Severe Blockiness and Pixelation During YouTube Livestreams, but Local Recordings Are Clean (RTX 3070 Laptop / NVENC H.264 / OBS 33.0.1)

Chocosuzu

Chocosuzu

New Member
Hi everyone,
I’m experiencing severe blockiness and pixelation during YouTube livestreams, especially during fast motion and camera movements.
The issue is particularly noticeable in games such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch 2.

The OBS preview looks normal, and local recordings made with OBS do not show the same issue. However, the YouTube livestream becomes noticeably pixelated, especially in scenes with a lot of movement.
I’ve tried several troubleshooting steps, but the problem persists. I’d appreciate any help identifying the cause.
1. PC and hardware specifications


  • OBS Studio: 33.0.1 (64-bit)
  • OS: Windows 11 (Build 26300, as reported in the log)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H (12th Gen)
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU
  • Integrated GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • NVIDIA driver: 32.0.16.2101
  • Capture card: AVerMedia Live Gamer HD60 X
  • Capture resolution: 1920×1080 at 60 FPS
  • Capture format: NV12
  • Internet connection: Fiber-optic broadband
  • PC connection to router: Wi-Fi

2. Internet connection speed
According to my latest speed test:


  • Download speed: Approximately 1.1 Gbps
  • Upload speed: Approximately 1.0 Gbps
  • Unloaded latency: 10 ms
  • Loaded latency: 21 ms
I have a fiber-optic internet connection, but my PC is connected to the router via Wi-Fi.

3. OBS streaming settings

The latest OBS log records the following settings:


  • Encoder: NVIDIA NVENC H.264
  • Rate control: CBR
  • Bitrate: 12,000 Kbps
  • Keyframe interval: 2 seconds
  • Preset: P6 (Slower)
  • Tuning: High Quality
  • Multipass mode: Two Passes (Quarter Resolution)
  • Profile: High
  • B-frames: 2
  • Look-ahead: Enabled
  • Adaptive Quantization: Enabled
  • Output resolution: 1920×1080
  • Frame rate: 60 FPS
I also tested increasing the bitrate to 17,000 Kbps, but this did not improve the image quality.
Please note that the linked log was generated while the bitrate was set to 12,000 Kbps.

4. Troubleshooting steps already performed


  1. Switched from Intel QuickSync H.264 to NVIDIA NVENC H.264. The problem remained.
  2. Downgraded OBS to an older version. The problem remained.
  3. Set OBS to use the high-performance NVIDIA GPU in Windows Graphics Settings.
  4. Confirmed that NVIDIA’s Video Encode engine is active in Task Manager (approximately 63% usage during one test).
  5. Increased the streaming bitrate to 17,000 Kbps. No improvement.
  6. Tested local recording in OBS and confirmed that the recordings do not show the same blockiness.
  7. Tested streaming at 1080p60.
  8. Uninstalled Lenovo Vantage.
5. OBS Statistics During Visible Pixelation

While the YouTube livestream was visibly pixelated, OBS Statistics showed:


  • FPS: 60.00
  • Average rendering time: Approximately 0.9 ms
  • Frames missed due to rendering lag: 0 (0.0%)
  • Skipped frames due to encoding lag: 0 (0.0%)
  • Dropped frames due to network: 0 (0.0%)
According to OBS Statistics, there were no obvious rendering, encoding, or network-related issues at that time.

6. YouTube Stats for Nerds

During the pixelated livestream, YouTube’s Stats for Nerds showed:


  • Current / Optimal Resolution: 1920×1080@60 / 1920×1080@60
  • Codecs: avc1.64002A (H.264) / mp4a.40.2
  • Connection Speed: 26,387 Kbps
  • Dropped Frames: 26 / 5,572 (approximately 0.47%)
  • Live Latency: 17.32 seconds
The playback resolution matched the optimal resolution, and the reported connection speed appeared sufficient.

7. Additional observations from the latest OBS log

I noticed several potentially relevant entries in the latest log:


  • Dynamic Bitrate is enabled.
  • The log contains a warning related to Lenovo Vantage / Legion Edge, stating that the “Network Boost” feature should be disabled when streaming with OBS. However, I have since uninstalled Lenovo Vantage.
  • Game Bar and Game DVR are reported as enabled, although Game DVR background recording is disabled.
  • The log also contains the following message: YT: GetYTApi() Failed to get Auth. However, the RTMPS connection to YouTube succeeds, and the livestream starts normally.
Could any of these settings or log entries be related to the problem?

In particular, could any remaining network-related services associated with Lenovo Vantage continue to affect streaming after the software has been uninstalled?

8. Questions


  1. What could cause severe pixelation in a YouTube livestream when OBS reports zero rendering lag, zero encoding lag, and zero network-dropped frames?
  2. Could Dynamic Bitrate or any remaining Lenovo-related network services cause this issue?
  3. Could changing the NVENC preset from P6 to P5 improve the situation? Could Look-ahead or Adaptive Quantization cause any problems?
  4. Could this be related to NVIDIA NVENC, the GPU driver, OBS 33.0.1, or YouTube’s H.264 transcoding?
  5. Are there any additional tests or log entries I should check to identify the root cause?
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or troubleshooting advice.

Thank you!

