Question / Help [Resolved] Unable to use NVENC encoder.

CrystalFlames

New Member
When attempting to use the NVENC encoder for recording, I get the error message:
Starting the output failed. please check the log for details.
Note: if you are using the nvenc or amd encoders, make sure your video drivers are up to date.

I'm using an up to date video driver, GeForce GTX 960M which should support a NVENC encoder.
The log file: https://obsproject.com/logs/TTNJ-lHUSPy5ZJv-
 
17:36:36.468: Windows 10 Gaming Features:
17:36:36.468: Game DVR: On

Turn off GameDVR, it may be using an NVENC session.
 
Is anything else running that might be using NVENC, like ShadowPlay/GeForce Experience? Anything running another background DVR process or NVENC thread?
 
I am not sure what the issue is, then. I have seen other threads with complaints about this particular GPU, but unlike the 940M, I believe this card does actually support NVENC, but I still have seen multiple complaints about getting it to work properly in some cases. I don't have this card so I am not sure what else to suggest.
 
The GTX 960M should support nvenc. I remember I read the GTX M series do have it. According to this article, it really has it.
Could you run GPU-Z and post a screenshot of the first page? In that page we can see what chip is actually built in that GPU. It should be the GM107, and that has Nvenc according to the nvenc support matrix.
 
Your driver is not current. It's not old, but it's not current as well. May be installing the current driver from the Nvidia website might help. As of this writing, it's version 417.71.
 
Thank You! Manually updating the drivers from the website seems to have fixed the issue. I had it updated automatically when the issue first happened but for some reason it must not have gotten the most recent version.
 
Sometimes, Nvidia drivers are pushed through Windows Update, and as far as I observed it, that installation is not always as complete as a manual install. You might have been a victim of this. The driver from Windows Update is complete and the same as from Nvidia website, but the automatic installation process seems to have its flaws.
 
Back
Top