Is the OBS software itself, the detriment that affects us all?

[SweetLolliePops]

So, I have discovered that simply opening the OBS software causes my internet speeds to decrease significantly and lose significant stability.

I have 5gb up and 5gb down fiber internet service.
I have a 2.5gb ethernet LAN port in my MSI motherboard.
Ryzen 5950x CPU
Nvidia 3090 FE
Windows 10 pro
No other devices on my network. No other extraneous programs running on PC.
All updates on Windows and OBS are the latest.

My speed test WITHOUT OBS open: (I find this result typical, regardless of time of day)

My speed test WITH OBS open: (I am not streaming, or recording, Just opening the OBS program is the only change)

Checking and unchecking these network boxes makes no difference, as you would expect.

I realize that I have internet speeds and gear that are better than some might have for streaming and recording (not the best out there, of course), but I can't help but wonder if this OBS software itself is the cause of the poor streaming quality that most people experience. I obviously can get by on these speeds, but If the speeds were limited, this could be a real problem and remain hidden.

Anyone have any idea why this particular result could exist and how to resolve it? If you do, you might be able to be the biggest streaming software hero ever to exist.

Thanks!

 

[R1CH]

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

OBS Studio creates a log file each time you run it which contains very useful diagnostic information. Without a log file, it's much harder for any support volunteers to figure out problems and your post may be ignored. To upload a log file, go to the Help menu > Log Files > Upload Last Log...

obsproject.com

 

[SweetLolliePops]

Surely.

https://obsproject.com/logs/VABXq6r2DrlaaAy9

 

[JohnPee]

No Output Session
Your log contains no recording or streaming session. Results of this log analysis are limited. Please post a link to a clean log file.
To make a clean log file, please follow these steps:

1) Restart OBS.
2) Start your stream/recording for about 30 seconds. Make sure you replicate any issues as best you can, which means having any games/apps open and captured, etc.
3) Stop your stream/recording.
4) Select Help > Log Files > Upload Current Log File. Send that link via this troubleshooting tool or whichever support chat you are using.

 

[SweetLolliePops]

https://obsproject.com/logs/DXXYsPTlf9sP27uP

I have already analyzed the log files many times; but so far, not much help.

I forgot to mention that I did try streaming to other services a little while back (Youtube and Twitch) and I had the same issue. Even without streaming, OBS choked off my internet speeds, simply by opening the program no matter the platform.

 

[koala]

However not very probable, some of your sources or filters might be responsible for your fps issues. To check this, create a new scene collection. Your existing scenes and sources are inactive with a new collection, so if the fps issues are gone now without any source, one of your old sources is responsible for the fps issues. If the fps issue stays although no sources exist, the cause is something else.
After the test, switch back to your previous collection to get your scenes and sources back.

 

[SweetLolliePops]

Thank you, Koala, I appreciate the assistance.
I don't have FPS issues, but I understand what you are saying. I tried your suggestion, and it didn't seem to be the issue in this case
I'll keep digging and post a solution if I find it.

 

[koala]

Oh, sorry. I somehow misremembered your OP (read it first one day ago) - because it's so weird. This is a thing I consider impossible. If you start OBS, there is no network access by OBS except a tiny check if there is an update available, so it's not possible in my opinion that it has impact on network throughput simply due to being running. However you show a benchmark that says otherwise.
It's a complex thing to investigate. There's a reason that can be found, of course. I don't know how proficient you are with computer use and networking, but these are the things I would do if I experience such an issue myself:

• check actual network throughput while OBS is running and throughput is halved according to a throughput test. Should be zero. If not, identify the source and the reason.
• use a different throughput test. Use a different browser for the throughput test.
• check Windows task manager and check abnormal CPU usage.
• uninstall and reinstall the most current network driver. Install only the bare network driver, no additional management software.
• reset Windows tcp/ip stack. Especially if you ever used some (snakeoil) internet connection improvement software.
• check if throughput suffers if used within the LAN as well. Might be difficult if you don't have any other machine with 2.5 GB NIC, however that's an important test.
• completely reset OBS: uninstall OBS and every plugin. Rename %appdata%\obs-studio to %appdata%\obs-studio-xx. Then install OBS and start it. Will come up and create a new config. Do the auto configuration wizard, then stop and restart OBS and make the network benchmark.

Other than that, I guess there is simply nobody here with a 5 GBit internet connection, so there is no experience here. Also, I guess almost nobody actually uses a 2.5 GBit network connection to the router. Personally, I have a brand new mainboard with 2.5 GBit Nic, however my router still supports only 1 GBit. Which brings me to the network cable: make sure you use a 2.5 GBit enabled network cable (dunno if there is a difference between that and one only for 1 GBit, just choose a newer one).
I don't know how far you want to go, but the last thing to test with is a freshly installed Windows with all default settings with most recent network drivers and Windows updates, with a freshly installed OBS without any customization.

 

[khaver]

Does the Stream Deck plugin make any connections to the internet?

 

[SweetLolliePops]

Update -
Hello all, and happy Monday.

So, I painfully decided to wipe away my OBS studio install, and removed all profile data.

Barebones OBS file has no draw on my internet service. (Yay!)

Next is to recreate my scenes, one at a time, to see what the culprit was. Assuming I find it, I will update this post.

Khaver - Yes. Stream Deck is connected to the internet constantly.

Thanks everyone.

 

[AaronD]

My first thought was that OBS was streaming when you did the second speed test, on a half-duplex connection (can't send and receive at the same time), and so the test had to share that. Full-duplex won't have that problem.

It's also possible that you had a high-quality network source, like from a raw camera or another computer, and the test had to share that.

You say, "No other devices on my network," but people often miss those things. Phones on WiFi, for one example. Or they really mean, "no other devices beyond what makes my rig work," without remembering what the entire rig really is.

 

[koala]

According to your log, you pull some mp4 from a Z: drive. In case this is a network drive, this is the culprit. As long as this file is playing, it is constantly being read.

 

[khaver]

Download the Sysinternals utility Process Monitor. This will allow you to see every process associated with OBS, including network activity, while it's running.

 

[SweetLolliePops]

Hello All,
Thank you to all that have commented.

After hours of trial and error, I have located the culprit.

I was the culprit. :)

We all know 4k = CPU & GPU taxation.
I had the following taxing my CPU:

1. The Elgato FaceCam Pro, running at 4k (why my CPU and not my GPU, I do not know)
2. OBS Base canvas at 4k

Note: I stream at 1080P only. I forgot to previously mention that.

With OBS open, changing my FaceCam pro from 4k to 1080P reduced my CPU usage from 20+%, down to 2%. This alone resolved my internet speed fluctuations. Changing my canvas to 1080p made only a couple percent change to my CPU usage.

This is relevant because running an internet speed test at multi-gigabit speeds is a bit taxing on a CPU all by itself. I am not sure how to articulate this; but I think maybe since OBS is prioritized, and processing 4k video when open, my CPU was choking off the speed test traffic in favor of running OBS.

Once koala stated "...create a new scene collection. Your existing scenes and sources are inactive with a new collection...", I went ahead and tried it. Shazam! My internet was right back to normal. So, koala, you nailed it. Thanks to you, I was able to find the issues. A special thank you to you! I owe you a drink!

There is likely some technical reasons for what I discovered, and I am not going to pretend I fully comprehend the mechanics of it. Regardless, it was a good lesson. It is nice to know that OBS Studio runs flawlessly and is not the reason for the results I showed in my OP.