Latest OBS Log



Severe Blockiness and Pixelation During YouTube Livestreams, but Local Recordings Are Clean (RTX 3070 Laptop / NVENC H.264 / OBS 33.0.1)


Hi everyone,


I’m experiencing severe blockiness and pixelation during YouTube livestreams, especially during fast motion and camera movements.


The issue is particularly noticeable in games such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch 2.


The OBS preview looks normal, and local recordings made with OBS do not show the same issue. However, the YouTube livestream becomes noticeably pixelated, especially in scenes with a lot of movement.


I’ve tried several troubleshooting steps, but the problem persists. I’d appreciate any help identifying the cause.


1. PC and hardware specifications


  • OBS Studio: 33.0.1 (64-bit)
  • OS: Windows 11 (Build 26300, as reported in the log)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H (12th Gen)
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU
  • Integrated GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • NVIDIA driver: 32.0.16.2101
  • Capture card: AVerMedia Live Gamer HD60 X
  • Capture resolution: 1920×1080 at 60 FPS
  • Capture format: NV12
  • Internet connection: Fiber-optic broadband
  • PC connection to router: Wi-Fi

2. Internet connection speed


According to my latest speed test:


  • Download speed: Approximately 1.1 Gbps
  • Upload speed: Approximately 1.0 Gbps
  • Unloaded latency: 10 ms
  • Loaded latency: 21 ms

I have a fiber-optic internet connection, but my PC is connected to the router via Wi-Fi.


3. OBS streaming settings


The latest OBS log records the following settings:


  • Encoder: NVIDIA NVENC H.264
  • Rate control: CBR
  • Bitrate: 12,000 Kbps
  • Keyframe interval: 2 seconds
  • Preset: P6 (Slower)
  • Tuning: High Quality
  • Multipass mode: Two Passes (Quarter Resolution)
  • Profile: High
  • B-frames: 2
  • Look-ahead: Enabled
  • Adaptive Quantization: Enabled
  • Output resolution: 1920×1080
  • Frame rate: 60 FPS

I also tested increasing the bitrate to 17,000 Kbps, but this did not improve the image quality.


Please note that the linked log was generated while the bitrate was set to 12,000 Kbps.


4. Troubleshooting steps already performed


  1. Switched from Intel QuickSync H.264 to NVIDIA NVENC H.264. The problem remained.
  2. Downgraded OBS to an older version. The problem remained.
  3. Set OBS to use the high-performance NVIDIA GPU in Windows Graphics Settings.
  4. Confirmed that NVIDIA’s Video Encode engine is active in Task Manager (approximately 63% usage during one test).
  5. Increased the streaming bitrate to 17,000 Kbps. No improvement.
  6. Tested local recording in OBS and confirmed that the recordings do not show the same blockiness.
  7. Tested streaming at 1080p60.
  8. Uninstalled Lenovo Vantage.

5. OBS Statistics During Visible Pixelation


While the YouTube livestream was visibly pixelated, OBS Statistics showed:


  • FPS: 60.00
  • Average rendering time: Approximately 0.9 ms
  • Frames missed due to rendering lag: 0 (0.0%)
  • Skipped frames due to encoding lag: 0 (0.0%)
  • Dropped frames due to network: 0 (0.0%)

According to OBS Statistics, there were no obvious rendering, encoding, or network-related issues at that time.


6. YouTube Stats for Nerds


During the pixelated livestream, YouTube’s Stats for Nerds showed:


  • Current / Optimal Resolution: 1920×1080@60 / 1920×1080@60
  • Codecs: avc1.64002A (H.264) / mp4a.40.2
  • Connection Speed: 26,387 Kbps
  • Dropped Frames: 26 / 5,572 (approximately 0.47%)
  • Live Latency: 17.32 seconds

The playback resolution matched the optimal resolution, and the reported connection speed appeared sufficient.


7. Additional observations from the latest OBS log


I noticed several potentially relevant entries in the latest log:


  • Dynamic Bitrate is enabled.
  • The log contains a warning related to Lenovo Vantage / Legion Edge, stating that the “Network Boost” feature should be disabled when streaming with OBS. However, I have since uninstalled Lenovo Vantage.
  • Game Bar and Game DVR are reported as enabled, although Game DVR background recording is disabled.
  • The log also contains the following message: YT: GetYTApi() Failed to get Auth. However, the RTMPS connection to YouTube succeeds, and the livestream starts normally.

Could any of these settings or log entries be related to the problem?


In particular, could any remaining network-related services associated with Lenovo Vantage continue to affect streaming after the software has been uninstalled?


8. Questions


  1. What could cause severe pixelation in a YouTube livestream when OBS reports zero rendering lag, zero encoding lag, and zero network-dropped frames?
  2. Could Dynamic Bitrate or any remaining Lenovo-related network services cause this issue?
  3. Could changing the NVENC preset from P6 to P5 improve the situation? Could Look-ahead or Adaptive Quantization cause any problems?
  4. Could this be related to NVIDIA NVENC, the GPU driver, OBS 33.0.1, or YouTube’s H.264 transcoding?
  5. Are there any additional tests or log entries I should check to identify the root cause?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or troubleshooting advice.


Thank you!


Latest OBS Log


 
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