Best OBS Encoder for RTX GPUs (NVENC vs x264 vs AV1 in 2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026 Reading time: 5 min

NVENC vs x264 vs AV1 encoder options for RTX GPUs in OBS

If you have an RTX GPU, OBS gives you NVENC (new), x264, and on newer cards AV1. Here’s when to use each and how they affect CPU vs GPU load so you can pick the best encoder for your stream.

NVENC (New) Explained

NVENC is NVIDIA’s hardware encoder. In OBS you’ll see “NVENC H.264” or “NVENC (new)”. The “new” option uses the latest encoder on RTX cards and is the default recommendation. It encodes the video on the GPU, so your CPU is free for the game and OBS scene work. Quality at 6000 kbps is excellent for Twitch.

When to Use x264

x264 is the software (CPU) encoder. Use it if you don’t have an NVIDIA GPU or if you’re on a dedicated streaming PC with a strong CPU and no gaming load. On a single-PC setup, x264 competes with the game for CPU and can cause encoding lag or FPS drops. At slow presets (e.g. slow or slower) x264 can look slightly better than NVENC at the same bitrate, but the performance cost is high for most streamers.

AV1 Pros and Cons

AV1 is a newer codec; RTX 40-series (and some 30-series) support AV1 encoding. It can deliver better quality at lower bitrates where supported (e.g. YouTube). On Twitch, AV1 support is still limited, so for Twitch streaming NVENC H.264 remains the safe choice. Use AV1 for YouTube or when the platform explicitly supports it.

CPU vs GPU Load

NVENC uses the GPU’s encoder block, so CPU usage from encoding is minimal. x264 uses the CPU: the slower the preset, the higher the CPU load and the better the quality. For gaming on one PC, NVENC keeps game FPS stable; x264 often reduces FPS or causes stutter when the preset is too slow.

Recommendation

For RTX + single-PC streaming: use NVENC (new) with Quality preset and High profile. Use x264 only on a dedicated streaming PC or if you have no NVIDIA GPU. Try AV1 for YouTube when your GPU supports it. Full settings: Best OBS Settings for Twitch and Best OBS Settings 2026.

FAQ

Is NVENC better than x264?

For single-PC gaming streams, yes. NVENC offloads encoding to the GPU and keeps the CPU free for the game. x264 can look slightly better at slow presets but usually costs too much CPU and causes encoding lag or FPS drops.

Does AV1 work on Twitch?

Twitch’s support for AV1 is still limited. For Twitch, use NVENC H.264. Use AV1 for platforms that support it, such as YouTube.

Will NVENC reduce game FPS?

No. NVENC uses the GPU’s dedicated encoder, so it does not reduce game FPS the way x264 (CPU encoding) can. For single-PC streaming, NVENC is the better choice to keep FPS stable.