Best OBS Recording Settings 4K, 2K, and 1080p

Best OBS Recording Settings for 4K, 2K (1440p), and 1080p

This guide focuses on recording only—no streaming settings. It assumes OBS 29+ with modern GPU encoders (NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, Intel Quick Sync). If you’re on x264 CPU encoding, see the CPU notes in each section.

There isn’t a single “best” OBS configuration—hardware, games, and workflows vary. Treat these settings as a strong starting point and adjust based on your rig, storage, and editor. These are the setups that have worked well for me; if you’ve found tweaks that work better for you, please share them in our Discord so everyone can benefit.

General setup (applies to all resolutions)

• Canvas and Output Resolution: Set your Canvas to your monitor/game resolution. Set Output to the target resolution (4K, 1440p, or 1080p).
• FPS: 60 fps is the sweet spot for most gameplay; use 120 fps only if your hardware, storage, and editor can handle it.
• Color format: NV12, Color space Rec.709, Color range Partial (Limited) for broad compatibility.
• Recording format: Hybrid MP4. Similar to MKV, it saves recording segments, so if OBS crashes, you still have most or all of your footage, unlike older MP4s which often become unusable.
• Audio: Sample rate 48 kHz. Track bitrates 192–320 kbps for commentary; 256–320 kbps for game audio/music.
• Capture source: Prefer Game Capture over Display Capture. Window Capture is fine for borderless games.

Encoder picks (quick guidance)

• NVIDIA: NVENC (new) is best for recording. Rate control: CQP.
• AMD: AMF H.264/HEVC. Use CQP/VBR with quality target; AMF’s “Quality” preset if available.
• Intel: Quick Sync H.264/HEVC. Use ICQ/LAICQ (quality) or VBR with high quality settings.
• CPU (x264): Use CRF mode. Only if your GPU encoder is unavailable or you need specific x264 behavior.

Key feature toggles (GPU encoders)

• Preset: Quality (or P5/P6 if using NVENC presets). “Max Quality” adds GPU cost; most won’t see big gains.
• Psycho Visual Tuning (PVT): ON for better detail retention (NVIDIA).
• Look-ahead: OFF for lower latency and better performance.
• B-frames: 2 (safe default).

Bitrate vs Quality modes

• Prefer CQP/ICCRF for recording. They target a visual quality level rather than a fixed bitrate. File sizes vary per scene.
• If you must use bitrate, see the “Approximate bitrates” notes in each resolution section.

4K (3840×2160) recording Use when your GPU/CPU and storage can sustain it (especially at 60–120 fps).

NVIDIA NVENC (H.264)

• Rate control: CQP
• CQP: 14–20 (14–16 for pristine quality; 18–20 for smaller files)
• Preset: Quality
• PVT: ON, Look-ahead: OFF, B-frames: 2
• Keyframe interval: 2 seconds
• Expected averages: 50–120 Mbps at 4K60 depending on scene complexity

NVIDIA NVENC (HEVC/H.265)

• Better compression and quality at the same size; not all editors/platforms handle HEVC equally
• CQP: 18–24 (HEVC is more efficient; you can use a higher number for similar quality)
• Other toggles same as above

AMD / Intel (AMF / Quick Sync)

• Quality mode: CQP/ICQ around 18–24
• Preset: Quality
• B-frames: 2
• Keyframe interval: 2 s

x264 (CPU)

• Rate control: CRF 18–22 (lower = higher quality)
• Preset: Very fast–Medium depending on CPU. “Medium” looks better but is much heavier.
• Tune: None (or Film if your editor prefers it); Profile: High
• Note: 4K60 at Medium is unrealistic on most CPUs. Prefer GPU encoders.

Optional HDR (advanced)

• Color format: P010 10-bit, Color space Rec.2100 (PQ)
• Encoder: HEVC preferred
• Ensure your editor and playback pipeline support HDR; file sizes and compatibility trade-offs apply.

2K / 1440p (2560×1440) recording Sweet spot for high-end rigs; less CPU/GPU and disk pressure than 4K.

NVIDIA NVENC (H.264)

• CQP: 18–22
• Preset: Quality, PVT: ON, Look-ahead: OFF, B-frames: 2
• Keyframe interval: 2 s
• Expected averages: ~25–70 Mbps at 1440p60

NVENC (HEVC)

• CQP: 20–26
• Same toggles as above

AMD / Intel

• CQP/ICQ: 20–26, Preset: Quality, B-frames: 2, Keyframe: 2 s

x264 (CPU)

• CRF: 20–23
• Preset: Very fast–Fast for balance; Medium if your CPU can handle it
• Profile: High

1080p (1920×1080) recording Balanced quality and compatibility; ideal for most editors and viewers.

NVIDIA NVENC (H.264)

• CQP: 20–24 (20–22 for crisp detail; 23–24 for smaller files)
• Preset: Quality, PVT: ON, Look-ahead: OFF, B-frames: 2
• Keyframe interval: 2 s
• Expected averages: ~12–40 Mbps at 1080p60

NVENC (HEVC)

• CQP: 22–28 with similar visual quality at smaller sizes

AMD / Intel

• CQP/ICQ: 22–28, Preset: Quality, B-frames: 2

x264 (CPU)

• CRF: 21–24
• Preset: Very fast–Fast
• Profile: High

Scaling and sharpening

• If your Canvas is higher than your Output, use Downscale Filter: Lanczos (32 samples) for best detail.
• Avoid double-scaling (don’t rescale both the source and the output).

Disk and performance checks

• Storage throughput: Ensure your recording drive can sustain the throughput (e.g., 4K60 at high quality can exceed 80 Mbps). Use an SSD/NVMe for safety.
• CPU/GPU headroom: Keep 10–20% headroom for game and background tasks. If you see encoder overflows or stutter, raise CQP/CRF (higher number) or lower FPS/resolution.
• CFR vs VFR: Prefer CFR in Advanced settings for smoother editing timelines.

Quick presets by scenario

• “I want perfect archival quality at 4K60”: NVENC HEVC, CQP 18–22, P010 10-bit if you need HDR, otherwise NV12 8-bit; Preset Quality; MKV then remux.
• “I want easy-to-edit, widely compatible files at 1080p60”: NVENC H.264, CQP 20–22, Preset Quality, PVT ON, MKV then remux to MP4.
• “My CPU is strong but my GPU is busy”: x264 CRF 20–22, Preset Fast–Medium; consider 1440p60 instead of 4K60.

Troubleshooting visual artifacts

• Blockiness in fast motion: Lower CQP/CRF (e.g., from 22 to 20) or switch to HEVC; ensure PVT is ON.
• Stutter or encoder overload: Disable Look-ahead, raise CQP/CRF, reduce FPS, or drop resolution.
• Washed colors: Ensure Rec.709, Partial range, and correct color format in both OBS and your editor.

Bottom line

• Use GPU encoders with quality modes (CQP/ICQ) for recording.
• Pick resolution and FPS your system can sustain without impacting gameplay.
• Record Hybrid MP4 (New Method) or MKV, remux (Old Method) to MP4, and keep color settings consistent for clean edits.

I always experiment with different settings to find what works best, but here is a screenshots of my current settings.