Question / Help (Resolved) Need Better Performance from OBS

[akanatrix]

I'm currently trying to stream World of Warcraft using OBS and have not been happy With the frame rates in game while streaming. I play in 1920x1080 resolution and stream at 1280x720 with 60 FPS. My computer will dip down under 30 FPS at times in cities and raids, and I would like to keep it closer to 60 if possible. I am pretty sure it is more of a hardware issue over settings, so I guess I am asking for hardware advice. My current setup is listed below.

• Intel Core i7 950

• Asus Rampage III Formula

• Nvidia 580 GTX

• 12GB DDR3 SDRAM 1600

I am debating on upgrading to an Intel Core i7 3770 with an Asus Sabretooth motherboard and 16GB of DDR3 SDRAM. I'm thinking the processor is the biggest bottleneck in my system at the moment. I was considering an Avermedia Live Gamer HD but it appears the benefit is negligible on a single PC setup according to everything I read, which is sad as it is a much cheaper investment. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[FerretBomb]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

Please post a log of a live streaming session. They are located in %appdata%\OBS\logs and are timestamped. It will tell us if there are any slowdowns that OBS is seeing.

If you suspect that it is a CPU bottleneck, you can use the Task Manager's Process tab and the Set Affinity option to restrict OBS and the WoW client to separate CPU cores.

Yes, the Avermedia cards are pointless on a single-system setup, unless you plan to stream gameplay from a console system, or you are playing a game intentionally designed to prevent having the executable hooked (which WoW is not).

 

[Lain]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

Yea that system is more than sufficient for 720p 60fps, you shouldn't be having dips. Don't go buying new stuff until we can look at that log file.

 

[akanatrix]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

Here's my log file.

