Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
For a 24/7 YouTube stream that is already encoded and only needs to be relayed, start by benchmarking an E2-standard-2. It is a practical starting point, not a Google-certified size or a tested guarantee. If the VM will encode or transcode video, benchmark a compute-optimized C2D configuration against your actual codec, resolution, frame rate, and software instead. In either case, choose based on measured headroom and external upload capacity—not viewer count or a machine-type bandwidth maximum.
Choose based on what the VM does
Relay an already encoded stream
A relay forwards encoded data to YouTube without decoding, mixing, or transcoding it. For one feed, benchmark an E2-standard-2 with the real stream and check CPU, memory, stability, and outbound throughput. Move up to an E2-standard-4 or another suitable type only if measurements show inadequate headroom. This is an engineering starting point, not a tested result or Google recommendation.
Encode, transcode, composite, or send multiple outputs
Video processing is a different workload from relaying: software encoding and transcoding can use substantial CPU. Google lists media transcoding as a compute-bound C2D workload. Benchmark a C2D size using the actual codec, resolution, frame rate, encoding software, and target bitrate; there is no defensible exact size without those details. A GPU may suit some workflows, but whether it helps depends on software and codec support, so do not select one without validating the workflow.
Estimate the upload capacity you need
Use the outbound feed bitrate
The VM sends the ingest feed to YouTube; YouTube serves playback to viewers. Therefore, estimate VM upload demand from the stream bitrate, not the number of viewers. If the VM sends multiple feeds or destinations, add their bitrates together.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Ryzen 5 3500U Processor】KAMRUI Essenx E2 Mini PC is equipped with AMD Ryzen 5 3500U (4-cores/8-threads, up to 3.7GHz) with integrated Radeon Vega 8 Graphics(1200MHz, 8 Core). The 3500U CPU operates at a base frequency of 2.1 GHz and a Boost frequency of 3.7 GHz. This DDR supports upgradable up to 32GB, SSD supports up to 2TB.(NOT INCLUED), KAMRUI E2 3500U Mini PC is ideal for light office work and home entertainment. KAMRUI E2 3500U is more than 35% more powerful and smoother in operation than the Intel N150, 33% faster than Intel N95, 28% performance boost over Intel i3-10110U, and 42% stronger processing power than AMD Ryzen 3 3200U.
- 【16GB DDR4 & 256GB SSD】The KAMRUI E2 mini computers is equipped with 16GB DDR4(Expandable up to 32GB) for faster multitasking and smooth application switching. 256GB M.2 SSD ensures fast startup times,fast file transfers and plenty of storage space,eliminating slow loading times and ensuring fast responsiveness.Storage space can RAM supports up to 32 GB, SSD supports up to 2TB (Not included)make file storage easier.
- 【4K Dual Display & USB 3.2 Type-A Port】KAMRUI E2 3500U mini desktop pc is equipped with an HDMI 2.0+DP 1.4 interfaces for faster transmission, Support Dual 4K@60Hz Display, E2 mini desktop computers is ideal for visual home entertainment, home office, conference rooms, etc. USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A Port×2 with a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps (10 times faster than USB 2.0) for efficient data transfer. The RJ45 1000M Gigabit Ethernet Port ensures a stable network connection.
- 【WiFi+Bluetooth stable connection】The Kamrui E2 micro pc have reliable and stable wireless connection, open websites in seconds, watch movies without buffering and download files smoothly, connect your monitor from WiFi or Ethernet, use a wireless keyboard and mouse through bluetooth, which will be powerful workstation for you.
- 【Versatile Ports】This KAMRUI E2 Small pc is equipped with HDMI 2.0×1(4K@60Hz)、DP1.4×1(4K@60Hz)、Gigabit Ethernet Port (RJ45, 10/100/1000Mbps) ×1、USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A Port×2（5Gbps）、USB2.0 Type-A Port×2、3.5mm Audio Jack ×1、DC In ×1、Power Button ×1
For H.264, YouTube’s current encoder guidance gives these example bitrates: YouTube encoder settings.
| Example stream | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
| 4K at 30 fps | 30 Mbps |
| 4K at 60 fps | 35 Mbps |
These are H.264 examples, not universal bitrates for every codec or content type. Match the recommendation to your chosen codec and stream settings. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload capacity beyond the total bitrate, including primary and backup feeds. Its guidance states: “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available.”
