CPU Usage

M

MarkOBS

Member
I did read the CPU usage pinned thread but still have questions.

I like to keep OBS loaded so I can quickly maximize it to view my three cams.
When I don't need to view my cams I just minimize OBS to the taskbar.

I don't mind the CPU usage when I am viewing the cams, which is very briefly,
but I thought by minimizing OBS to the taskbar OBS would use very little CPU power.

My CPU usage for my three cams (according to Windows) when OBS is minimized
to the taskbar is 16-17%.

Is this number average/normal?
Is there a way to make it smaller?
I am talking strictly about when it is minimized.
 
One thing I forgot to mention which for me is quite puzzling is that
when OBS is maximized but all the cams are turned off, it says
CPU usage is 7.5%.

So why when OBS is actually open and maximized does OBS show a lower
CPU usage than when it is minimized (with all the cams turned off in both cases)?

Do OBS's CPU usage readings differ from Windows' CPU readings by more than a factor
of two?
 
OBS uses CPU to redraw Audio Mixer bars (and some other UI elements). Every source in OBS running in background until source stopped (it takes some time before camera feed will appear on the screen after activation of this device; if there is no black screen pause, and picture shown immediately, then your source is running silently in background). If CPU/GPU changes frequency under the load, it also may affect the numbers.

Brief, "user friendly", description of how OBS sources works can be found in the thread (a lot of words were typed there): https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...oup-are-not-duplicated-but-referenced.101205/
 
Thanks for helping Suslik.
I'd still like to get a handle of the CPU numbers I am seeing.

OBS (No cams): 100% Canvas (1600x900)
Maximized, No cams: 6.6 - 8% 30 / 30 FPS
Minimized, No cams: ???? 30 / 30 FPS (Icon in task bar shows no cams running)

Windows:
Maximized, No cams: 19 - 22% 30 / 30 FPS
Minimized, No cams: 15 - 19% 30 / 30 FPS

OBS (3 cams): 100% Canvas (1600x900)
Maximized, 3 cams: 46 - 49% 30 / 30 FPS
Minimized, 3 cams: ???? 30 / 30 FPS (Icon in task bar shows 3 cams running)

Windows:
Maximized, 3 cams: 86 - 89% 30 / 30 FPS
Minimized, 3 cams: 83 - 86% 30 / 30 FPS

So there's quite a discrepancy between Windows CPU numbers and OBS CPU numbers.
Also there is little difference with CPU numbers with OBS maximized vs. minimized.
To me this is surprising. I would have thought by minimizing the app the numbers
would drop markedly.
 
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