Question / Help OBS Logitech C920 CPU Usage Issue. Not the Cam Software.

O

Orzo

New Member
Hi guys,

Just purchased a Logitech HD Pro C920 webcam and planned on using it for streaming in the OBS software, I have however come to an issue. Using the inbuilt 'Capture Video Device' option to select my Logitech webcam, it maxes my CPU when its added to the OBS program and active.
  • OBS Runs fine, 20-30%
  • Activate cam with tickbox. CPU hits 85-99% usage.
  • Run the cam in Logitech software, never goes above 30-40%
Any ideas?

Log File : https://gist.github.com/0730b46abc4a83ec39ef

Video Demonstration below :

 
Last edited:
O

Orzo

New Member
I have changed the quality down to 480p, still having issues.

Quick edit: 360p still has the 90% + CPU Issue.

Once thing I noticed was that is only seems to be 32 bit, which could cause issues. But I am unable to use 32bit OBS since it maxes my CPU with that. Stuck in the middle.
 
D

dping

Active Member
Orzo said:
Hi guys,

Just purchased a Logitech HD Pro C920 webcam and planned on using it for streaming in the OBS software, I have however come to an issue. Using the inbuilt 'Capture Video Device' option to select my Logitech webcam, it maxes my CPU when its added to the OBS program and active.
  • OBS Runs fine, 20-30%
  • Activate cam with tickbox. CPU hits 85-99% usage.
  • Run the cam in Logitech software, never goes above 30-40%
Any ideas?

Log File : https://gist.github.com/0730b46abc4a83ec39ef

Video Demonstration below :

Click to expand...
Even though disabling aero works best on Win7 when screen capturing, direct show, amongst game capture, and window capture need aero enabled to have acceleration. the best bet is to enable aero and dont use monitor capture with webcam OR try out Windows 8.1 which allows accelerated screen capture which will do what you are attempting better.
 
O

Orzo

New Member
dping said:
Even though disabling aero works best on Win7 when screen capturing, direct show, amongst game capture, and window capture need aero enabled to have acceleration. the best bet is to enable aero and dont use monitor capture with webcam OR try out Windows 8.1 which allows accelerated screen capture.
Click to expand...

I think you misunderstand my original issue. The webcam being captured is the issue. Not the desktop. I have streamed for months with no issues, add the webcam today and it suddenly has issues.
 
D

dping

Active Member
Orzo said:
I think you misunderstand my original issue. The webcam being captured is the issue. Not the desktop. I have streamed for months with no issues, add the webcam today and it suddenly has issues.
Click to expand...
the issue is using a webcam with aero disabled has issues. YET enabling aero with monitor capture for Windows 7 also has issues, but will fix the webcam issues. This is why I said the two are related.

EDIT: also to note that when things get moving on your screen, 1080p@30fps will have issues with your processor. with everything static, you'll be fine though.
 
O

Orzo

New Member
dping said:
the issue is using a webcam with aero disabled has issues. YET enabling aero with monitor capture for Windows 7 also has issues, but will fix the webcam issues. This is why I said the two are related.

EDIT: also to note that when things get moving on your screen, 1080p@30fps will have issues with your processor. with everything static, you'll be fine though.
Click to expand...

Just tested your theory with Aero enabled. Quick gif showing Aero enabled, cam goes on and 90%+ again.

cal9ulu.gif
 
D

dping

Active Member
Orzo said:
Just tested your theory with Aero enabled. Quick gif showing Aero enabled, cam goes on and 90%+ again.
Click to expand...
OBS Runs fine, 20-30%
Click to expand...
You were getting 60-80% usage before your cam. Yes, moving items do cause more CPU usage so I don't think there is a direct issue with what you are doing.
I mentioned this might be the case above. try 720@30 for your x264 encoding (and webcam at no more than 720; use 480 on webcam if you dont ever go full screen) which your CPU usage would be around 30-40%.
 
O

Orzo

New Member
dping said:
You were getting 60-80% usage before your cam. Yes, moving items do cause more CPU usage so I don't think there is a direct issue with what you are doing.
I mentioned this might be the case above. try 720@30 for your x264 encoding (and webcam at no more than 720; use 480 on webcam if you dont ever go full screen) which your CPU usage would be around 30-40%.
Click to expand...

Video test showing the setup of 360p, aero, still hitting 70-80% usage. Improved, but still way out of performance. There are no games or background applications other then what you see. Skype and Spotify (music paused). Sound lagg also occurred.

Edit: Any other tests you want to see, I will be happy to do.

 
D

dping

Active Member
Orzo said:
Video test showing the setup of 360p, aero, still hitting 70-80% usage. Improved, but still way out of performance. There are no games or background applications other then what you see. Skype and Spotify (music paused). Sound lagg also occurred.

Edit: Any other tests you want to see, I will be happy to do.

Click to expand...
can you post a fresh logfile with your current settings?

close OBS, reopen, stream, record, or preview for at least 5 minutes then stop, go to the help menu and post the current logfile. copy the link and paste the link here.
 
D

dping

Active Member
Also, based on your video, you are still running your webcam at 1080 and your x264 video is still running at 1080. change your webcam in OBS to be set to 720p.

understanding x264, when things move around on screen, the more encoding is actually happening which will cause usage to go up. whether that be a webcam or a game.

Your CPU is borderline able to do 1080p x264 encoding, meaning, anything that changes on the screen, expect high CPU usage. when you put your cam on in the Logitech window, it was only taking up a small portion of the screen but when you used OBS, the cam was
1. still set at 1080p (based on visuals and also the webcam properties you showed)
2. taking up half your screen
3. a much larger visual than the logitech window.

I would suggest:
1. change the webcam resolution in OBS to 720p. changing that in the Logitech setting I don't think changes the resolution of the webcam in OBS.
2. dont use screen capture with windows 7 if at all possible.


Windows 8.1 will allow you to more efficiently do screen capture, and webcam capture with lower CPU usage, but dont expect perfect capture since screen capture is still iffy

EDIT:

Code: 
device: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920,
...
1920x1080 - 1920x1080, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000

Code: 
17:43:16: fps: 30
17:43:16: width: 1920, height: 1080

As suspected in your video, what you changed didn't do anything different in OBS. see above.
 
D

dping

Active Member
Orzo said:
Thanks for your help, seems the only way to fix this issue is to adjust the resolution in OBS, which you did say and I kept you going in circles. Apologies!

Not sure if this is any good to you or not, but I made a little gif showing how to upload a log file. (Easier for new users.)

http://i.imgur.com/8k6QfLz
http://i.imgur.com/8k6QfLz.webm

http://giphy.com/gifs/xTiTnjgTE4Gfptqvg4
http://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnjgTE4Gfptqvg4/giphy.gif

giphy.gif
Click to expand...
I shall dub thee, giffyman :), nice, I will bookmark that.
 
dodgepong

dodgepong

Administrator
Community Helper
To change your webcam resolution, open the webcam source properties and check Custom Resolution, and select a lower resolution from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top