Question / Help OBS High CPU usage when idling

cabbagecanfly

New Member
Specs
I run a dual-PC stream/recording setup.
Stream PC specs: Two Xeon E5-2620 v2 (12 cores total), 32 GB RAM
Gaming PC specs, though not really relevant: i7-4790K, GTX 1080, 16 GB RAM.
I use an Elgato HD60 Pro installed in Stream PC.

Past issue
I used to stream/record flawlessly back in Aug 2019.
Didn't stream/record 'til Jan 2020.
When I opened OBS in January, OBS CPU usage peaked to 100% with no settings changed.
I fiddled with settings and reinstalled OBS but no luck.
I restored backed-up settings.
Then, I restarted my PC. OBS magically works fine with low idle CPU usage and I could then record/stream.

Context
I decide to stream/record today after a month since last recording.
Same high CPU issue.
I tried doing the same thing above, but this time had no luck.
Restarted the PC many times because I'm insane.
Installed the latest Elgato Game Capture software. No luck.
Cleared out my settings, new OBS install; my custom settings are more demanding than default, but I'm pretty sure this doesn't matter when idling (i.e. not recording/streaming; just preview).
I tried unplugging the HDMI from the Elgato; a "no signal" screen spikes OBS CPU usage still.

The issue!
So, I have default settings.
Empty scene. I add a video capture device to capture from C920 webcam.
CPU spikes to like 20% - 30% for 1080p 30 fps footage.
I remove this. CPU back to 5% - 10%.
Then I add a video capture device from the Elgato.
CPU spikes to like 35% for 1080p 60 fps.
Log: https://obsproject.com/logs/FXppnzm1CKwj-KHn

I also tried adding just simple display capture while idling.
CPU spikes to 20% for 1080p 60fps.
Log: https://obsproject.com/logs/fmLG8Ef2pn9bTrMD

CPU usage shouldn't really break 15% when I have my ideal scenes setup.
This prevents maintaining 60 fps when recording/streaming; it dips below 40.

CPU temps are around 45 C.

Any ideas?
 

Narcogen

Active Member
00:43:08.154: Loading up D3D11 on adapter Microsoft Basic Render Driver (0)

OBS needs a real hardware GPU with a proper driver. This log line indicates that this is either a virtual machine, a remote access session, or a GPU without a proper driver installed. Both your logs show this. OBS is not seeing your GTX 1080 as installed.
 

cabbagecanfly

New Member
Sorry, I should've clarified that the OBS issue is on my Stream PC, which isn't using the GTX 1080; it's using a Quadro K600, which is some random low spec'd GPU.
I'll check the drivers of the K600 later today. Thanks.
 

cabbagecanfly

New Member
00:43:08.154: Loading up D3D11 on adapter Microsoft Basic Render Driver (0)

OBS needs a real hardware GPU with a proper driver. This log line indicates that this is either a virtual machine, a remote access session, or a GPU without a proper driver installed. Both your logs show this. OBS is not seeing your GTX 1080 as installed.

I just updated my K600 drivers and OBS is back to normal now. The drivers probably got funked up after some Windows 10 update.

Thanks a bunch!
 
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