Question / Help CPU usage seems much higher than before

[poNji]

Hello,

I recently came back from a long holiday so I haven't streamed for a while (maybe a month or 1,5). When I came back from holiday sadly one of my 4GB RAM modules was broken, so I'm left with only 4GB now in my streaming PC.

Since then I have been running into issues with my stream. The CPU usage has drasticly increased (probably by about 40-50%), and I can't stream at nearly the same quality as I used to be able to.

Here's my setup:
GAMING RIG:
CPU: Intel i7-3820 (3.6GHz)
MOBO: Intel DX79TO
RAM: G.Skill RipJawsZ 16GB, DDR3-1600
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 770 Gaming 2GB
HDD: Crucial MX100 512GB SSD
CASE: Zalman Z9 Plus
PSU: Cooler Master GX 750WATT
OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise

STREAMING RIG:
CPU: Intel i7-4790k (4.0GHz)
MOBO: ASRock Z87M Extreme4
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB, DDR3-1600
CAP: AVerMedia Live Gamer HD
HDD: OCZ Agility 3 240GB SSD + 1TB HDD
CASE: Fractal Design Core 1000
PSU: Corsair CX Series Modular CX500M
OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise

I stream (and always have) at the following settings:
Birate: 2250
CBR & CBR Padding both on
Output resolution: 1280x720 (no downscale)
FPS: 60
x264 CPU Preset: Medium

The reason I use CPU Preset Medium with such low bitrate is because I want everyone to be able to view my stream. Sadly I'm not partnered, and I don't get the viewercount to get the quality options, so my bitrate is very limited, so I have to compensate with CPU preset to still be able to output 720p60fps.

1,5 month ago these settings were perfectly fine, taking up about 80% of my CPU with spikes to 100% while streaming Minecraft. The only thing that has changed is the 4GB RAM loss in my streaming rig, leaving only 4GB RAM, but I believe that really shouldn't affect it that much. Right now when I try identical settings my CPU gets overloaded like never before and suffers greatly in quality (I also get the WARNING: High encoding CPU usage! message in OBS, which I never have before). Here is an example video of identical stream settings as it is right now: http://www.twitch.tv/ponjitest/b/566900228

Of course a few things have changed:
- From 8GB down to 4GB RAM.
- OBS version 0.625b vs 0.631b (I have tried reverting back to 0.625b but to no avail)
- Possibly windows updates

I've tried tuning down some settings but I really have to drastically tune down my settings (down to 720p30fps) to be able to stream properly again. Even streaming with 3500bitrate, CPU Preset Veryfast and 720p60fps is troublesome for my CPU.

I still have to send out my 4GB RAM out for replacement, but that's going to take a while. But I honestly doubt that 4GB RAM can make such a drastic difference in my stream quality. Even with 4GB RAM with the hardware that I have I should easilly be able to push more quality out of my stream.

Here's a pastebin link to a logfile from OBS as well. Not sure if this logfile covers multiple stream tests or not, but the most recent one (10th of september at 21:46) is the one where I use identical settings to what I used to use.
http://pastebin.com/dYRhD3d3

What I'm hoping to find out is whether some stuff have maybe changed in the meantime that I'm overlooking? Or does RAM really have such a big impact on stream quality, and if so would it be maybe worth getting 16gb then? Are there any settings/tricks you guys recommend for my setup?

Thanks for your time to read all of this, and I appreciate any feedback.

 

[poNji]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Lain]

My recommendation would be this: Backup and then clean your settings, work your way up from clean settings and along the way see what specific source or setting change you make that may be the blame for your issue.

If you don't want to abandon that data then just do it in a new blank scene, and do not use the other scenes while testing.

 

[alpinlol]

also make sure that your cpu temps are actually fine

 

[poNji]

My recommendation would be this: Backup and then clean your settings, work your way up from clean settings and along the way see what specific source or setting change you make that may be the blame for your issue.

If you don't want to abandon that data then just do it in a new blank scene, and do not use the other scenes while testing.

Re-installed OBS entirely and started from scratch. Things do seem to be better, but still not quite what it used to be.

The CPU usage seems to be way more affected by whether Preview is on or off. When I have it off, my CPU usage is pretty damn close to what it always has been (even though I do still get the occasional WARNING message for high encoding cpu usage), but at least it's not constant 24/7 anymore. It does still occasionally give me slight FPS drops however.

I'm starting to become a bit afraid that I might have to revert back to 720p30fps until I get partnered so that my viewers will have quality options. I can't afford going higher than 2250 bitrate because I'll lose viewers because of it. 3500 bitrate 720p60fps runs perfectly fine, no issues there whatsoever. Is 720p45fps at all an option or will that cause other issues (frame timings and stuff)? Still very strange where these issues have come from though. Maybe RAM does have a slight effect on it?

also make sure that your cpu temps are actually fine

CPU temps seem to be fine. In idle the CPU temps are down to 32 degrees celsius, and under 100% load from OBS they don't go above 65.