20:14:47: Open Broadcaster Software v0.522b - 64bt (　^ω^)
20:14:47: -------------------------------
20:14:47: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU         950  @ 3.07GHz
20:14:47: CPU Speed: 3071MHz
20:14:47: Physical Memory:  12279MB Total, 10001MB Free
20:14:47: stepping id: 5, model 10, family 6, type 0, extmodel 0, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 8, total cores 4
20:14:47: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
20:14:47: monitor 2: pos={1920, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
20:14:47: Windows Version: 6.2 Build 9200 
20:14:47: Aero is Enabled
20:14:47: -------------------------------
20:14:47: OBS Modules:
20:14:47: Base Address     Module
20:14:47: 0000000054000000 OBS.exe
20:14:47: 0000000010800000 OBSApi.dll
20:14:47: 0000000011D50000 DShowPlugin.dll
20:14:47: 0000000011570000 GraphicsCapture.dll
20:14:47: 0000000011510000 NoiseGate.dll
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47: Adapter 1
20:14:47:   Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580
20:14:47:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 1555492864
20:14:47:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 2684235776
20:14:47: =====Stream Start: 2013-07-03, 20:14:47===============================================
20:14:47:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
20:14:47:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
20:14:47:   Output resolution: 1280x720
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47: Loading up D3D10...
20:14:47: Playback device {0.0.0.00000000}.{5ea62463-71ca-4b35-aee9-259f57e7499c}
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (Yeti Stereo Microphone)
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47: Audio Encoding: AAC
20:14:47:     bitrate: 128
20:14:47: Using Window Capture
20:14:47: ------------------------------------------
20:14:47:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
20:14:47:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
20:14:47:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x450 - 800x450, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
20:14:47:     audio device: Disable,
20:14:47:     audio device id Disabled,
20:14:47: 
20:14:47: Using directshow input
20:14:47: Using Monitor Capture
20:14:47: Using bitmap image
20:14:49: ------------------------------------------
20:14:49: Video Encoding: x264
20:14:49:     fps: 60
20:14:49:     width: 1280, height: 720
20:14:49:     preset: veryfast
20:14:49:     CBR: yes
20:14:49:     CFR: no
20:14:49:     max bitrate: 3000
20:14:49: ------------------------------------------
20:14:51: Using RTMP service: Twitch / Justin.tv
20:14:51:   Server selection: rtmp://live-lax.justin.tv/app
20:14:51: SO_SNDBUF was at 65536
20:14:51: SO_SNDBUF is now 65536
20:15:10: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20:15:10:   New Scene
20:15:10: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:15: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20:15:15:   New Scene
20:15:15: ------------------------------------------
20:15:15:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
20:15:15:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
20:15:15:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x500 - 800x500, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
20:15:15:     audio device: Disable,
20:15:15:     audio device id Disabled,
20:15:15: 
20:15:15: Using directshow input
20:15:16: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:16: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:23: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20:15:23:   New Scene
20:15:23: ------------------------------------------
20:15:23:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
20:15:23:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
20:15:23:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x450 - 800x450, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
20:15:23:     audio device: Disable,
20:15:23:     audio device id Disabled,
20:15:23: 
20:15:24: Using directshow input
20:15:24: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:24: Using bitmap image
20:15:45: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20:15:45:   New Scene
20:15:45: ------------------------------------------
20:15:45:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
20:15:45:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
20:15:45:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x500 - 800x500, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
20:15:45:     audio device: Disable,
20:15:45:     audio device id Disabled,
20:15:45: 
20:15:45: Using directshow input
20:15:45: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:45: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:54: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20:15:54:   New Scene
20:15:54: ------------------------------------------
20:15:54:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
20:15:54:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
20:15:54:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x450 - 800x450, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
20:15:54:     audio device: Disable,
20:15:54:     audio device id Disabled,
20:15:54: 
20:15:54: Using directshow input
20:15:54: Using Monitor Capture
20:15:54: Using bitmap image
21:31:18: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21:31:18:   New Scene
21:31:18: ------------------------------------------
21:31:18:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
21:31:18:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
21:31:18:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x500 - 800x500, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
21:31:18:     audio device: Disable,
21:31:18:     audio device id Disabled,
21:31:18: 
21:31:18: Using directshow input
21:31:18: Using Monitor Capture
21:31:18: Using Monitor Capture
21:36:41: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21:36:41:   New Scene
21:36:41: ------------------------------------------
21:36:41:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
21:36:41:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
21:36:41:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x450 - 800x450, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
21:36:41:     audio device: Disable,
21:36:41:     audio device id Disabled,
21:36:41: 
21:36:41: Using directshow input
21:36:41: Using Monitor Capture
21:36:41: Using bitmap image
21:42:51: Using Window Capture
21:59:05: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21:59:05:   New Scene
21:59:05: ------------------------------------------
21:59:05:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
21:59:05:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
21:59:05:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x500 - 800x500, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
21:59:05:     audio device: Disable,
21:59:05:     audio device id Disabled,
21:59:05: 
21:59:05: Using directshow input
21:59:05: Using Monitor Capture
21:59:05: Using Monitor Capture
21:59:32: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21:59:32:   New Scene
21:59:32: Using Window Capture
21:59:32: ------------------------------------------
21:59:32:     device: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000,
21:59:32:     device id \\?\usb#vid_046d&pid_0809&mi_00#7&8942c64&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\{bbefb6c7-2fc4-4139-bb8b-a58bba724083},
21:59:32:     chosen type: I420, usingFourCC: false, res: 800x450 - 800x450, frameIntervals: 333333-2000000, fourCC: 'I420'
21:59:32:     audio device: Disable,
21:59:32:     audio device id Disabled,
21:59:32: 
21:59:32: Using directshow input
21:59:32: Using Monitor Capture
21:59:32: Using bitmap image
22:55:54: Total frames rendered: 579568, number of frames that lagged: 114 (0.02%) (it's okay for some frames to lag)
22:55:55: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Aborting due to bStopping
22:55:55: Number of times waited to send: 0, Waited for a total of 0 bytes
22:55:55: Number of b-frames dropped: 5 (0.00086%), Number of p-frames dropped: 0 (0%), Total 5 (0.00086%)
22:55:55: =====Stream End: 2013-07-03, 22:55:55=================================================
22:56:00: 
22:56:00: Profiler results:
22:56:00: 
22:56:00: ==============================================================
22:56:00: frame - [100%] [avg time: 2.13 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 92.3%] [unaccounted: 7.65%]
22:56:00: | scene->Preprocess - [16.9%] [avg time: 0.361 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
22:56:00: | video encoding and uploading - [75.4%] [avg time: 1.606 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1] [children: 74.1%] [unaccounted: 1.31%]
22:56:00: | | CopyResource - [0.657%] [avg time: 0.014 ms] [avg calls per frame: 0]
22:56:00: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.188%] [avg time: 0.004 ms] [avg calls per frame: 0]
22:56:00: | | call to encoder - [72.4%] [avg time: 1.542 ms] [avg calls per frame: 0]
22:56:00: | | sending stuff out - [0.845%] [avg time: 0.018 ms] [avg calls per frame: 0]
22:56:00: ==============================================================
22:56:00:

 

[Lain]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

Ah, hm, I misread the CPU. Still, an i7 950 has 8 logical cores, so I'm not entirely sure if it should be lagging or not. It seems you use multiple monitor captures on occasion. I see "monitor capture" showing up twice when you switch scenes. Are you capturing both monitors at the same time? Could be contributing to performance issues. Perhaps you could experiment using preview while raiding some time, then use the checkboxes on each source to see if any particular sources are causing it?

Also, I would personally recommend using window capture to capture WoW instead as well when possible; its performance is typically much better, even on windows 8 where monitor capturing is really fast.

 

[Krazy]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

I think you might be underestimating just how well the WoW engine handles raids and cities as well, especially while under the added strain of streaming.

 

[Kharay]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-760

Motherboard: Asus P7P55D-E

Memory: 16 Gb (4 x 4Gb @ 1333 Mhz -- G.Skill Ripjaws)

GPU: SapphireTech HD 6870 Vapor-X (1 Gb)

1080p @ 30Hz... not a problem. Not even in more modern titles than World of Warcraft. Just now I streamed a bit of Guild Wars 2, which is far more resource heavy than WoW and I did not even notice the difference between streaming and not streaming.

WoW is neither a CPU hog nor a GPU hog. Not with your kind of hardware anyhow. You have to remember, WoW was first released in 2004 and much of the by-now dated engine simply is just that... dated. I would suggest, before considering spending money where spending money simply may not be due is to actually consider the possibility it is a configuration issue.

Go into WoW's options, both graphical and sound and see if you can't simply tone a few settings down a bit. Not enough to make it look different on stream but enough to maybe give your CPU and GPU just enough breathing room to cope with streaming as well. Things to consider toning down: Shadows, Particle Effects, Physics, Post-Processing (not sure which one of these WoW has by now, I quit playing years ago). Then, consider enabling OpenCL in OBS to further give your CPU some breathing room. If my i5-760 can stream Guild Wars 2 in 1080p @ 30Hz without dropping me below 50-ish FPS in GW2 itself, your i7-950 should not have any issue whatsoever streaming WoW in 720p @ 60Hz while not dropping below 60 FPS in WoW itself.

 

[akanatrix]

Re: Need Better Performance from OBS

The vast majority of the time I use window capture on only one monitor, game capture crashes on me. The only reason I have the other scenes with my second monitor is if I need to show something, which I never have other than just testing it. I ended up over clocking my processor from 3.06 to 3.36 and noticed about a 5FPS increase and all stuttering diminished under the worst case scenarios, such as cities and raids. I've already tweaked the settings in game to what I consider livable, such as reducing shadows and particle effects. Just based on the increase from over clocking I think a CPU upgrade would help, especially since the new configuration would include QuickSync capabilities. I think I will hold off a bit on upgrading as my computer is a bit smoother now. Thanks for the advice everyone.