FPS dropping low even though GPU/CPU/RAM all around 50-70%

[Reapz316]

Hey all,

Just a quick bit of help.

Recently, around the updates of OBS I have had my FPS always dip even on a scene in OBS with just a media vlc playing and nothing else. So I know it's not a game running in the background or a broswer source. But I set it to 60fps and it drops down to 30-40fps when actually playing a game or simply switching scenes.
Before these recent updates I had no issue with my FPS, they were always in the 50's. But now, I have no clue. It says I have a GPU overload even though it's riding at 50% perf rate in my task manager. Also says encoding error but my CPU and RAM are topping out at 70%.
I have gone to all my broswer sources and applied 'shutdown source when not visible'.

I have a rudimentary understanding of it all and am happy to hear what I'm doing wrong. Log below.

Thanks for your time.

Here is my log and https://obsproject.com/logs/B-WN6hpbHNftNqu2

 

[Nass86]

I think I had an issue like this.

What fixed it was either:

1. Updating Graphics Card Drivers
2. Going to your computer manufacturer website and updating all software from there
3. Updating intel/motherboard drivers
4. Changing SETTINGS > Advanced PROCESS PRIORITY to "Normal".

 

[Nass86]

And making sure to launch OBS as "Administrator" by right click>Open. You can permanently set this on the Exe file itself, also so you don't have to right click.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

And making sure to launch OBS as "Administrator" by right click>Open.

I respectfully disagree with this suggestion. Doing so means using a different user profile, so you may have to reset OBS. Also, running as Admin has security implications, and from OP's log file I see lots of 3rd party plug-ins... so beware
That is NOT an under-powered CPU, and GPU scheduling. should be fine, if OBS properly configured (I think, I'm not a gamer, so there may be something specific in the log I'm overlooking)

Further, it is likely that one of those plug-ins / filter/effects is the source of your issue
That and LTOS of issues with latest OBS release(s). Going back and waiting for OBS to settle down may be simpler/quicker/easier... unless you feel like spending the time figuring out a work-around

 

[Reapz316]

So should going back a few releases os OBS be the best route or getting rid of some of the OBS plugins? Up for any suggestions.

Also thank you for the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[Nass86]

I respectfully disagree with this suggestion. Doing so means using a different user profile, so you may have to reset OBS. Also, running as Admin has security implications, and from OP's log file I see lots of 3rd party plug-ins... so beware
That is NOT an under-powered CPU, and GPU scheduling. should be fine, if OBS properly configured (I think, I'm not a gamer, so there may be something specific in the log I'm overlooking)

Further, it is likely that one of those plug-ins / filter/effects is the source of your issue
That and LTOS of issues with latest OBS release(s). Going back and waiting for OBS to settle down may be simpler/quicker/easier... unless you feel like spending the time figuring out a work-around

Interesting about 3rd party plugins - I've seen so many suggestions in the past about making sure it is opened as Administrator for a variety of benefits relating to speed / to stop encountering various problems.

Do you know if anything above Release 27.0 is more stable or was it the 26.xx versions that were more stable? As I do love some of the features they've added since 27 but it's not a deal breaker for me to go backwards either if I keep encountering issues.

 

[Reapz316]

Honestly it was around the time that Deathloop came out that I truly noticed it and the latest update of 27.1.2 and 27.1.3
I have a lot of browser sources but it still runs at 50% on CPU/GPU/RAM. I truly don't get if it's on my end or OBS end on why my FPS randomly drop. Driving me up the wall.

 

[Reapz316]

I've also done a further test. I have created a scene using only Display Capture... that's it. My in-game FPS is around 50 while my OBS output FPS is around 30. This scene has no browser sources, no webcam or mics setup. Just display.

If I quit out of OBS my FPS in game DOUBLES to around 100. So OBS is capping my frames in-game with OBS sitting idle and then also capping them even further on my output when I stream.

What is going on?!

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

I recommend reading in these forums on the carious capture methods, and implications of each. if I recall correctly, Display Capture is least preferred method. but I could easily be remembering incorrectly.

No, OBS is not capping your FPS. your hardware in unable to meet your request due to the your settings. period.
No, the trick is to balance demands with available resources
Are you aware of the implications of the default enabled Psychovisual Tuning & Lookahead?
As a simple test, did your scene have any audio/video filter/effects? what plug-ins are in use, etc? Have a simple scene, NO filter/effects and (of course not using bad Internet advice on recording settings, etc) and see what happens.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Interesting about 3rd party plugins - I've seen so many suggestions in the past about making sure it is opened as Administrator for a variety of benefits relating to speed / to stop encountering various problems.

Running OBS with local admin rights is typically recommended on lower-end/under-powered PCs (or maxed out systems) to override the OS GPU scheduling algorithm and provide priority to OBS (vs other, like game). It is a work-around, with significant potential negative security implications. Doing so may be required in specific scenarios, but is not something to casually recommend, and something I avoid. For those with dedicated gaming rigs, who NEVER access financial or other sensitive info on that machine, and who do fresh OS rebuilds frequently (due to bad gamer code messing up OS), then no worries ... maybe

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Do you know if anything above Release 27.0 is more stable or was it the 26.xx versions that were more stable? As I do love some of the features they've added since 27 but it's not a deal breaker for me to go backwards either if I keep encountering issues.

For my use case, stability is WAY more important and I don't need any of the v27.x features, so I'm still on v26.0.8. I was thinking of upgrading, but with recent OBS release SNAFUs, I'm holding off for now. And with Win11 feeling like the every other OS releases of ME, Vista, and 8, I'll be avoiding that release for at least a year or two as well

 

[Reapz316]

I recommend reading in these forums on the carious capture methods, and implications of each. if I recall correctly, Display Capture is least preferred method. but I could easily be remembering incorrectly.

No, OBS is not capping your FPS. your hardware in unable to meet your request due to the your settings. period.
No, the trick is to balance demands with available resources
Are you aware of the implications of the default enabled Psychovisual Tuning & Lookahead?
As a simple test, did your scene have any audio/video filter/effects? what plug-ins are in use, etc? Have a simple scene, NO filter/effects and (of course not using bad Internet advice on recording settings, etc) and see what happens.

Thanks for this. So what settings do I need to change for my OBS to not affect the FPS in game and for my streaming output? Because as soon as it's opened my frames drop. I'm guessing I just need a higher CPU/RAM/GPU combo or a 2 PC setup.

I didn't have Psychovisual Tuning and Lookahead checked but have now done it just to see and there's no visible difference in terms of FPS.

My scene had no effects or plugins and it's still capping my in game frames and output of frames on OBS. I also tried using Game Capture as a video capture device and may get like 5-10 more frames than from Display Capture which is a start.

I'm tempted to roll back to 26 but am unsure if that overrides all the changes to scenes I've done. Is it possible to have two OBS programs on the one PC without overriding the other?

 

[qhobbes]

1. Change the refresh rate on your monitor from 144 to 60 Hz and cap your games at 60 FPS.
2. Create a new Scene Collection with 1 scene with 1 Game Capture source, no filters. Do you still have this issue?

3. Yes, with Portable Mode.