For a lean, single-stream Linux VPS running a simple YouTube broadcast, 4 GB of RAM is a reasonable place to start. Consider 8 GB if OBS shares the VPS with other services, your scene has several browser or media sources, or you also record or transcode.
Those are practical starting estimates, not a published minimum or a guarantee. RAM is only one constraint: CPU and encoder capacity, scene rendering, throughput, reconnect handling and monitoring all affect whether a stream stays healthy. OVHcloud’s advertised unlimited traffic should not be read as unlimited speed.
Unlimited traffic is not unlimited speed
“Unlimited traffic” and “bandwidth” describe different things. Traffic is the amount of data transferred over a billing period or under a provider’s traffic policy. Throughput is the rate at which data can travel at a particular moment. A plan may advertise unlimited traffic while also specifying a public bandwidth figure or other conditions that affect transfer speed.
That distinction matters for a 24/7 stream because the encoder sends data continuously. A generous traffic allowance does not itself establish that the VPS can sustain the bitrate you need, or that the route between the VPS and YouTube will perform consistently. Likewise, a high public bandwidth figure is not a promise of uninterrupted performance.
RAM is separate again. It is working memory used by the operating system and applications such as OBS. More RAM will not fix an undersized CPU, an unavailable hardware encoder, a weak network route or an application that repeatedly disconnects. Before selecting a VPS, consider memory, CPU, usable encoding options, storage, throughput and the reliability measures you will put around the process.
If you are choosing between a VPS and a different way to send a pre-recorded stream, it may help to compare the operational differences in VPS and cloud encoder options. That comparison does not replace checking the resources and terms of the specific instance you plan to buy.
Find the bandwidth for the specific plan
OVHcloud’s public VPS page lists configurations and public bandwidth alongside RAM, vCores and storage. As listed on OVHcloud’s site in October 2026, the page showed the following “VPS 2027” configurations. These are a snapshot, not permanent specifications; confirm the offer, region and terms shown at checkout.
| Plan shown | RAM | vCores | NVMe storage | Public bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPS-1 | 4 GB | 2 | 40 GB | 500 Mbps |
| VPS-2 | 8 GB | 4 | 75 GB | 1 Gbps |
| VPS-3 | 12 GB | 6 | 100 GB | 2 Gbps |
| VPS-4 | 24 GB | 8 | 200 GB | 3 Gbps |
These figures describe what the page listed, not a test of continuous streaming performance. They also do not mean that every offer in every market has the same configuration. Check the relevant OVHcloud page for your intended location and plan, and read any conditions attached to its public bandwidth and traffic policy.
A single stream’s nominal bitrate is usually far below the listed public bandwidth figure, but that comparison alone cannot establish quality. You still need spare capacity for protocol overhead and variability, and you need to account for the actual network route and any other activity on the VPS. Public bandwidth is not the same as a guaranteed end-to-end rate to YouTube.
The plan table can help narrow a shortlist, but do not choose on bandwidth alone. Compare RAM and vCores against the workload, and check whether a usable hardware encoder is available to the guest if you intend to rely on one. A generic listing of vCores and RAM does not show that NVENC, Quick Sync or another hardware path is exposed and supported.
Check regional traffic terms and quotas
Provider terms can vary with the region, offer and service configuration. An “unlimited traffic” label on a general product page should prompt you to inspect the terms for the actual VPS you are ordering, rather than assume that one policy applies everywhere. Check the selected data centre, the product’s traffic or bandwidth conditions, and any fair-use or post-quota language presented by OVHcloud.
This is especially important if you are buying from India or selecting an Asia-Pacific location. Confirm that the exact offer you see is available in that region, and make sure you understand the quota and speed treatment, if any, that applies after it. Do not carry a figure from a regional support article or a different product page across to another market without checking its scope.
A region can also affect the route to YouTube and the audience. The geographically closest VPS is not automatically the best route for either. Your own stream test should show whether the chosen location can send a stable signal, while the official product terms tell you what the provider describes and allows. For a wider discussion of location and practical checks, see using an Indian cloud server for a 24/7 meditation stream.
Understand the APAC quota and post-quota cap
OVHcloud’s published APAC terms include a traffic quota and a 10 Mbps post-quota cap for the offer to which those terms apply. Do not treat that as a universal limit for all OVHcloud VPS plans or regions. Confirm that the applicable APAC offer and its current terms match the particular VPS you are considering before using those figures in a capacity calculation.
A post-quota cap is a throughput limit after the specified traffic allowance is reached; it is not extra RAM, and it is not the same as the plan’s initial public bandwidth figure. If your stream’s outgoing data accumulates against the applicable quota, the cap could become relevant later in the billing period. Whether it matters depends on the quota, bitrate, duration and any other transfer counted under the terms.
For example, a channel that sends one continuous stream should estimate its monthly transfer from the encoded bitrate and the hours it runs, then compare that estimate with the quota stated for its exact offer. Do not assume the plan page’s general “unlimited traffic” wording overrides a regional condition, nor assume that an APAC condition applies where it is not listed. If the terms are unclear, ask OVHcloud to confirm the selected offer before relying on it.
The same care applies to changes after purchase. OVHcloud says resource upgrade options depend on the VPS range and model. A regional support page can also describe a policy that is specific to its named geography and date. Check the current upgrade documentation and support information for your own account rather than assume that RAM or bandwidth can be changed in the same way everywhere.
Estimate stream usage from bitrate and duration
A simple way to estimate the data sent by a stream is to multiply its bitrate by its running time. To get a rough decimal gigabyte estimate, multiply megabits per second by the number of seconds, then divide by 8,000. This estimate is for the stream payload and does not include all protocol overhead or unrelated VPS traffic, so leave room rather than treating it as an exact invoice calculation.
