A Dual or Quad core processor is recommended for high video quality and speed.
Windows 7 (32bit or 64bit).
2GB or more recommended for high video quality.
A high speed web connection ADSL or cable (1Mbs upload speed is recommended for high video quality and fast frame rate).


Apart from the computer quality the available bandwidth is critical.
When running mega pixel and HQ cams you need a dual or quad core processor. I say dual as they are more common in current laptops as opposed to quad cores.
Windows is necessary (unfortunately) for most (if not all) cam broadcasting programs, splitcam and the majority of cameras.

Toshiba makes one of the better laptops but I don't think there is that much of a difference between major brands.

This is not entirely true.

A fast CPU and lots of RAM is good for your computer's overall speed because Windows is a resource hog. Streaming webcam video not be affected difference if you have 2GB or 4GB of memory. Quad Core is better for overall use of course and is a flat-out requirement for big programs such as video editors, but in streaming chat it won't make much difference I don't think. Anyway, who cares? You can't buy dual core machines anymore unless you go second hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam (Post 17637966) Apart from the computer quality the available bandwidth is critical. When running mega pixel and HQ cams you need a dual or quad core processor. I say dual as they are more common in current laptops as opposed to quad cores.

What you really care more about is available resources to take advantage of the camera. For example when streaming live video, check your CPU meter. A 2.8 GHz Quad Core machine streaming to any website will probably eat up less than 10% of the total available CPU time if the streaming program is Flash based. Other programs in Windows will eat up more CPU ticks than the video chat program will. If the chat program is based on Windows Media Encoder, it will most definitely eat up more time though.

You need a big machine for capturing and handling high resolution video, but programs used for video chat capture only 320x240 or 480x320 (or in LiveCamNetwork's case, 720x405. The software then crunches it into nice little optimized bites that are sent out over the Internet at a speed you can adjust.

If you have a fast machine but video streaming is slow, try disabling programs you aren't using. Check your system resources and make sure that you don't have any useless programs sucking up precious CPU time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam (Post 17637966) Windows is necessary (unfortunately) for most (if not all) cam broadcasting programs, splitcam and the majority of cameras.

Yes, thats a shame. MAC's are so much better. Fortunately, Our program http://www.2much.net works on both Macs and PC's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam (Post 17637966) Toshiba makes one of the better laptops but I don't think there is that much of a difference between major brands.

She said LAPTOP