Bug Report OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasionally.

[Velexia]

About every 5-10 minutes, my CPU usage goes from 40-70% (normal usage when gaming and streaming) to 100% and my frame rate tanks (From 30-40fps down to 2-5fps). This lasts for about 5-20 seconds, and then everything goes back to normal for another 5-10 minutes... This started occurring within the last 4 updates. If I close the stream, but don't exit OBS, my CPU usage goes to 80-90%, and my frame rate raises to about 10-12fps (and again goes back to normal after less than half a minute).

I typically stream at 1500kbps, with 1800-2000kbps buffer size. My internet upload speed is 2.5-3 Mbps.
I stream at 1440x900 with no downscaling at 35FPS.
I use Game Capture, Monitor Capture, 2-3 Images, and a Webcam. I have 4 different scenes. (The reason for using both game and monitor capture is that monitor capture alone makes the UI in the game flicker, and Game Capture alone often makes the screen stay black... but for some reason monitor capture below game capture makes it work just fine). Aero is disabled at startup.

To troubleshoot I tried adjusting just about every setting... I took it down to 300p, 10fps, 1000kbps, capturing only a single image, and still had the exact same problem.

I have started streaming with FFSplit (which has way less features ;_;) and I still get the 100% CPU usage occasionally, but I do not get the massive FPS hit.

I'll attach a few log files, I am not sure what the settings will be for each log file, I've been changing them constantly trying to find something that works.

I can handle the CPU usage no problem, (as FFSplit has shown), but the massive FPS hit makes streaming very stressful.

Please help =)

 

[Tak0r]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Your Processor is to bad for your settings try limit it to a lower resolution and 30 fps.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Your Processor is to bad for your settings try limit it to a lower resolution and 30 fps.

To troubleshoot I tried adjusting just about every setting... I took it down to 300p, 10fps, 1000kbps, capturing only a single image, and still had the exact same problem.

Blaming my CPU isn't going to solve the issue, thanks for your input though.

 

[paibox]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Your CPU is most likely able to handle the resolution specified, but looking at the log files it seems like your video card is having some severe issues.

Unfortunately, the GT 430 is not a very good card, and OBS does all of the scene rendering on the video card, that webcam you have also needs a 1280x800 texture on the card itself, and all of this extra stress on the GPU and its limited memory bandwidth is likely what is causing your FPS drops.

If you are unable to get a better video card (the 430 is only just about not on par with a 9800 GT, which is already somewhat inadequate for OBS) I would suggest sticking to FFSplit, otherwise you will have to lower your resolution and game detail for the game you're streaming to minimize the impact on the GPU.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

I understand that I have an old CPU (5 years old) and an old GPU, but I am not sure what is unclear about me stating that even at the lowest possible settings, I have the exact same issue. Last week, I was not having this issue with OBS. Something changed in the update.

I've been streaming with OBS for several months, and now suddenly after a series of four updates, I am experiencing issues.

So, if you can do nothing but blame my hardware, please move along.

If you can assist me with trying out some settings I haven't thought of... please assist.

Here is a list of the settings I have changed (in both directions) in attempts to troubleshoot, which have had no effect:

Sources
Quality Balance
Max Bitrate
Buffer Size
Resolution Downscale
FPS
Disable Aero at startup
Use Multithread Optimizations
Process Priority Class
Scene Buffering time (milliseconds)
x264 CPU Preset

 

[paibox]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Well, somewhat recently, an optimization was introduced to OBS that started causing extra load, due to more frames getting passed to the encoder. If you think your CPU and GPU is irrelevant, that's fine, I'm sorry.

You should try to monitor your other system processes, your temperatures and your CPU/GPU usage to see if there's anything that might be causing extra load and resulting in these frame rate and CPU/GPU usage increases you're seeing.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

I watched OBS use every available bit of CPU that was not going to other processes with the Task Manager. When I close the stream, it continues to use a large amount of resources, but not all of them. I assume it is doing the same with the GPU.

Temperatures rise slightly when the glitch happens, but it only occurs for a maximum of 20 seconds (which is enough to ruin gameplay).

I'm a bit baffled that even with the stream off, OBS continues to use an inordinate amount of resources.

Is there a way to disable this "optimization" or perhaps could I get a link to an older version of OBS that does not have this?

 

[paibox]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Please do not refer to it as an "optimization". It is am optimization that ends up impacting some systems negatively because it gives more work to the encoder. The problem was that some frames simply didn't make it through before.

All older versions are available from SourceForge, just go to the download page and click the link in the "Older versions can be accessed on the sourceforge downloads page." sentence.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

I was hoping you could point me towards the latest one that did not have the optimization you mentioned. If not, that's alright, but I tried to find it earlier myself, and didn't succeed... I knew something had changed but not what, and was trying to get a version without that change.

 

[paibox]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

I unfortunately don't remember exactly when it was added, but I would assume that 0.472 is the one you're looking for.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

It may be a bit premature to say for sure, but it seems like the latest OBS patch (today's) fixed the issue I was having... Now I just need to never update ever again... assuming this is in fact the case. (Well, more like back up this version, just in case)

If not, I'll check out that version of the build, thank you =)

 

[Tak0r]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

I'm sorry but that CPU just Suxxs, had it myself together with an ATI 7870 and 720P was a nightmare! Well obs wasn't around then but i guess that wouldn't have made much of a difference.

As for your Problem when you yourself don't know the version where the problem didn't exist it would be hard to track that down and ontop of that it could be some change on your OS too with some patch/Driver change that would impact performance or cause a problem. We couldn't know that.

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

This CPU has been going strong for 5 years, I would say it's pretty amazing. You should count yourself lucky to have a CPU as good as this one, for as long as I have had mine. Streaming at 35FPS, 900P.

It would be easier to know what version the issues started if I were on the lookout for problems in the first place, and if there hadn't been a large amount of updates in a small amount of time. I did attempt a driver update for my GPU, and checked for recent Windows Updates which might have caused the issue, but the problem coincided perfectly with the updates that occurred for OBS. I am not new to troubleshooting issues with hardware and software.

Still haven't had an issue with the most current build of OBS, I am happy to report.

Thank you everyone who put their time into attempting to assist me with my issue.

 

[Voxletum]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

That fix was included in .50

Also, there was no OBS patch pushed out today. We pushed 0.522b 11 days ago. What do you mean?

 

[Velexia]

Re: OBS using all available CPU and GPU resources occasional

Hmmm, I don't know what I mean then... I just recall firing it up again, and seeing a minor patch looking thing, and downloading it and hoping for the best... Maybe I stumbled upon some other setting that fixed it without realizing it?