Rank #2
- Office Gaming Mini PC - UPGRADED GMKtec Nucbox M5 Ultra Series is equipped with the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor, 8 Cores/16 Threads, Base 2.00GHz (Power Saving Quiet Mode) with Turbo Boost up to 4.50GHz (Performance Mode) in BIOS settings, Based on the ZEN 3+ architecture, this small but powerful mini pc delivers satisfying results in productivity, office work, and gaming. 35% Performance increase over AMD Ryzen 5 7430U/ Ryzen 7 5700U, 5600U, 5560U, 5500U.
- 32GB DDR4 RAM & 512GB PCIe SSD - Installed with DDR4 32GB RAM Dual Channel (2x16GB), the Nucbox M5 Plus mini pc support expansion to 64GB RAM. Featured with 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 SSD, support dual slot expansion to 4TB SSD. (Upgrades not included)
- DUAL NIC LAN 2.5G RJ45 - Fast Network Speeds: Enjoy up to 2500Mbps data transmission speed without worrying about lagging. Ideal for working, gaming, and surfing the internet. Great for Untangle, Pfsense or as a server office PC.
- Mini Desktop Computer with 4K Triple Screen Display - Nucbox M5 Ultra integrates AMD Radeon Graphics 8 Cores 2000 MHz GPU to deliver powerful graphics processing power to easily handle the demands of complex design software, 4K@60Hz UHD video editing, and playback. It can connect to 3 display screens simultaneously.
- Fast Internet WiFi 6E + BT5.2 Connection - GMKtec Mini PC with WiFi-6E Wireless, have 2.5G/5G/6G triple band, more faster and lower latency. Bluetooth 5.2 allowing you more quickly to connect other wireless devices (headset, mouse, keyboard, etc.) Interface features 2*USB3.2 ports, 2*USB2.0 ports, 1*HDMI 2.0 port(4K@60Hz), 1*USB-C port(PD/DP/DATA), 1*DP Port, 1*Audio 3.5mm (HP&MIC), 1*DC Power Port.
Interpret Google Cloud bandwidth ceilings carefully
Google publishes maximum egress figures, but they are ceilings, not promises of achieved throughput. E2 shared-core machines list maximum egress up to 1 Gbps for e2-micro and e2-small, and up to 2 Gbps for e2-medium. E2 high-memory configurations range from 2 to 16 vCPUs and list maxima from 4 to 16 Gbps. These figures do not establish that a shared-core instance is a suitable production encoder.
Google says general per-instance egress is usually 2 Gbps per vCPU, with machine-family exceptions. For traffic outside a VPC, ordinary machine series without Tier_1 networking are generally capped at 7 Gbps total; Tier_1 networking is capped at 25 Gbps externally, and each flow is capped at 3 Gbps. Actual performance can also depend on destination, packet size, flow count, driver, and congestion. Google explicitly cautions: “The maximum possible egress bandwidth is not a guarantee.” See Compute Engine network bandwidth for current limits and machine-family details.
Rank #3
- 【AMD Ryzen 3 5300U CPU: Outperforms N150 & 3500U】 BOSGAME E5 mini PC is powered by the TSMC 7nm FinFET architecture AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, up to 3.8GHz boost, 6MB total cache). Compared to low-end Intel N150 or 3500U chips which only have 4 single threads and throttle under load, the 5300U delivers over 30% faster multi-core speed. Run 30+ browser tabs, large Excel sheets, and Zoom meetings simultaneously without system lag.
- 【8GB DDR4 RAM & 256GB NVMe SSD Storage】 Installed with high-speed 8GB DDR4 dual-channel memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2280 SSD, eliminating slow boot times and application loading delays. To accommodate growing data requirements, the upgradeable hardware design features dual SODIMM slots that allow you to expand memory up to 64GB RAM, ensuring smooth operation during heavy multitasking.
- 【High-Capacity Dual M.2 SSD Storage Expansion】 Never worry about running out of space for your business files. In addition to the pre-installed 256GB system drive, the motherboard houses an extra empty internal M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slot. This allows you to easily add a second solid-state drive for up to an additional 2TB of storage capacity (upgrades not included) without needing to remove or reinstall the original operating system.
