The x264 veryfast preset is the correct setting for streamers without GPU encoding (older GPUs, integrated graphics, certain laptop configs). The x264 encoder runs on the CPU, and the preset selection determines how aggressively it compresses the stream. Faster presets use less CPU; slower presets compress better but burn more CPU.

The "veryfast" preset is the calibrated balance for live streaming. It uses moderate CPU, produces acceptable quality, and stays inside the latency budget that live broadcasting requires. Slower presets ("medium," "slow") produce better-looking streams but spike CPU usage to the point of dropping frames.

The implementation: in OBS Advanced output mode, encoder set to x264, find the preset dropdown, select "veryfast." Save. Run a test stream and watch CPU usage in Task Manager. CPU should sit comfortably below the threshold where the system struggles.

If you have any hardware encoder option (NVENC, AV1, VCE), use it instead. Hardware encoding always beats x264 for live. The x264 path is the fallback, not the default.