EDIT 2/14/2017
I thought I'd provide an update just in case this information becomes helpful for anyone else. I'm just doing an edit instead of adding a new post as I don't see a need to bump this post up.
While I occasionally stream PC games, I also stream from my consoles using an Elgato HD 60S. A game I frequently stream is Super Mario Maker. I also use a browser source in OBS for Warp World, https://warp.world/ when I play Mario Maker.
For whatever reason, if I have Warp World added as a browser source, and I attempt to stream a PC game, even with the Warp World bar not visible, I had FPS issues. This only seemed to happen when using the "Game Capture" option in OBS with games. I eventually went into the properties for the Warp World bar browser source and made a change to shutdown the browser source when it is not visible. By doing this, my FPS issues went away when using Game Capture. I can't answer or say why this happens, as I have other browser sources that don't cause issues, but I was happy to finally come across the cause of my issues.
I also want to thank OG See OH Zee for the guide in their signature as well, found here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P5E5SsauiKY-EVcWAThO4HAUY3CFM7KWfM40xd_qkQo/edit?usp=sharing
Reading that, along with re-reading the links I originally shared below, made me think some more.
Initially when I was using my GTX 970 on a 1080 60 Hz monitor, while I played all of my games at 1920x1080 and with most of the graphics settings very high, or nearly maxed out (depending on the game), I always enabled V-Sync due to screen tearing. This locked my in-game FPS to 60.
I later got the 2560x1440 144 Hz monitor and used my GTX 970 with that for a brief period. I then changed my in game resolutions to 2560x1440 from 1920x1080. After doing this, I did make sure to lower my in game graphics settings from what I was originally using back when I was on 1920x1080 resolution. With all of this though, I did turn off V-Sync in all of my games to unlock the frame rate.
Present day, I now have the GTX 1080 with games still set to use 2560x1440 with V-Sync disabled. I did crank up in-game graphic settings once again due to the increased capabilities of this new card.
In the end though it came down to making sure the Warp World bar browser source is set to shutdown the browser source when it is not visible. In addition, locking the in game FPS to 60, or enabling V-Sync (with the monitor refresh rate set to 60 Hz) if the option to lock the FPS in game isn't available, also helped as well before I came across the Warp World issue.
-------------------------------------------------------
TL;DR
Using 'Game Capture' with Steam games, along with having V-Sync disabled and the frame rate unlocked, causes the FPS in OBS Studio to be inconsistent. If V-Sync is enabled or the frame rate is locked to 60 FPS, the frame rate stays pretty consistent in OBS. Using 'Display Capture' with a Windows game such as Gears of War 4, while having V-Sync disabled and the frame rate unlocked, doesn't cause an issues in OBS. Attempting to use 'Display Capture' with Steam games causes major lag in the OBS preview window and the FPS is still inconsistent.
From what I'm about to describe, I believe the problem I am having is related to Windows 10 in some way based on the following posts I have come across already.
Here are some links to related posts:
https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/higher-fps-in-game-obs-cant-keep-60fps.57058/
https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...mirillis-action-doesnt-why.56453/#post-247283
https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...-studio-comparing-logs-on-w8-1-and-w10.55169/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/4htl8e/psa_cant_keep_your_fps_target_in_obs_studio_heres/
Some members who have mentioned/confirmed what I experience include, @Unknown Richard, @Guilherme Hoffmann, @soulreaver2662, @Andy Hexagon, and @xSonic521x.
My specs are as follows:
Windows 10 Professional (Anniversary Update installed) 64-Bit
Intel Core i7-4790K
16 GB RAM
GTX 1080 (Upgraded from a GTX 970 recently)
2560x1440 144 Hz G-Sync Monitor (Upgraded from a 1920x1080 60 Hz recently)
I use OBS Studio only for streaming at this time, I don't do any local recording.
