Running 60 fps in OBS Studio, but getting 30 or less at times...

[DeadAirV]

I've been using OBS for a long time, and I haven't been having many issues with this until recent months.

I run OBS at 60 fps, sometimes 30 when I'm running a more demanding game. However, most of what I cast is FFXIV and some occasional Valorant- so I'm not really seeing why I should be stuttering so severely.

My components are as follows;
Intel i5-9400F @ 2.90GHz
GeForce GTX 1660 6GB
TUF B365M-PLUS (LGA1151) Motherboard

My latest log is also attached.

 

[qhobbes]

WINDOWS
1. The version of Windows you are running (1909) has a limitation which causes performance issues in hardware accelerated applications (such as games) if multiple monitors with different refresh rates are present. Your system's monitors have 2 different refresh rates (144 and 60 Hz), so you are affected by this limitation.

To fix this issue, we recommend updating to at least the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. Follow these instructions if you're not sure how to update.
2. In Windows 10 versions 1809 and newer, we recommend that "Game Mode" be enabled for maximum gaming performance. Game Mode can be enabled via the Windows 10 "Settings" app, under Gaming > Game Mode.
3. Change the refresh rate on your HP monitor from 144 Hz to 120 Hz
4. Run OBS as Admin. Right click on the shortcut, properties, advanced, check box, ok, apply, ok.
OBS
5. Display and Game Capture Sources interfere with each other. Never put them in the same scene (PC No Cam BRB and PC Starting).
6. Multiple Game Capture sources are usually not needed (scene 'PC No Cam'), and can sometimes interfere with each other. You can use the same Game Capture for all your games! If you change games often, try out the hotkey mode, which lets you press a key to select your active game. If you play games in fullscreen, use 'Capture any fullscreen application' mode.
7. Having the YUV Color range set to "Full" will cause playback issues in certain browsers and on various video platforms. Shadows, highlights and color will look off. In OBS, go to "Settings -> Advanced" and set "YUV Color Range" back to "Partial".
GAMES
8. Cap your games at 120 FPS.
OBS
9. Your log contains streaming session. Results of this log analysis are limited. Please post a link to a clean log file.
To make a clean log file, please follow these steps:

1) Restart OBS as Admin after making the above changes.
2) Start your stream for about 30 seconds. Make sure you replicate any issues as best you can, which means having any games/apps open and captured, etc.
3) Stop your stream/recording.
4) Select Help > Log Files > Upload Current Log File. Send that link via this troubleshooting tool.

 

[DeadAirV]

So I've made the above changes, minus the update because it appears I already have the current version? Unless I need to rollback to the May 2020 update? And both of my displays are running at 60fps.

I've also removed all extra instances of Game/Display capture, and I no longer have them in scenes together.

However, the stuttering is still persisting. I've attached the current log.

 

[FerretBomb]

22:05:14.597: Output 'adv_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 379 (2.3%)

You don't appear to have any rendering delay in that log, but are streaming at a rate your connection cannot reliably maintain.

Additionally, you are using a Display Capture, which is the WORST-performing capture method, and can cause stuttering and other conflicts with other sources (especially if there is a Game or Window capture in the same scene). Display Captures should be avoided at all costs. Use a Game Capture with FFXIV.

 

[DeadAirV]

So I've changed some more things around. And here's the log I have.

I now have an Intel i7 7700, and now I'm experiencing frame drops in games while streaming. Most recent log is attached.

-Edit-

And a sincere thank you to anyone who comes here to offer commentary and insight. Your help is immensely appreciated.

 

[FerretBomb]

Can you define 'frame drops in games'? As in, in-game performance being affected?
Your logfile shows a handful of skipped frames due to rendering delay, but 7 frames over several thousand is a non-issue. There do not appear to be any dropped frames (which are always a network issue).

 

[DeadAirV]

Can you define 'frame drops in games'? As in, in-game performance being affected?
Your logfile shows a handful of skipped frames due to rendering delay, but 7 frames over several thousand is a non-issue. There do not appear to be any dropped frames (which are always a network issue).

Yes, sorry. My framerate was stuttering at times while streaming. Though when this would occur, the FPS counter? wouldn't show that the framerate was dropping.

 

[FerretBomb]

So the in-game performance, not just the stream then? If that's the case it'd just be down to the game's performance. Recommend lowering visual options in-game to maintain a margin for load peaking.

If it was only stuttering on-stream, your most recent logfile doesn't show any appreciable amount of issues with OBS itself... does it only occur with Valorant? Both Valorant and APEX are known to be pretty GPU-hungry in general.

 

[DeadAirV]

So the in-game performance, not just the stream then? If that's the case it'd just be down to the game's performance. Recommend lowering visual options in-game to maintain a margin for load peaking.

If it was only stuttering on-stream, your most recent logfile doesn't show any appreciable amount of issues with OBS itself... does it only occur with Valorant? Both Valorant and APEX are known to be pretty GPU-hungry in general.

I'm honestly a little worried about trying APEX, considering this new CPU is still running on a stock cooler and insane amounts of loading shoot the temps above 90. normal operation stays below 75 though. (Not gonna lie, I could use cooler recommendations. Still new to the building aspect of PCs.

 

[FerretBomb]

I'm honestly a little worried about trying APEX, considering this new CPU is still running on a stock cooler and insane amounts of loading shoot the temps above 90. normal operation stays below 75 though. (Not gonna lie, I could use cooler recommendations. Still new to the building aspect of PCs.

A stock cooler shouldn't have the CPU getting that hot unless you've overclocked it, or installed it wrong. Did you remember to remove the protective plastic layer that normally ships over the top of the stock thermal paste to protect it? If there was no stock thermal paste, did you apply some?
My usual go-to air cooler is the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO. It's very inexpensive at usually around $25, and performs extremely well.

The stock cooler SHOULD work much better than it is in your case though.

 

[drhaley]

In my OBS "scene", I changed my camera settings - Resolution/FPS Type from Device Default to Custom... then set the resolution and framerate... voila! It didn't make sense since device default should be 30... but custom settings fixed it.