Question / Help Occasional FPS Drops

[jrswab]

While streaming I get fps drops I pasted the specs from the log file in OBS studio below.
These frame rate drops only happen when there is intense game play happening and the resolution I am playing at (in the game itself) does not seem to prevent or enhance this issue.

I am aware this is not a OBS issue per say but I figured someone here might have some insight as to preventing this or limiting it from happening.

Please let me know if you need any more information.

09:39:23 PM.739: Processor: 8 logical cores
09:39:23 PM.739: Processor: AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor
09:39:23 PM.739: Physical Memory: 16004MB Total
09:39:23 PM.739: Kernel Version: Linux 4.2.0-36-generic
09:39:23 PM.739: Distribution: "Ubuntu" "15.10"
09:39:23 PM.766: OBS 0.14.2 (linux)
09:39:23 PM.766: ---------------------------------
09:39:23 PM.766: ---------------------------------
09:39:23 PM.766: audio settings reset:
09:39:23 PM.766:     samples per sec: 44100
09:39:23 PM.766:     speakers:        2
09:39:23 PM.832: OpenGL version: 3.2.13399 Core Profile Context 15.201.1151
09:39:23 PM.832:
09:39:23 PM.853: ---------------------------------
09:39:23 PM.853: video settings reset:
09:39:23 PM.853:     base resolution:   1920x1080
09:39:23 PM.853:     output resolution: 1280x720
09:39:23 PM.853:     fps:               30/1
09:39:23 PM.853:     format:            NV12

My GPU is not displayed above it is as the Sapphire Radeon NITRO R9 390 with 8GB of DDR5
When running OBS is only using about 2-5% of my CPU...

These drops are significant enough that they hinger game play and the stream. I expect a drop overall but now a dip down to 10 or 12 FPS.

 

[Radzaquiel]

OpenGL 3.2 for a R9 390 ? Maybe you should look if your drivers are really up-to-date...
Just to be sure, can you paste the output of "glxinfo | grep OpenGL" ?

 

[jrswab]

I'll do that when I get home. I'm away for the week unfortunately.

I've been to AMD's site to get drivers. However, their page seems broken and clicking the download link leads to a dead end page with no download...

 

[Radzaquiel]

OK !
For AMD GPU, it's often simpler to use the opensource drivers ("radeonsi" in Mesa) which are quite good now.
With Mesa 11.2 (the actual version) you should be able to reach OpenGL 4.1...and with Mesa 12 (the next one planned for mid-June) you'll reach OpenGL 4.3 !

Or you can install the AMD driver "Crimson 15.12" :)

A newer kernel can help too !

 

[jrswab]

OK !
For AMD GPU, it's often simpler to use the opensource drivers ("radeonsi" in Mesa) which are quite good now.
With Mesa 11.2 (the actual version) you should be able to reach OpenGL 4.1...and with Mesa 12 (the next one planned for mid-June) you'll reach OpenGL 4.3 !

Or you can install the AMD driver "Crimson 15.12" :)

A newer kernel can help too !

Hm. i thought it was the other way around. At least it seemed to help when I had an NVIDIA card. I'll try the opensource drivers. There are a few other options that Ubuntu Mate game me. I used to run Debian but switched after having many issues with playing games once I installed the AMD card.

so maybe i'll start with radeonsi and see how that goes. (or another opensource driver)
I'll check out Crimison 15.12 and do some research since I've never heard of it.

what kernel would you recommend?

 

[jrswab]

Just to be sure, can you paste the output of "glxinfo | grep OpenGL" ?

Here you go:

OpenGL vendor string: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon (TM) R9 390 Series
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.4.13399 Core Profile Context 15.201.1151
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 4.40
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile profile mask: core profile
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 4.5.13399 Compatibility Profile Context 15.201.1151
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.40
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL profile mask: compatibility profile
OpenGL extensions:

 

[Radzaquiel]

Hm. i thought it was the other way around. At least it seemed to help when I had an NVIDIA card. I'll try the opensource drivers. There are a few other options that Ubuntu Mate game me. I used to run Debian but switched after having many issues with playing games once I installed the AMD card.

so maybe i'll start with radeonsi and see how that goes. (or another opensource driver)
I'll check out Crimison 15.12 and do some research since I've never heard of it.

what kernel would you recommend?

I would recommend the latest LTS version (4.4) but I don't know if it's easily possible on Ubuntu 15.10 (I'm on Manjaro so... ^^')
Maybe the easiest would be to upgrade to Ubuntu 16.04 but maybe you have a reason not to do so...

 

[adamos42]

One possible reason against the 16.04 for ATI is the fglrx support, right now ATI does not have a driver on 16.04, but the open source alternatives seems working :)

 

[jrswab]

Any knowledge on the Vulkan drivers? beta is open and compatible for my card on linux...