Previously using my GTX 970 and my 1920x1080 60 Hz monitor, I would play PC games with V-Sync on/enabled. I did this because I would get noticeable screen tearing without it enabled. Whenever I would stream in OBS Studio, I never noticed my FPS drop below 60.00, which is seen in the lower right-hand corner next to the CPU utilization. I never had a problem with dropped frames once I was live streaming.
I recently swapped out my old monitor with a new 2560x1440 144 Hz monitor. At first, I was still using my GTX 970. As such, I disabled V-Sync in any games I was playing. After doing this and attempting to stream, while my local FPS in-game would be great, I noticed the FPS in OBS Studio were inconsistent. Constantly fluctuating from 60 FPS to other FPS values such as 34, 48, etc. It is worth noting that this happens just with OBS Studio open on my computer and I don't have to be streaming, recording, etc.
After the new monitor, I installed a GTX 1080, but much like above, I noticed the same symptoms, with fluctuating FPS in OBS Studio while my actual in-game frame rate would be excellent.
Doing some experimenting, with setting my monitor's refresh rate to 60 Hz and enabling V-Sync in-game, I found that OBS Studio was pretty much consistent with keeping a solid 60 FPS.
I also did some testing and found that with some games, if I am able to set/lock the FPS, I can set it to 60 FPS in-game, while keeping my monitor's refresh rate set to 144 Hz along with keeping V-Sync disabled, and see that 60 FPS stays much more consistent in OBS Studio.
Based on the other posts I have come across, it seems like enabling V-Sync or locking the in-game FPS to 60, seems to keep the FPS in OBS Studio consistent as well.
From what I've read and seen myself, it seems like the issue is somehow related to Windows 10 and high GPU usage. Once GPU usage climbs to 90% or higher, the FPS drops in OBS Studio. By locking the FPS for a game to 60, it lowers GPU usage and thus allows OBS Studio to capture at a consistent 60 FPS.
In OBS Studio for games from Steam, I use the 'Game Capture' option.
Games I've tested on include, Alien Isolation, Max Payne 3, Conan Exiles, and Resident Evil 7. All games are running at 2560x1440 on my local monitor with ultra or near maxed out graphic settings. With RE7, even with my locking the in-game FPS to 60, in certain areas of the game, GPU usage will rise pretty high, thus causing the FPS to drop in OBS Studio temporarily, even though my local FPS are staying consistent at 60 when having the FPS locked in-game. Granted, I am running RE7 with pretty high graphic settings overall which I'm sure can add to GPU usage.
Another game I play is Gears of War 4. In order to capture GoW 4 in OBS studio, I have to use the 'Display Capture' option as the game was purchased through the Windows 10 store. A few months ago, I was having the issue, when using my GTX 970 and old monitor, where attempting to stream in OBS Studio using 'Display Capture' where OBS Studio would eventually freeze up and my stream would end. I recall reading about how this was an issue somehow related to the Anniversary Update for Windows 10. My workaround at that time was to disable the preview in OBS Studio. This allowed me to stream without issue. I noticed that one of the updates for OBS Studio addressed this issue and I no longer had issues streaming GoW 4 with the live preview enabled.
Interestingly, I just did a test with GoW 4 using 'Display Capture', and I did not see OBS Studio drop below 60 FPS, even though I had V-Sync disabled in addition to having the frame rate unlocked in-game. As far as I could tell, GPU usage was very high, but for whatever reason, OBS Studio would keep a consistent 60 FPS when using 'Display Capture'.
I attempted to see what would happen if I tried to play RE7 using 'Display Capture' instead of 'Game Capture' and not only were the FPS inconsistent in OBS Studio, but the actual live preview had an excessive amount of lag so this is not an option unfortunately.
Other than locking the FPS in a game to 60 or enabling V-Sync while having my monitor's refresh rate set to 60 Hz, or going to a different Windows OS such as 7 or 8.1, are there any other options at this time or are there any plans to address this in a future OBS Studio update?
