OBS

OBS Studio is the go-to free streaming software that pairs beautifully with the Elgato HD60S. Setting it up is straightforward, even if you're new to streaming.

First, download and install OBS Studio on your streaming PC. Once launched, create a new scene that will host your game capture. In the Sources panel, click the plus icon and select Video Capture Device. Give it a name like "Elgato HD60S" so you can easily identify it later.

When the Properties window pops up, select Elgato Game Capture HD60 S (Video) #01 from the dropdown menu. For the best performance, set the Interface to DirectShow – this uses less CPU power and works well when you have multiple devices connected.

Most streamers find that keeping Resolution/FPS Type on Device Default works perfectly, but you can customize this if needed. One important tweak: set Buffering to Disable to reduce preview latency. This helps keep your reactions in sync with the game action.

If you're seeing your gaming PC's display in the OBS preview window, you've successfully set up the video capture! Now let's tackle the audio side of things.

Audio Routing Options

Audio is often where dual PC setups get tricky, but don't worry – you have several good options depending on your specific needs.

The simplest approach is using HDMI audio pass-through. The Elgato HD60S naturally captures audio through the HDMI connection from your gaming PC. Just right-click your Elgato source in OBS, select Properties, and make sure Audio Output Mode is set to Capture audio only. This method is perfect for beginners, though it does limit how separately you can control different audio sources.

If you're using an Elgato Wave microphone or Wave XLR, the Wave Link software gives you more flexibility. Install Wave Link (version 1.9 or newer) on your gaming PC, then open your Sound settings. In the Sound Control Panel's Recording tab, find 'Wave Link Stream', open its Properties, and check 'Listen to this device' in the Listen tab. Select the HDMI output connected to your HD60S, apply the changes, and you're set.

For the most control over your audio, consider Voicemeeter Banana. This powerful virtual mixer lets you route any audio source exactly where you need it. Install Voicemeeter Banana on both PCs, set it as your default audio output on the gaming PC, and configure VBAN to stream audio between your PCs over your network. It's more complex to set up but gives you complete control over every aspect of your stream's sound.

Whichever method you choose, remember to set your audio sample rate to 48kHz in OBS Studio. This is Elgato's recommended setting to avoid audio stutter or drift during long streaming sessions.

Troubleshooting: how to setup dual pc stream with elgato hd60s when things go wrong

Even perfect setups sometimes hit snags. Here are solutions to the most common problems streamers face:

When you get no signal in OBS, first check that the HD60S is plugged into a USB 3.0 port – these typically have blue connectors. Verify that display cloning is enabled in your graphics control panel and that your HDMI cable is connected to your GPU's output (not the motherboard). Sometimes simply trying a different HDMI port or cable solves the problem instantly.

For audio issues, check your Windows sound settings to confirm audio is being routed to the HDMI output. Verify that OBS is detecting audio from the capture card and that you've selected the correct audio device in OBS mixer settings. Matching sample rates (48kHz is recommended) can resolve many audio sync problems.

Video quality problems often stem from incorrect output settings. Confirm your gaming PC is outputting 1080p at 60Hz to the Elgato. In OBS source properties, set Color Range to Full for PC sources. Updating your Elgato drivers and firmware can solve many visual glitches, and remember that the HD60S cannot capture HDCP-protected content like Netflix or Blu-ray players.

If you're seeing frames missed due to rendering lag warnings, try lowering the output resolution or frame rate in OBS settings. Use hardware encoding (NVENC) if available on your streaming PC, and close unnecessary background applications. The Task Manager can help identify which resources are being maxed out.

The HD60S demands significant USB bandwidth. If you're using multiple USB devices on your streaming PC, consider adding a dedicated USB 3.0 PCIe card to ensure stable performance – especially important for high performance gaming PC setups.

Monitoring & Quality Tweaks

Once your dual PC setup is working, some fine-tuning can take your stream from good to professional:

For effective stream monitoring, use OBS's Fullscreen Projector feature to keep an eye on your output. A small secondary monitor for your streaming PC lets you view chat and OBS controls without disrupting gameplay. Position alerts and notifications carefully so they don't interfere with critical game elements.

Audio monitoring is crucial for a professional stream. Use headphones connected to your gaming PC for game audio and communication, while setting up audio monitoring in OBS to hear your stream exactly as viewers do. Take time to balance audio levels so game sounds complement rather than overwhelm your voice.

For stream quality settings, start with a video bitrate between 4000-6000 Kbps for 1080p60 streaming, depending on your internet upload speed. The x264 encoder on your streaming PC works well with Medium or Fast preset for most setups. Set your keyframe interval to 2 for optimal compatibility with popular streaming platforms. When in doubt, OBS's Auto-Configuration Wizard can provide solid starting settings.

To optimize performance, disable unnecessary background applications on your gaming PC. On your streaming PC, you can prioritize the OBS process in Task Manager. Regularly monitor CPU, RAM, and GPU usage during test streams to identify potential bottlenecks. If you consistently hit performance limits, it might be time to consider upgrading specific components in your custom build gaming PC.

By regularly monitoring and fine-tuning your setup, you'll achieve broadcast-quality streams that stand out from the crowd – exactly what you'd expect from a professional high performance gaming PC setup.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just learned how to setup dual PC stream with elgato hd60s – a setup that might seem complex at first glance but delivers incredible benefits for serious streamers. The beauty of separating your gaming and streaming workloads is immediately apparent the first time you play a demanding game while broadcasting without a single dropped frame.

Let's take a moment to recap the journey we've been on:

First, we connected our hardware – running HDMI from the gaming PC to the Elgato, and USB from the Elgato to our streaming PC. Then we configured our display settings by cloning displays and setting the appropriate resolutions and refresh rates (keeping that sweet 144Hz for gaming while sending a perfect 1080p60 to viewers). We set up OBS Studio by adding the Elgato as a video capture device, and tackled perhaps the trickiest part – configuring audio routing using the method that best fits our setup.

After testing and troubleshooting any signal, quality, or performance issues, we fine-tuned our settings to find that perfect balance between gaming performance and stream quality. The result? A professional broadcast setup that lets you play at your best while looking your best to your audience.

There's something deeply satisfying about playing demanding games at ultra settings and high frame rates while simultaneously delivering a rock-solid stream. Your viewers will notice the difference, and you'll enjoy gaming without the constant worry of overtaxing a single system.

If your current gaming PC struggles to handle modern games at their best, Syber specializes in building high performance custom gaming PCs custom specifically to your needs. Our systems go through rigorous testing and benchmarking to ensure exceptional performance for both gaming and streaming applications. We never cut corners because we understand that reliability is just as important as raw power.

The dual PC approach with an Elgato HD60S gives you the flexibility and power to create content without compromise – whether you're building a new high-performance gaming rig or optimizing your current setup for streaming.

Ready to take your streaming to the next level? Check out SyberTV for more tips and tutorials, or reach out to our team in City of Industry, California to discuss how we can help you build the perfect custom gaming and streaming setup that'll make your content shine.