Why CPU Transcoding Beats GPU for Live Streaming

Real-World CPU Transcoding Power

A modern 64-core AMD EPYC 7002 series CPU (128 threads) can reliably transcode up to ~120 concurrent HD (1080p) live streams using efficient x264 presets. This makes EPYC-based servers one of the best price-per-stream solutions available for professional streaming platforms and transcoding farms.

CPU vs GPU Transcoding – What’s the Difference?

Live streaming platforms typically choose between CPU software encoding and GPU hardware acceleration. While GPUs can be fast, CPUs offer a superior balance of quality, flexibility, and cost — especially at scale.

Advantages of CPU Transcoding

• Higher visual quality at the same bitrate using software x264 encoding
• Fine-grained control over FFmpeg presets, bitrates, profiles, and keyframes
• No GPU driver dependencies or hardware encoder limits
• Runs on affordable, widely available server hardware
• Predictable scaling as CPU cores increase

GPU Transcoding Limitations

• Expensive GPU servers with limited availability
• Hardware encoder stream limits on many GPUs
• Lower quality per bitrate compared to tuned CPU encoding
• Less flexibility for advanced FFmpeg tuning

How Many Streams Can a CPU Handle?

The number of streams a CPU can transcode depends on resolution, bitrate, and encoding presets. However, the following real-world estimates are typical for H.264 live streaming workloads.

CPU vs GPU Transcoding – Cost Per Stream

One of the biggest differences between CPU and GPU transcoding is cost per concurrent stream. The table below compares realistic real-world deployments.

Estimates based on 1080p H.264 live streaming workloads using common FFmpeg presets.

Estimates assume 1080p H.264 transcoding with balanced presets.

Cheap CPU Servers for Transcoding

Because CPU-only servers are far cheaper than GPU instances, you can dramatically reduce streaming infrastructure costs.

One excellent source for high-core servers is:

👉 Geo Hosting

Example high-value server:

• Superstar Suite
• 2× Intel Xeon E5-2697A v4 (32 cores / 64 threads)
• 64 GB ECC RAM
• 2× 960 GB SSD
• 10 Gbit uplink + Anti-DDoS
• €180 / month

With a 10 Gbit port, network bandwidth is not a bottleneck — allowing the CPU to operate at full capacity for large-scale live streaming.

Why Xtranscoder Is Optimised for CPU Transcoding

Xtranscoder is designed around CPU-based FFmpeg workflows, allowing you to extract maximum value from modern multi-core processors.

• Efficient default presets for quality vs performance
• On-demand streaming to save CPU when streams aren’t viewed
• Advanced FFmpeg tuning without command-line complexity
• Scales linearly with additional CPU cores

For most professional streaming use-cases, CPU transcoding delivers the lowest cost per stream, the highest compatibility, and the most predictable scaling.