Thank you.
I thought I'd provide an update just in case this information becomes helpful for anyone else. I'm just doing an edit instead of adding a new post as I don't see a need to bump this post up.
While I occasionally stream PC games, I also stream from my consoles using an Elgato HD 60S. A game I frequently stream is Super Mario Maker. I also use a browser source in OBS for Warp World, https://warp.world/ when I play Mario Maker.
For whatever reason, if I have Warp World added as a browser source, and I attempt to stream a PC game, even with the Warp World bar not visible, I had FPS issues. This only seemed to happen when using the "Game Capture" option in OBS with games. I eventually went into the properties for the Warp World bar browser source and made a change to shutdown the browser source when it is not visible. By doing this, my FPS issues went away when using Game Capture. I can't answer or say why this happens, as I have other browser sources that don't cause issues, but I was happy to finally come across the cause of my issues.
I also want to thank OG See OH Zee for the guide in their signature as well, found here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P5E5SsauiKY-EVcWAThO4HAUY3CFM7KWfM40xd_qkQo/edit?usp=sharing
Reading that, along with re-reading the links I originally shared below, made me think some more.
Initially when I was using my GTX 970 on a 1080 60 Hz monitor, while I played all of my games at 1920x1080 and with most of the graphics settings very high, or nearly maxed out (depending on the game), I always enabled V-Sync due to screen tearing. This locked my in-game FPS to 60.
I later got the 2560x1440 144 Hz monitor and used my GTX 970 with that for a brief period. I then changed my in game resolutions to 2560x1440 from 1920x1080. After doing this, I did make sure to lower my in game graphics settings from what I was originally using back when I was on 1920x1080 resolution. With all of this though, I did turn off V-Sync in all of my games to unlock the frame rate.
Present day, I now have the GTX 1080 with games still set to use 2560x1440 with V-Sync disabled. I did crank up in-game graphic settings once again due to the increased capabilities of this new card.
In the end though it came down to making sure the Warp World bar browser source is set to shutdown the browser source when it is not visible. In addition, locking the in game FPS to 60, or enabling V-Sync (with the monitor refresh rate set to 60 Hz) if the option to lock the FPS in game isn't available, also helped as well before I came across the Warp World issue.
-------------------------------------------------------
TL;DR
Using 'Game Capture' with Steam games, along with having V-Sync disabled and the frame rate unlocked, causes the FPS in OBS Studio to be inconsistent. If V-Sync is enabled or the frame rate is locked to 60 FPS, the frame rate stays pretty consistent in OBS. Using 'Display Capture' with a Windows game such as Gears of War 4, while having V-Sync disabled and the frame rate unlocked, doesn't cause an issues in OBS. Attempting to use 'Display Capture' with Steam games causes major lag in the OBS preview window and the FPS is still inconsistent.
From what I'm about to describe, I believe the problem I am having is related to Windows 10 in some way based on the following posts I have come across already.
Here are some links to related posts:
https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/higher-fps-in-game-obs-cant-keep-60fps.57058/
https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...mirillis-action-doesnt-why.56453/#post-247283
https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...-studio-comparing-logs-on-w8-1-and-w10.55169/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/4htl8e/psa_cant_keep_your_fps_target_in_obs_studio_heres/
Some members who have mentioned/confirmed what I experience include, @Unknown Richard, @Guilherme Hoffmann, @soulreaver2662, @Andy Hexagon, and @xSonic521x.
My specs are as follows:
Windows 10 Professional (Anniversary Update installed) 64-Bit
Intel Core i7-4790K
16 GB RAM
GTX 1080 (Upgraded from a GTX 970 recently)
2560x1440 144 Hz G-Sync Monitor (Upgraded from a 1920x1080 60 Hz recently)
I use OBS Studio only for streaming at this time, I don't do any local recording.
