Question / Help Random/Frequent In-game Stuttering while Streaming

[Raikou99]

Hello everyone,

I've been experiencing in-game stuttering while streaming Shovel Knight ever since i got a SSD and reinstalled Windows on it

I've run my system through a number of tests for some individual parts(CPU, RAM and SSD/HDD, Passed), tried Superfast and Ultrafast CPU Presets, tried streaming with Quicksync and Nvidia NVENC, even tried streaming at 30FPS, but nothing seems to make a difference

I live in australia so the internet isn't the greatest
Sync rate is : 11285kbps Down, 960kbps Up

its happening with every game i stream, whether it be emulation, 2D platformers or even High-def fast paced shooters

Heres my OBS log from my latest stream: http://pastebin.com/eXaEiX9n

And my computer specs:
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770k CPU @ 3.50GHz (8 CPUs)
Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600mhz
GFX Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (Driver 340.52)
SSD: 120GB Intel 520 Series SSD
2 other HDD's, 500GB and 2TB

Thanks in advance, hopefully someone has an idea on what to try next

 

[Greendweller]

Hi,

well your log shows some errors like an unstable connection and also dropped frames.
However those dropped frames should basicly not be happening with those pc specs and settings.
Perhaps a redundant question but have you also checked that directx is installed correctly?

The thing that confuses me a bit is that , according to your post, nvenc also gives the same issue.
Even if there was a cpu capacity limitation, that option should take a lot of the load of it.
With my limited knowledge, the next step i would do is stresstest the videocard to see if that part has any issues as this seems more a system issue then an obs related issue.

**edit**
i forgot to ask: how did you test your cpu?

 

[H4ndy]

Hi,

You have some stalled frames which tells us that your bitrate is too high or your internet connection is unstable.
Switch your Audio to AAC instead of MP3 and reduce it to 96 kbps, that give you about equal quality at less size,
you also might want to reduce your video bitrate by 50 or so and try again.

Furthermore there are quite some duplicated and late frames, so your CPU is not fast enough to encode everything.
Easiest way would be to switch to 30 fps intead of 60 or use quicksync (which will yield pretty bad quality at your bitrate tho).

Good luck.

 

[Raikou99]

DirectX is definitely installed properly, was done when the computer was first reformatted just 5 days ago
Tested my CPU via the Intel Diagnostics tool with all tests Passed

This issue was happening with 500 bitrate just two days ago also, i will try AAC instead of MP3, i can stress test the GPU and see how that goes

the dropped frames were something at the end of that 6 minute stream due to me loading my stream while streaming(dumb i know, but i was loading the chat and the stream loaded at the same time), i saw the green square go red during that time, but for the rest of it, it was constant green with 0.00% dropped frames

the CPU isn't fast enough?, i always thought an i7 3770k was really good?, this issue has been happening under 30FPS aswell as Quicksync(infact Quicksync caused Shovel Knight to actually run less than half speed), the games still have in-game stuttering, makes it difficult to speedrun.

Thanks for the help guys, happy to provide as much information as needed to get to the bottom of this :)

 

[Raikou99]

Little bump, have a new OBS log to share: http://pastebin.com/0HrwNbkJ

This one, my stream was 636 birate with 381 buffer size as per estimator, no dropped frames and solid green encoding square, 30FPS, AAC with 96 Audio bitrate

Still getting the random stuttering in-game tho, maybe theres something else in this new log?, still yet to stresstest my GPU

 

[Lain]

The CPU seems fine, your computer in general seems fine. Quite a good computer in fact. Do you have a video of the problem?

If it's dropped frames, then that's more of a network/connection issue.

 

[Greendweller]

That log doesn't show any real issues except for some duplicated frames.
but with those settings i would expect not any duplicated frames to be honest.
Because you are saying that it's also happening with all your games (2d/3d)....
Perhaps you could try and see how your stream works without the cam?
Mayby it could be as simple as that. Just unplug it and see how that runs for a few minutes.
(it can't hurt to try :))

 

[Raikou99]

It was a nice idea, but i made this local recording and the same issue happened, with only a capture of the game

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mttz6dhlz4othj9/Stutter.mp4?dl=0

Its hard to tell by the video, you really need to playing to know what i mean, i notice it happens mostly when the screen is scrolling, most notable parts of the video
0:49 during the yellow dragon section you can see Shovel Knight's movement stutter as the FPS drops
1:10 the screen scrolls down at less than 60 fps
1:30 couple of stutters during screen transition to the right

When not streaming tho, the game is 60 fps all the time with none of these stutters, theres gotta be something, i have in the past streamed with a solid 60FPS and no stuttering so i dont know whats changed

Thanks again guys for all the ideas :)

 

[Lain]

Not a clue. The video plays almost totally perfect.