Question / Help Encoding Overloaded - Dual Rig Setup

[ToejaM]

Problem: I've noticed that I'll get very frequent CPU spikes to 100% from anywhere around 30-50% CPU. The most CPU usage in fast motion is about 70%, this is spinning my mouse around like a lunatic to generate as much CPU usage as possible.

I run two PCs for streaming. Everything was fine until the other day, perhaps Monday or Tuesday I noticed it. I can't say if this was happening before then but I noticed out of the corner of my eye the OBS preview was stutter horribly when my game wasn't. Then I noticed it was giving the encoding warning.

I run 6000bitrate and on veryfast preset. Have done for ages on this machine.

I've seen the thread about Avast and game mode, tried disabling that it didn't work. Didn't think it would as I dont game on my stream rig at all. I also don't run any game boosting software unless there is something in Nvidia I'm not aware of, however, I don't game on the stream rig as mentioned.

Spec (Stream Rig):

• CPU: Intel Sandybridge i7 2700k - Not Overclocked, board doesn't support overclocking and I've turned off all the speedstep stuff.
• CPU Cooler: Hyper 212X
• RAM: Corsair XMS3 4GB 1600Mhz
• MOBO: Asrock H61M-VS
• GPU: GTX 460
• PSU: Corsair CX 430
• SSD: Integral V 120GB SSD
• Capture Card: Elgato HD60 Pro

I use a version of OBS on my game rig to preview onto the capture card, this is to fix a tearing issue I have due to my 120hz monitor.

Tried:
Disabling Avast Game mode
Reinstalling OBS
32 and 64bit versions of OBS give the same issue.
Disabling speed step and halt states ect, thought maybe it was very quickly downclocking and upclocking again. Seems this isn't the case.

Trying to think of anything else I've done and can't.

Recently
Changed the motherboard in my stream rig as the one in my game rig died (they were identical!) and purchased a second-hand motherboard, I think that perhaps this is the cause but I'd like to see if the log below gives any tell tale signs, I will be buying a new motherboard in around 10 days as I need one capable of allowing me to put my overclock back on. I'm hoping now that I don't use a USB capture card which used stream engine putting more load on the CPU, that I will be able to drop down an encoding preset, perhaps two... we'll see though!

The motherboard was giving me some USB issues also previously using my LGP Lite capture card, very laggy and choppy which made me push forward buying my HD60 pro, which fixed the issue until now. I have also noticed that I get random USB disconnect noises though I can never tell if its on the game rig or stream rig due to the sound being linked. I've also had my webcam freeze from time to time also, no USB sound disconnect though. All of this lead me to believe this motherboard is possibly the cause.

Log (most recent stream, stopped shortly after first encoding notice):
https://gist.github.com/3f13b27bd1481b91ab8eb02358153552

I notice modules not loading in that and the memory leaks at the bottom. No idea whats causing them, any help appreciated.

I would also like to point out that I know I have several similar filters on some things but not all are in use - some are for different reasons and lighting for example on the webcam, the delay is also no longer used as that was when I used a USB capture card.

Thanks :-)

 

[Boildown]

17:12:36.080: Output 'adv_stream': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 187 (0.6%) 17:12:36.080: Video stopped, number of skipped frames due to encoding lag: 549/32636 (1.7%)

Yeah, its not horrible but its over the 1% rule-of-thumb. I know it'll reduce quality, but how about encoding on SuperFast preset? What do these percentages drop to if you try that? This is a diagnostic test, not suggesting this as a permanent change (yet).

Also, are your CPU temps normal?

 

[ToejaM]

Yeah the CPU temps are normal, thermal paste applied within the last month due to switching mobo around. Still have my Core Temp open on the rig and haven't restarted since the last stream, just checking it and it says:

Core 0: 60c
Core 1: 61c
Core 2: 60c
Core 3: 59c

I can try on superfast thats not an issue, however I get the encoding problem even at 4000 bitrate. Its something spiking the OBS usage. I watched it in the resource monitor - it can happen even when I'm not moving at all, as if its catching up? I've also seen the bitrate spike to over 7k. Once it was spiking around 15000 when it should be on 6000 CBR.

 

[Boildown]

Bitrate doesn't correlate with CPU usage in either direction (within reason). Also, even CBR streams still have some variability. You can decrease the buffer setting to make it even more consistent, if you want (try 3000kb/s instead of 6000kb/s for example), but at the cost of decreased video quality. It generally isn't a big deal, as long as you aren't maxing out your upload speed and making lag for yourself in-game (if you're playing an online game), then its fine. I wouldn't obsess over either CPU usage or bitrate at any given instant. I would obsess over the lagged and skipped frames in the log files. When those numbers are low, the video will look smooth, and that's what you want.

You'll want to monitor the CPU temps while its been encoding for a while, not when idle. The worry being that the CPU could be overheating and throttling itself.

 

[ToejaM]

The temps are definitely fine and stable. CPU usage I'm concerned about as it's hitting 100% causing encoding overload which is the issue, trying to work out why.

My upload speed is also fine at 20mbs.

The memory leaks are also what concern me from the logs.

 

[ToejaM]

Ive just noticed that the bar at the bottom of OBS that displays 60fps, will change to anywhere down to 40fps while the encoder overloaded is displaying and then it returns back to 60fps.