- 【Radeon 6-Core Graphics & Triple 4K Displays】 Integrated with official AMD Radeon Graphics (6 Graphics Cores, 1500 MHz frequency) for casual gaming, photo editing, and crisp 4K media decoding. Featuring 1x HDMI 2.0 port, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x Full-Function Type-C port, the E5 outputs true 4K@60Hz resolution to three monitors at once. This multi-screen setup eliminates constant window-switching for traders, programmers, and office workers.
- 【Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports for Advanced Networking】 Experience fast wired network transmission speeds up to 2500Mbps without lagging or buffering. The integration of dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (powered by Realtek RTL8125 controller) makes this compact computer an exceptional hardware choice for tech enthusiasts. Easily configure it into software routers, hardware firewalls (pfSense, OpnSense), home NAS servers, or local homelabs.
Configure and test the YouTube ingest
- Prepare the YouTube live stream. In YouTube Studio, create or select the live stream and obtain its stream URL and stream key. Treat the key like a password: store it securely and reset it if compromised. YouTube’s encoder workflow is documented in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- Configure the encoder or relay. Send the feed to YouTube using the stream URL and key. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest. Its encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS and lists H.264, H.265, and AV1, up to 60 fps, and constant bitrate (CBR). Use settings appropriate to your chosen codec.
- Set keyframes and bitrate. YouTube recommends a 2-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Keep the stream bitrate within the available upload capacity, including YouTube’s recommended 20% reserve and any backup feed.
- Preview before relying on the stream. Start a test transmission, check the preview and stream health in YouTube Studio, and verify the picture, audio, and ingest stability before leaving it unattended.
- Monitor and recover. For a continuous unattended feed, configure operating-system and process supervision, alerting, and a recovery procedure. Test encoder failover if continuity matters; YouTube recommends testing failover. These measures improve operational readiness but do not guarantee uninterrupted service.
Plan for 24/7 operations and archives
A machine that can send the bitrate is only one part of a continuous stream. Decide how the encoder process restarts after a crash, how you will learn that ingest has stopped, and whether the channel needs a separate backup encoder or path. A backup adds resources and cost, and failover should be tested rather than assumed to work.
Do not assume one uninterrupted 24-hour feed will be saved as a single automatic archive. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; a longer continuous broadcast is outside that stated condition. See YouTube’s encoder instructions for its archive guidance.
Rank #4
- 12th Intel Alder Lake N95 Processor – The GMKtec G3 S Mini PC is powered by the 12th Gen Intel N95 processor with 4 cores, 4 threads, 6MB cache and a burst frequency up to 3.4GHz. Compared with N100/N5105/N5100/N5095, the N95 delivers up to 36% overall performance improvement. Perfect for routine tasks, office work, and home entertainment, this compact mini desktop is more convenient than traditional bulky PCs.
- 8GB RAM & 256GB SSD Storage – Pre-installed with 8GB DDR4 memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2242 SSD, the G3 S mini desktop offers quicker startup, smoother multitasking, and faster file transfers. Enjoy seamless performance whether you’re working on multiple applications, browsing, or streaming content.
- Rich Interfaces & Connectivity – The G3 S mini computer comes equipped with USB 3.2 (up to 10Gbps), dual HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), and a 3.5mm audio jack. With support for WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45 1000MbE), it connects easily with monitors, projectors, printers, office equipment, and other peripherals, making it versatile for both home and business use.
- Dual 4K Display Support – Featuring upgraded Intel UHD Graphics (up to 1000MHz), the G3 S supports 4K video playback and AV1 decoding for a smooth viewing experience. With dual HDMI outputs, you can connect two 4K@60Hz displays simultaneously, enabling efficient multitasking for work and entertainment.
- GMKtec WARRANTY - GMKtec offers a 1-year limited GMKtec's warranty for each mini PC, starting from the date of the purchase. All defects due to design and workmanship are covered. With a professional after sales team always ready to attend to your needs, you can simply relax and enjoy your mini PC.
Budget the complete configuration
There is no single reliable monthly price for the recommended starting point because VM pricing depends on machine type and region, and the required region and configuration are unspecified. Include the VM, attached Persistent Disk or Hyperdisk, and network transfer when estimating recurring cost. Compare current rates for the selected region and configuration with Google Cloud Compute Engine pricing; also verify current availability, quotas, and external networking limits before deployment. A redundant backup path raises the total because it requires additional resources.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you are relaying uploaded, pre-recorded video rather than streaming a camera live, StreamNeo is an alternative to managing a VM: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It keeps the stream running from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; video streams as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot. It can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