Previously using my GTX 970 and my 1920x1080 60 Hz monitor, I would play PC games with V-Sync on/enabled. I did this because I would get noticeable screen tearing without it enabled. Whenever I would stream in OBS Studio, I never noticed my FPS drop below 60.00, which is seen in the lower right-hand corner next to the CPU utilization. I never had a problem with dropped frames once I was live streaming.
I recently swapped out my old monitor with a new 2560x1440 144 Hz monitor. At first, I was still using my GTX 970. As such, I disabled V-Sync in any games I was playing. After doing this and attempting to stream, while my local FPS in-game would be great, I noticed the FPS in OBS Studio were inconsistent. Constantly fluctuating from 60 FPS to other FPS values such as 34, 48, etc. It is worth noting that this happens just with OBS Studio open on my computer and I don't have to be streaming, recording, etc.
After the new monitor, I installed a GTX 1080, but much like above, I noticed the same symptoms, with fluctuating FPS in OBS Studio while my actual in-game frame rate would be excellent.
Doing some experimenting, with setting my monitor's refresh rate to 60 Hz and enabling V-Sync in-game, I found that OBS Studio was pretty much consistent with keeping a solid 60 FPS.
I also did some testing and found that with some games, if I am able to set/lock the FPS, I can set it to 60 FPS in-game, while keeping my monitor's refresh rate set to 144 Hz along with keeping V-Sync disabled, and see that 60 FPS stays much more consistent in OBS Studio.
Based on the other posts I have come across, it seems like enabling V-Sync or locking the in-game FPS to 60, seems to keep the FPS in OBS Studio consistent as well.
From what I've read and seen myself, it seems like the issue is somehow related to Windows 10 and high GPU usage. Once GPU usage climbs to 90% or higher, the FPS drops in OBS Studio. By locking the FPS for a game to 60, it lowers GPU usage and thus allows OBS Studio to capture at a consistent 60 FPS.
In OBS Studio for games from Steam, I use the 'Game Capture' option.
Games I've tested on include, Alien Isolation, Max Payne 3, Conan Exiles, and Resident Evil 7. All games are running at 2560x1440 on my local monitor with ultra or near maxed out graphic settings. With RE7, even with my locking the in-game FPS to 60, in certain areas of the game, GPU usage will rise pretty high, thus causing the FPS to drop in OBS Studio temporarily, even though my local FPS are staying consistent at 60 when having the FPS locked in-game. Granted, I am running RE7 with pretty high graphic settings overall which I'm sure can add to GPU usage.
Another game I play is Gears of War 4. In order to capture GoW 4 in OBS studio, I have to use the 'Display Capture' option as the game was purchased through the Windows 10 store. A few months ago, I was having the issue, when using my GTX 970 and old monitor, where attempting to stream in OBS Studio using 'Display Capture' where OBS Studio would eventually freeze up and my stream would end. I recall reading about how this was an issue somehow related to the Anniversary Update for Windows 10. My workaround at that time was to disable the preview in OBS Studio. This allowed me to stream without issue. I noticed that one of the updates for OBS Studio addressed this issue and I no longer had issues streaming GoW 4 with the live preview enabled.
Interestingly, I just did a test with GoW 4 using 'Display Capture', and I did not see OBS Studio drop below 60 FPS, even though I had V-Sync disabled in addition to having the frame rate unlocked in-game. As far as I could tell, GPU usage was very high, but for whatever reason, OBS Studio would keep a consistent 60 FPS when using 'Display Capture'.
I attempted to see what would happen if I tried to play RE7 using 'Display Capture' instead of 'Game Capture' and not only were the FPS inconsistent in OBS Studio, but the actual live preview had an excessive amount of lag so this is not an option unfortunately.
Other than locking the FPS in a game to 60 or enabling V-Sync while having my monitor's refresh rate set to 60 Hz, or going to a different Windows OS such as 7 or 8.1, are there any other options at this time or are there any plans to address this in a future OBS Studio update?
Thank you.
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