Question / Help Optimal x264 Settings for Streaming on Twitch with New PC?

[previr]

I'm trying to figure out the optimal x264 & OBS settings for streaming on twitch.tv with my new PC build.

I've been streaming with the settings I've posted below. While it looks decent, I was hoping there was something more I could be doing in terms of settings for this single PC streaming setup. Most things I've set aren't sacred; I may have holes in my knowledge, so any improvements/critiques are welcome.

Some things to note about my settings: I stream at 900p because 1080p looks worse in my opinion at 60fps and 6000 bitrate in fast paced games. For some fighting games (that tend to have more stationary images) and other slow paced games, I have another profile I switch to for 1080p 60fps. Another setting of note is the CPU Usage Preset. For most games I play, I am able to stream with it set to Medium without any noticeable impact in performance. If I played a more CPU intensive/limited game, then I would use Fast or Very Fast as necessary.

Any x264 options would be greatly appreciated (especially circumstantial ones). I am willing to use multiple profiles for different types of games.

Spoiler: Computer Specs

OS: Windows 10 Pro x64 1809
CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K
MOBO: ASUS ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4-3200
STORAGE: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB M.2
GPU: EVGA RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING
MONITOR #1: ASUS PG279Q ROG Swift 27" 1440p 165 Hz
MONITOR #2: ASUS VH236H 23" 1080p 60 Hz
SOUND: Schiit Modi 2 USB DAC + Schiit Magni 3 Amp
CONNECTION: 1Gbit down / 35Mbit up

Spoiler: Current OBS Settings

One other thing I had a question about, was the difference between scaling the output under the Video category, and scaling the output via the Output category ("Rescale Output"). Is the only difference that when done via the Video category, a downscale filter will be applied? Or are there other differences? Is there any reason to actually use the Rescale Output under Output instead?

 

[previr]

Any particular reason my post has been stuck awaiting approval for almost a week?

 

[orboe]

If you make edits to a post, it can need approval from a mod. Not sure if it is always but I know it happens when I edit my grammar.

You have a 2080TI. That means it has the Turning encoder. The quality is between medium and fast. It will allow your cpu to do less work giving a higher framerate in cpu extensive games. Like cs.go.

https://www.geforce.com/whats-new/guides/broadcasting-guide

That being said, I see no real issue with what I see. But would love to see a log posted from a 5 minute recording or stream.

 

[previr]

I like the new NVENC encoder, but for games where I have high FPS (like CS:GO), the encoder gets overloaded and drops a lot of frames. Even if I decide to limit my FPS to 3 under my refresh rate (so, 162, which I'd rather not do but tried anyway), it still does this. For some games where this isn't an issue, such as fighting games locked at 60fps, I felt I was getting a noticeably better looking stream using x264 medium. That's not to say NVENC new looked bad, just that x264 looked better.

If there's some way to solve the encoder getting overloaded without limiting fps even further, I would likely use it.

Here's a log of a short Tekken 7 stream https://pastebin.com/jeATxPLh