Question / Help Second Stream PC: Freezes every 2 seconds (no warnings)

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Panpan

Member
Hello everyone!

I'm having some issues with a dual-PC stream setup using NGINX. The issue I'm having is with my second PC (the one used to encode/stream the video). It's a laptop with two GPU's that are switchable using a "Speed/Stamina" switch on the laptop. Whenever I stream, the video (including in the preview) will freeze every 2 seconds for anywhere between 1 - 5 seconds, then continue again and repeat. The audio does not freeze though and continues as if nothing happened. It does NOT show "High CPU Usage Warning/Encoding Warning" and when I check task manager, it's only using ~25% CPU usage!

EDIT: I got it wrong - It also freezes/has this issue if I preview without recording/streaming. All of this is also under OBS non-studio. I would use studio, but it, unfortunately, does not have the "minimize network impact" option. Yes, it does affect me when it's not on.

Internet Speed: https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/jtv_user_pictures/panel-78680059-image-af28f4f8ee65b107-320.png

Main/Gaming PC:
Xeon E3-1241v3
16GB RAM
GTX 980
NVENC Streaming to NGINX
720p @ 30 FPS
25000kb/s Video Bitrate
128kb AAC Audio Bitrate
7000 Buffer (For NGINX, people report it cutting connection if you don't set it at 7000)
NVDefault

Laptop/Streaming Setup:
i7-2640M
6GB RAM
AMD HD 6630M / Intel HD Graphics 3000
x264 Streaming to Twitch
720p @ 30 fps
2000/2200kb/s Video Bitrate
Default Buffer Size
128kb AAC Audio Bitrate
Ultrafast Preset
Main Encoding Profile
OBS Video Source Plug-in.

I previously had this issue and was able to fix it, allowing to to stream smoothly for a week or so. It only happened today, and I have changed NOTHING at all. I was previously streaming on Fast preset + High encoding profile with no issues and ~80% CPU usage. To try and fix it I changed it to Ultrafast and between Main/High encoding profile but to no success. No matter what I do, I've been unable to get it to stream smoothly.

Here's the stream VOD:
https://www.twitch.tv/ryeuu/v/88213327?t=14m32s
It starts happening at ~5 minutes, but is most noticeable at about 14 minutes when I start playing deathmatch.

I will attach the Log file as well. It has multiple sessions in it, so it will give errors like "fast preset" and then "ultra fast preset" since I changed it. The Twitch VOD is with Ultrafast preset. It says I'm using wireless, but that's because I was testing it with wireless since this issue was already happening when I was connected through ethernet (I normally use ethernet).

I used this guide to set it up : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jROntrxj5-E
Except I use an ethernet switch to allow multiple connections. The switch has up to 16gb/s constant bandwidth (I used it to transfer files during LAN's) so that's not an issue.

Any help and suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you everyone!
 

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Panpan

Member
Harold said:
Remove the threads custom x264 option, it's not needed.
Wireless will pretty much always perform worse than wired.

The 2640m is not really a great computer to be streaming with.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-2640M+@+2.80GHz

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1241+v3+@+3.50GHz

You're probably actually better off using a single computer setup given the processor in your main system.
Click to expand...

Hey Harold! Thanks for the reply. I mentioned it before - I used wireless only to test. I was having the exact same issues wired as well, so that's not the issue here. I run CS:GO, so if I stream using x264 on my main PC, my FPS is HEAVILY affected. The game becomes choppy, the mouse is slightly more delayed and it becomes harder to maintain above 289 fps (144x2 + 1) since I'm on a 144hz monitor. Even with the ultrafast preset on my Main/Gaming PC, on some maps, my FPS drops as low as ~130, while it maintains a stable 300-400 on most maps whilst not streaming.

The biggest point is that it was working perfectly fine before, for more than a week until I took a break from streaming due to mid-sems. Now it won't even go above 25% CPU usage which I believe is the issue..

Also, I removed the "threads" option and tried streaming for about 2 minutes but it yielded same results. I'll keep it removed anyway when streaming in the future! Thanks!
 
Harold

Harold

Active Member
Something else to try is going to be OBS Studio instead of classic. It may perform better for you.
 
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Panpan

Member
Harold said:
Something else to try is going to be OBS Studio instead of classic. It may perform better for you.
Click to expand...
That is a good suggestions! I remember it working fine in OBS Studio, actually. The only reason i'm not going to use it (even if it fixes my issue) is because it doesn't have the "minimize network impact" option. It heavily affects my gameplay, mainly because my router is bad and can't handle the high amount of packets that streaming uses/sends and that affects the packets required for the game to run smoothly. (Kind of like streaming packets taking up all the bandwidth, delaying game packets).
 
P

Panpan

Member
Harold said:
Time to give the router "The Screwdriver" and replace it.
(Reference for "The Screwdriver")
Click to expand...
Hahahah what?! I agree. I might use my other router, but I'm not sure if it allows me to change what I need to in order to allow better packet flow. Although here, if I wanted to pay more for a decent NBN ready router (fiber), I'd rather put money in for a dedicated streaming PC :P
 
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