Question / Help PC Upgrade Advice

Wulfegang · Jul 30, 2013

I am thinking of upgrading my PC to get a smoother streaming experience and was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on what to upgrade first. I am assuming the CPU/motherboard but wanted to make sure. Thanks in advance for any help.

Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58

CPU: Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition Gulftown 3.33GHz LGA 1366 130W Six-Core

Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 24GB (6 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

GPU: GIGABYTE Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB

HDD 1: OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD

HDD 2: Western Digital Black 1TB 7200 RPM

HDD 3: Seagate 4TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s

Kharay · Jul 30, 2013

Ironically, I would consider your PC a major upgrade for myself; I'm on an i5-760 + HD 6870. And typically not having an issue streaming. What are you streaming? Maybe we can improve the quality and smoothness without you having to spend money. Although, well, new toys are always good. ;)

Wulfegang · Jul 30, 2013

I have been alternating between games such as Cube World and The Walking Dead. I would like to start streaming faster games like Borderlands 2. My main problem is sometimes it lags for people watching my stream and when I record to a local file I can see pixelation on fast scenes. Here is a log file from playing Borderlands 2 earlier.

Code:

11:28:32: Open Broadcaster Software v0.542b - 32bit (´・ω・｀)
11:28:32: -------------------------------
11:28:32: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU       X 980  @ 3.33GHz
11:28:32: CPU Speed: 3341MHz
11:28:32: Physical Memory:  4095MB Total, 4095MB Free
11:28:32: stepping id: 2, model 12, family 6, type 0, extmodel 1, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 12, total cores 6
11:28:32: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
11:28:32: Windows Version: 6.2 Build 9200 
11:28:32: Aero is Enabled
11:28:32: -------------------------------
11:28:32: OBS Modules:
11:28:32: Base Address     Module
11:28:32: 00A40000         OBS.exe
11:28:32: 6A780000         OBSApi.dll
11:28:32: 6A350000         DShowPlugin.dll
11:28:32: 6A330000         GraphicsCapture.dll
11:28:32: 6A2A0000         NoiseGate.dll
11:28:32: 6A280000         PSVPlugin.dll
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Adapter 1
11:28:32:   Video Adapter: AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series
11:28:32:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 2112036864
11:28:32:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 2182864896
11:28:32: =====Stream Start: 2013-07-30, 11:28:32===============================================
11:28:32:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
11:28:32:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
11:28:32:   Output resolution: 1280x720
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Loading up D3D10...
11:28:32: Playback device Default
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Vengeance 2000)
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Audio Encoding: AAC
11:28:32:     bitrate: 128
11:28:32: Using Window Capture
11:28:32: Using graphics capture
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: Video Encoding: x264
11:28:32:     fps: 60
11:28:32:     width: 1280, height: 720
11:28:32:     preset: faster
11:28:32:     CBR: yes
11:28:32:     CFR: no
11:28:32:     max bitrate: 2500
11:28:32: ------------------------------------------
11:28:32: SharedTexCapture hooked
11:28:41: GraphicsCaptureSource::NewCapture:  eliminating old capture
11:28:41: SharedTexCapture hooked
11:42:48: Exit signal received, terminating capture
11:42:51: Total frames rendered: 51504, number of frames that lagged: 32 (0.06%) (it's okay for some frames to lag)
11:42:51: =====Stream End: 2013-07-30, 11:42:51=================================================
11:42:55: 
11:42:55: Profiler results:
11:42:55: 
11:42:55: ==============================================================
11:42:55: frame - [100%] [avg time: 1.725 ms (cpu time: avg 1.503 ms, total 77453.1 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 99.7%] [unaccounted: 0.348%]
11:42:55: | frame preprocessing and rendering - [23.1%] [avg time: 0.398 ms (cpu time: avg 0.229 ms, total 11796.9 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 7.59%] [unaccounted: 15.5%]
11:42:55: | | scene->Preprocess - [7.59%] [avg time: 0.131 ms (cpu time: avg 0.079 ms, total 4078.13 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:42:55: | video encoding and uploading - [76.6%] [avg time: 1.321 ms (cpu time: avg 1.273 ms, total 65578.1 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 75.2%] [unaccounted: 1.39%]
11:42:55: | | flush - [4.7%] [avg time: 0.081 ms (cpu time: avg 0.041 ms, total 2140.63 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:42:55: | | CopyResource - [0.522%] [avg time: 0.009 ms (cpu time: avg 0.01 ms, total 531.25 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
11:42:55: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.464%] [avg time: 0.008 ms (cpu time: avg 0.009 ms, total 468.75 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
11:42:55: | | call to encoder - [69%] [avg time: 1.19 ms (cpu time: avg 1.192 ms, total 61437.5 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
11:42:55: | | sending stuff out - [0.522%] [avg time: 0.009 ms (cpu time: avg 0.009 ms, total 484.375 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
11:42:55: | Convert444Threads - [3.86e+003%] [avg time: 66.671 ms (cpu time: avg 1.783 ms, total 91859.4 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 3]
11:42:55: ==============================================================
11:42:55:

Wulfegang · Jul 30, 2013

I just ran a quick test stream and here are the results.

http://www.twitch.tv/wulfegang/b/438356939

vaesauce · Jul 30, 2013

Your stream looks perfectly fine to me. Pixelation on fast scenes is something that anyone can hardly fix and really, from looking at your log... I think the only thing you can do to help with Pixelation with fast scenes is to look into Custom Settings, study them and test and see if you can minimize them or just simply upgrade your internet speed so that you have a higher upload speed.