 

[Boildown]

21:31:27: preset: medium

21:32:26: Total frames encoded: 3475, total frames duplicated: 674 (19.40%)
21:32:26: Number of frames skipped due to encoder lag: 355 (10.22%)
21:32:26: Total frames rendered: 3076, number of late frames: 110 (3.58%)

21:33:18: preset: faster

21:34:38: Total frames encoded: 4730, total frames duplicated: 176 (3.72%)
21:34:38: Total frames rendered: 4768, number of late frames: 3 (0.06%)

21:43:44: preset: medium

21:44:31: Total frames encoded: 2763, total frames duplicated: 533 (19.29%)
21:44:31: Number of frames skipped due to encoder lag: 236 (8.54%)
21:44:31: Total frames rendered: 2569, number of late frames: 48 (1.87%)

As you can see by the duplicated frames and frames skipped by encoder lag, your computer cannot handle Medium preset. You even have too many duplicated frames using Faster preset (anything over 1% is IMO very noticeable).

You should change your preset to Very Fast.

 

[poNji]

As you can see by the duplicated frames and frames skipped by encoder lag, your computer cannot handle Medium preset. You even have too many duplicated frames using Faster preset (anything over 1% is IMO very noticeable).

You should change your preset to Very Fast.

Weird thing is though that I have used the Medium preset for 90% of my streams, and never had any issues (the occasional 100% CPU spike, but never warnings in obs). Only thing that has changed is my RAM.

I do also recall updating chipset drivers before my holiday, but I can't remember if I have streamed with the updated chipset drivers or not.

I have a spare GTX560ti lying around. Going to put that in my Streaming PC, and see if that has any effect (might reduce the load on my CPU a little bit) because I see that Skype and Chrome (when I'm watching a VOD) take up a shitload of CPU as well. Possibly because I'm using the onboard dvi connection.

 

[alpinlol]

DO NOT USE CHROME on your dedicated streaming machine ... a 720p60 stream running on chrome can take up to 30% cpu usage on an i7 2700k probably a few % less on an 4790k but its still noticeable

 

[Boildown]

I have a spare GTX560ti lying around. Going to put that in my Streaming PC, and see if that has any effect (might reduce the load on my CPU a little bit) because I see that Skype and Chrome (when I'm watching a VOD) take up a shitload of CPU as well. Possibly because I'm using the onboard dvi connection.

I bet that fixes it. I have frequently noticed in help requests on this forum that people who exclusively use the Intel HD Graphics, even the superior Haswell 4600 version, have poorer than expected performance. I personally no longer recommend people use it as their GPU for OBS (using it for Quicksync with another GPU is fine).

 

[poNji]

DO NOT USE CHROME on your dedicated streaming machine ... a 720p60 stream running on chrome can take up to 30% cpu usage on an i7 2700k probably a few % less on an 4790k but its still noticeable

I read that this is mostly a Flash issue, and not a CPU issue. Disabling the built in plugin from Chrome and installing the standalone flashplayer fixes most of these issues (greatly reduced my CPU usage on Twitch).

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/tech-support/337569-high-cpu-usage-when-watching-twitch-streams#12

I bet that fixes it. I have frequently noticed in help requests on this forum that people who exclusively use the Intel HD Graphics, even the superior Haswell 4600 version, have poorer than expected performance. I personally no longer recommend people use it as their GPU for OBS (using it for Quicksync with another GPU is fine).

What a world of a difference that made. Right, so I changed the following:

BEFORE:
- No GPU
- Capturecard in a PCIe x1 slot

AFTER:
- GTX560ti in a PCIe x16 3.0 slot
- Capturecard in a PCIe x16 3.0 slot (had to move it because gpu was blocking the x1 slot)

My CPU usage while streaming at 720p60fps with the aforementioned settings (preset Medium etc) have been more than halved. While moving around quickly in minecraft trying to create a shitload of motion my CPU hardly went above 60% which is AMAZING. It never was that low, not even before my holiday. Mind you this is also while on skype with sending and receiving webcam,a s well as having the preview on in OBS.

http://www.twitch.tv/ponjitest/b/567498161

Not too happy with the pixelation on the stream but thats a whole other issue (hard to fix without increasing bitrate). CPU issue seems resolved for now!

 

[alpinlol]

well guess we could have helped you earlier :P but your streaming machine said it got an gtx 560ti in it :P why would you take it out?

glad it helped god bless boildown

and about the chrome flashplayer this doesnt really matter tbh... sometimes they update stuff on chrome which makes it worth this would be the only time the manually installed flashplayer would work better as far as my testing goes also for some reason the fps on streams looks different and its different in a worse way

 

[poNji]

well guess we could have helped you earlier :P but your streaming machine said it got an gtx 560ti in it :P why would you take it out?

I just realized this as well. I copy-pasted this from my stream page, and I put that info there before I built the machines. While building them I figured I'd just leave it out because I didn't think I'd need it, but never updated the information (I just did, hoping noone would notice but you clearly did!).

Apologies for the somewhat false information!