Question / Help Buffering, regardless of quality settings

[Nicklas]

Hey dear OBS forums.
I've read the different articles on setting up your system, and various guides to fix things up.

But nothing seems to go my way.

Whenever I stream with a higher bitrate than 1500+ The video loads from time to time for the viewers (and myself.)
I know this could be the server that needs to send the video to the other viewers.

It doesn't matter if it's set to stream at the original resolution, or downscale 1.5. 30fps or 60fps.
I'd like to stream at 3500 as it seems to be a general setting.

I even put my settings the exact order of another streamer like this:

Downscale: 1.5 1280x720
FPS: 45
Encoding: 3500
(With this, my CPU runs at 50-60%)

and of cause, no dropped frames or anything, I'm not really losing any FPS either in-game (CSGO for an example.)
I run CS:GO on 1920x1080 resolution, as I've always done.

Do You fellas have any idea to what I could change op to optimize it even further?

System:
CPU Intel® Core i7-3930K Processor
Motherboard ASUS P9X79 LE, Socket-2011
RAM Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 4x4GB (16GB) CL9
Video Card Gainward GeForce GTX 670 2GB PhysX CUDA
UP Speed: 10mb
Down Speed: 50mb

EDIT:
Even the OBS estimator tells me I should be able to stream
1080 with 60fps and 3500 bit&buffer rate.

Also, does the resolution and fps settings only affect my CPU and not the uploading? Is it only the bitrate and buffer that deals with my uploading to the provider?

In that case, it makes no difference to what settings I'm using when 3500 should be doable right?

 

[Jack0r]

My stream lags/buffers/loads constantly for my viewers, but why?
In short, yes, the bitrate will pretty much define how much upload you need, apart of small up and down movement it will be pretty stable (using CBR). Different resolutions, fps settings etc, only change the workload the encoder/decoder has to do.

As the streamer we can only lower our bitrates and hope the service we use can keep up with that and send it succesfully to our viewers.

 

[Nicklas]

@Jack0r

But it seems so weird, I tried setting my settings exactly the same as Shroud for an example, a CS:GO streamer, with these settings I still have issues. Well the servers have issues delivering that small bitrate.

Could there be a secret little thing, where partnered streams have better servers that gets and forwards the video to the user?

 

[Jack0r]

From what I heard, Twitch simply does not serve unpartnered streams from different servers, in most cases you will receive the stream off the SFO server farm. Partnered streams on the other hand are served from a location near you in most cases, hence you can watch it.
And in some cases unpartnered streams might be served from different locations if they meet some special goals. For example a high amount of viewers.

 

[Greendweller]

While the estimator indicates that your hardware is indeed capable to stream with those settings, it doen't mean that the streaming service (twitch, hibox , ect) will accept those settings.

basicly 1080 with 60 fps is never a good idea to stream with currently, because flash wil not work properly.
(ofcourse it can be used to do local recordings and even with higher settings than those)

If you are not partnerd with twitch, don't stream with 3500 bitrate. Non-partners are adviced to go between 2000-2500.
This also lowers the bandwidth use (red. buffering times) for your viewers.
(that a well know partnerd streamer will advice 3500 is because they basicly don't know any better. They all know how to play games but only a few know the actual technical side of streaming/pc settings)

resolution and fps settings matter for your cpu and for your quality so a carefull balance between those all is needed and is only achieved trough testing different settings.

But with a proper log with from a teststream would often indicate in what wat way to adjust your settings.
however in this case your log is incomplete. So if you upload a good one; we can probably help you further from there.



*edit* i took way to long to type this -.-'

 

[Nicklas]

@Jack0r
That makes so much sense, damn. It's tough out there. :-)

@Greendweller
A log from my old 1500 settings, or a complete stream with the higher bitrate?

When I get back from work I'll try to do a complete stream with something in between 2000-2500. I'll upload it as soon as the stream is done.

Thanks to both of you for clearing this up for me so far.

 

[Nicklas]

Oh yes and one more thing.
What is a good spot to place your CPU usage at? Like to keep it steady in %. 60, 70ish?

Is 80-85% pushing it?

 

[Greendweller]

A log of that test tonight would be a good start i guess.

There is not a real "good spot"
But there are several factors that contribute like other programs that you want to use while streaming.(internet, skype, on-line gaming, ect)
And its always good to try to keep as low as you can. (= less heat = better for you hardware and less fan noise on you mic/stream)