Your viewers, you said that they complain about the video lagging? Is it stuttering on the VOD or lagging on the VOD? If not, it just means that your viewers are having problems with buffering your stream. It happens from time to time and not really something you can fix unless you lower your Bitrate... which would only give you more pixelation during fast scenes.

Wulfegang · Jul 30, 2013

Thanks for the quick reply. They mainly complained about it stuttering every minute or so on the live stream. I was afraid to take my bitrate too high in case their connections couldn't keep up with the stream since I was using CBR but also didn't want to have it too low for the reasons you listed. My upload speed is currently around 5Mb/s but I wanted to leave it around 2500-3000 for their benefit (unless I am not understanding how that works exactly, which is possible). Once again, thanks for the help everyone. I really appreciate it.

Kharay · Jul 30, 2013

Wulfegang said:
I just ran a quick test stream and here are the results.

http://www.twitch.tv/wulfegang/b/438356939

Could I see a log of specifically that session?

Wulfegang · Jul 30, 2013

Could I see a log of specifically that session?

Sure thing, here you go.

Code:

18:02:59: Open Broadcaster Software v0.542b - 32bit (´・ω・｀)
18:02:59: -------------------------------
18:02:59: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU       X 980  @ 3.33GHz
18:02:59: CPU Speed: 3341MHz
18:02:59: Physical Memory:  4095MB Total, 4095MB Free
18:02:59: stepping id: 2, model 12, family 6, type 0, extmodel 1, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 12, total cores 6
18:02:59: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
18:02:59: Windows Version: 6.2 Build 9200 
18:02:59: Aero is Enabled
18:02:59: -------------------------------
18:02:59: OBS Modules:
18:02:59: Base Address     Module
18:02:59: 002A0000         OBS.exe
18:02:59: 6FD30000         OBSApi.dll
18:02:59: 70000000         DShowPlugin.dll
18:02:59: 6FFE0000         GraphicsCapture.dll
18:02:59: 6FFC0000         NoiseGate.dll
18:02:59: 6FFA0000         PSVPlugin.dll
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Adapter 1
18:02:59:   Video Adapter: AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series
18:02:59:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 2112036864
18:02:59:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 2182864896
18:02:59: =====Stream Start: 2013-07-30, 18:02:59===============================================
18:02:59:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
18:02:59:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
18:02:59:   Output resolution: 1280x720
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Loading up D3D10...
18:02:59: Playback device Default
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Vengeance 2000)
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Audio Encoding: AAC
18:02:59:     bitrate: 128
18:02:59: Using graphics capture
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:02:59: Video Encoding: x264
18:02:59:     fps: 60
18:02:59:     width: 1280, height: 720
18:02:59:     preset: faster
18:02:59:     CBR: yes
18:02:59:     CFR: no
18:02:59:     max bitrate: 2700
18:02:59: ------------------------------------------
18:03:02: Total frames rendered: 184, number of frames that lagged: 0 (0.00%) (it's okay for some frames to lag)
18:03:02: =====Stream End: 2013-07-30, 18:03:02=================================================
18:03:25: =====Stream Start: 2013-07-30, 18:03:25===============================================
18:03:25:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
18:03:25:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
18:03:25:   Output resolution: 1280x720
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:25: Loading up D3D10...
18:03:25: Playback device Default
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:25: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:25: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Vengeance 2000)
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:25: Audio Encoding: AAC
18:03:25:     bitrate: 128
18:03:25: Using graphics capture
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:25: Video Encoding: x264
18:03:25:     fps: 60
18:03:25:     width: 1280, height: 720
18:03:25:     preset: faster
18:03:25:     CBR: yes
18:03:25:     CFR: no
18:03:25:     max bitrate: 2700
18:03:25: ------------------------------------------
18:03:29: SharedTexCapture hooked
18:03:37: Total frames rendered: 730, number of frames that lagged: 0 (0.00%) (it's okay for some frames to lag)
18:03:37: =====Stream End: 2013-07-30, 18:03:37=================================================
18:03:44: =====Stream Start: 2013-07-30, 18:03:44===============================================
18:03:44:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
18:03:44:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
18:03:44:   Output resolution: 1280x720
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: Loading up D3D10...
18:03:44: Playback device Default
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Vengeance 2000)
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: Audio Encoding: AAC
18:03:44:     bitrate: 128
18:03:44: Using graphics capture
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: Video Encoding: x264
18:03:44:     fps: 60
18:03:44:     width: 1280, height: 720
18:03:44:     preset: faster
18:03:44:     CBR: yes
18:03:44:     CFR: no
18:03:44:     max bitrate: 2700
18:03:44: ------------------------------------------
18:03:44: SharedTexCapture hooked
18:03:46: Using RTMP service: Twitch / Justin.tv
18:03:46:   Server selection: rtmp://live-iad-backup.justin.tv/app
18:03:47: SO_SNDBUF was at 65536
18:03:47: SO_SNDBUF is now 65536
18:16:05: Total frames rendered: 44449, number of frames that lagged: 15 (0.03%) (it's okay for some frames to lag)
18:16:05: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Aborting due to bStopping
18:16:05: Number of times waited to send: 0, Waited for a total of 0 bytes
18:16:05: Number of b-frames dropped: 0 (0%), Number of p-frames dropped: 0 (0%), Total 0 (0%)
18:16:05: =====Stream End: 2013-07-30, 18:16:05=================================================
18:16:49: 
18:16:49: Profiler results:
18:16:49: 
18:16:49: ==============================================================
18:16:49: frame - [100%] [avg time: 1.646 ms (cpu time: avg 1.447 ms, total 65671.9 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 99.6%] [unaccounted: 0.365%]
18:16:49: | frame preprocessing and rendering - [19.3%] [avg time: 0.318 ms (cpu time: avg 0.208 ms, total 9453.13 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 0.0608%] [unaccounted: 19.3%]
18:16:49: | | scene->Preprocess - [0.0608%] [avg time: 0.001 ms (cpu time: avg 0.001 ms, total 62.5 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1]
18:16:49: | video encoding and uploading - [80.3%] [avg time: 1.322 ms (cpu time: avg 1.236 ms, total 56109.4 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 76.7%] [unaccounted: 3.65%]
18:16:49: | | flush - [4.62%] [avg time: 0.076 ms (cpu time: avg 0.046 ms, total 2125 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 1]
18:16:49: | | CopyResource - [0.486%] [avg time: 0.008 ms (cpu time: avg 0.006 ms, total 312.5 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
18:16:49: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.425%] [avg time: 0.007 ms (cpu time: avg 0.006 ms, total 296.875 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
18:16:49: | | call to encoder - [70.4%] [avg time: 1.159 ms (cpu time: avg 1.151 ms, total 52218.8 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
18:16:49: | | sending stuff out - [0.729%] [avg time: 0.012 ms (cpu time: avg 0.014 ms, total 671.875 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 0]
18:16:49: | Convert444Threads - [4.04e+003%] [avg time: 66.528 ms (cpu time: avg 1.785 ms, total 81000 ms)] [avg calls per frame: 3]
18:16:49: ==============================================================
18:16:49:

vaesauce · Jul 30, 2013

Ah i see, makes sense. Twitch doesn't like anything over 3500-4000kbs so i think you have some headroom in making your fast movement scenes look better.

None the less, if it's only your stream that is lagging then that means that their internet cannot keep up with your streaming. If you go back and watch your past broadcasts, you'll probably notice that you hardly ever lag or stutter unless you lose major frames in a very taxing scene. If your past broadcasts look butter smooth, which they do... then it's definitely just the viewers.

I thought this was an issue of mine when i was Streaming AND watching my stream on my laptop. Sometimes I would struggle to buffer and on my stream it looked like I was stuttering/lagging but i had a friend watch it while i streamed and he said that he wasn't experiencing any lagging or stuttering, saying that it was butter smooth.

Really at this point, it's more of a gamble of what bitrate to use with CBR, even then, without it, it would be quite spiky and it would cause similar issues in high taxing scenes.

Kharay · Jul 30, 2013

That is odd, I did indeed notice a very mild stutter but the log does not reflect on this in any way, shape or form. Which suggests to me it's the game, not OBS, nor your connection. I don't have Borderlands 2 myself, otherwise I'd try it; to see if I can mimic and resolve that little stutter.

Regardless, have you tried yet to simply tweak Borderland 2's settings a bit so as to be somewhat easier on the CPU and GPU? It's not a great deal of toning down it needs, just a touch really.

Regarding the actual quality of the VOD; I'd say it's pretty damned solid. About as solid as I'd expect in a Borderlands 2 VOD.

Wulfegang · Jul 31, 2013

Thanks again everyone! I will lower some settings in the game itself and see if that helps. Appreciate all the help!

vaesauce · Jul 31, 2013

You're welcome!

On a side note, if you don't mind. Would you let me know what your average CPU usage is when you're playing Borderlands 2?

Wulfegang · Jul 31, 2013

Next time I play it again I will let you know. I turned off FXAA and that seemed to make the game feel smoother. I also ran Dxtory and framerate stayed at 60 the entire time.

Wulfegang · Jul 31, 2013

vaesauce said:
You're welcome!

On a side note, if you don't mind. Would you let me know what your average CPU usage is when you're playing Borderlands 2?

I was playing today and kept a tab on my CPU usage. It looked like it hovered around 60-70%. Hope that helps some.

Wulfegang · Jul 31, 2013

I hooked my PC up to my TV so I could monitor the CPU usage a little better and it never went above 60%. I also maintained around 45-60 FPS. I think that is about as good as I can get right now and really want to thank everyone. OBS community is great and I tell all of my friends to use it if they stream. Take care all!

Question / Help PC Upgrade Advice

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