YouTube’s current live encoder guidance provides recommended video ingest bitrates by resolution, frame rate and codec. As listed in YouTube’s guidance accessed in October 2026, 1080p at 30 fps is 10 Mbps for AV1/H.265 or 14 Mbps for H.264; 1080p at 60 fps is 12 Mbps or 17 Mbps respectively; and 720p at 30 fps is 6 Mbps or 8 Mbps. These are video bitrate recommendations, not RAM requirements or network guarantees. Check YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance for the current recommendations and any other settings relevant to your stream.
For illustration, a 10 Mbps stream running for 24 hours sends about 108 GB of video payload using that rough calculation: 10 multiplied by 86,400 seconds, divided by 8,000. That is an estimate, not a prediction of the amount OVHcloud will count. Audio, protocol overhead, reconnect behaviour and other traffic can change the actual total. Use the bitrate you will actually send, and compare the result with the terms for the particular plan and region.
For a playlist or looping video, the video file’s size is not the same as the total transfer sent to YouTube. The encoder sends a live output at the configured bitrate while the stream runs; the source file is read locally from storage. If you are building a playlist workflow, streaming multiple MP4 videos with FFmpeg covers a related setup choice.
Leave headroom and account for intensive use
For a static image or a simple looping video with one audio track and a lean scene, 4 GB is a reasonable starting allocation for a single Linux stream. Choose 8 GB if the VPS will host other applications, the OBS scene uses several browser or media sources or filters, or you plan to record or transcode at the same time. This is a sizing judgement based on the workload and available plan choices, not an OBS or YouTube minimum and not a tested guarantee.
OBS’s requirements vary with encoder, resolution, frame rate and scene complexity. OBS also renders and composites the scene, so browser overlays, multiple sources and filters can add load. Its system requirements explicitly caution that having a compatible system does not guarantee it can stream or record successfully. Consult the OBS system requirements and troubleshoot against the version and operating system you actually run.
Consider CPU and encoding before adding memory. An encoder overloaded by a demanding resolution or frame rate can struggle even if the system has RAM available. Hardware encoding may move some work to a specialised component, but only if compatible hardware, drivers and platform support are available. Do not infer that a usable GPU encoder is present just because the VPS plan lists CPU cores and memory.
When comparing plans, include the full workload: OBS plus any other services, source complexity, simultaneous recording, storage needs and expected network use. A machine with more RAM can still be the wrong fit if its CPU or encoding path is inadequate. If you are weighing a hosted encoder against a machine you manage yourself, the cost and trade-offs of a desktop versus a cloud encoder may help frame that separate decision.
Validate the exact workload before relying on it
Test the actual stream configuration rather than a blank OBS scene. Use the intended resolution, frame rate, codec, audio, overlays and playlist behaviour. YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement similar to the planned broadcast, monitoring stream health and using constant bitrate; its current guidance also recommends RTMPS. Review the YouTube live streaming encoder settings before configuring the output, since recommendations can change.
During the test, observe memory pressure, CPU usage, encoder warnings and network behaviour. If memory is comfortable but the encoder reports overload, adding RAM may not help. If the system is swapping or other processes compete for memory, a larger allocation or simpler workload may be appropriate. If YouTube reports connection or stream-health issues, investigate throughput, route, bitrate and reconnect behaviour separately from RAM.
A 24/7 channel also needs a recovery plan. Decide how the stream process will restart after an application failure, how you will be notified of a stopped or unhealthy broadcast, and how you will recover if the VPS itself needs attention. A machine that can launch OBS once is not proof that it can run unattended for days. No RAM choice alone guarantees continuity.
If usage rises after launch, use observed data to guide changes. Check whether memory is genuinely constrained, whether CPU or encoding is saturated, and whether the scene or other services can be simplified. OVHcloud’s upgrade guide says available options depend on the range and model, so verify what changes are supported for your instance before assuming you can scale it later.
Recheck the current offer and service terms
Commercial pages and regional conditions can change. Before ordering, revisit OVHcloud’s VPS offer page, select the intended region, and confirm the displayed RAM, vCores, storage, bandwidth, traffic wording and any applicable quota or cap. The plan figures in this article reflect the page checked in October 2026; they should not be treated as a lasting specification.
Then check the OVHcloud resource upgrade guide for the range and model you are considering. Regional support material may be narrower than the product page and can become outdated, so verify its date and scope. Do not use a U.S.-specific support statement to infer upgrade policy in APAC or another region.
For a simple, single-output Linux stream, 4 GB is a sensible starting point; move towards 8 GB when the scene or co-located workload is heavier. Keep that decision separate from throughput and quotas: estimate transfer at your intended bitrate, check the applicable regional terms, and run a realistic test before making the channel dependent on the VPS.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Is 4 GB RAM enough to run OBS on an OVHcloud VPS?
It is a reasonable starting allocation for a lean, single-stream Linux setup, such as a simple looping video with one audio track. It is not a published minimum or a guarantee; test your exact scene and encoder, and consider more memory if OBS shares the VPS or uses several sources and filters.
Should I choose 8 GB instead?
Consider 8 GB if you run other services on the VPS, use a more complex OBS scene, or record or transcode alongside the live output. More RAM does not resolve every performance issue, so check CPU and encoder capacity as well.
Does unlimited traffic mean unlimited streaming speed?
No. Traffic refers to the amount transferred under the offer’s policy, while throughput is the rate of transfer. Check the public bandwidth and regional conditions for the exact plan; neither an unlimited-traffic label nor a bandwidth figure promises uninterrupted performance.
Does the APAC 10 Mbps cap apply to every OVHcloud VPS?
No. The published APAC quota and post-quota cap apply only where the relevant offer terms specify them. Confirm the selected region and current service terms rather than applying those figures to other plans or markets.