Question / Help Suddenly "High CPU Usage" Warning

[Conankun88]

So ... I guess my problem has nothing to do with OBS, but still I thought it should be worth a try to ask here, because maybe someone sees something that I didn't notice.

The problem really came out of nowhere. I was always able to record my games without any issues but the last days OBS gives out the warning "High CPU Usage" and the video laggs like hell, already in the preview mode. It's not game specific, it even happens when I use only some edited text and drag it around on the screen.

I still CAN record if I scale down the resolution, then the lags only appear sometimes, but this can't really be the solution, cause normally I was able to record without scaling down, so something must have happend in between but I don't know what it is. All I want is OBS to work, just like it did before :D

So I tried out some of the tips, that are given here, like changing buffer size to 0 etc. which you can see in the following log, but nothing helped.

The log shows .. I guess ... three different recordings, at first my normal settings with 6000 bitrate, then I changed it to 1000 and buffer size to 0. But there was absolutely no difference regarding the "high cpu usage" warning.

Well anyway, here's the log. I hope I did not forget to mention something important.
It is just driving me nuts, when one day, everything is fine and the other day it's not working anymore...^^

Sorry, I had to make a pastebin, since the log is waaaay too long. http://pastebin.com/5YhnaV0d
Maybe I could have shortend it ....^^

To make things a lot more complicated I thought I could also post one of the logs, of a recording in the last days that did work completely normal. http://pastebin.com/S6eZEniK

Maybe you see some differences between them but as I said before I think the problem is more generic and has nothing to do with OBS. Anyway, thanks for everyone who is looking through all this stuff ...

Little Edit: If I can shorten those long logs to make it easier for you to read them, just tell me and I'll try.

 

[Osiris]

Your first log shows 1920x1080 resolution, the second one shows a lower resolution. Higher resolution takes more processing power.

 

[Conankun88]

Oh you're right, but that's just because the logs came from different profiles. I was also able to record in 1980*1020 before.

I just tried using the profile with the lower resolution and it gave me almost the same problems.
It was a bit less laggy of course.

And I just noticed, the more trys I give, the more older log files dissappear, looks like it can only keep up tp 20 log files in the folder.

Dunno if anyone needs it, but here's the newest logfile from some minutes ago. I deleted the "last game capture" thing at the end, cause that's always the same and I think it's not neccesary.
http://pastebin.com/Y1qC1nEW

What I noticed so far in the new log, it says:
14:27:33: Loading up D3D10 on Intel(R) HD Graphics Family (Adapter 2)...

And in the previous ones (but also in the ones that already became laggy) it was like:
11:38:20: Nvidia optimus detected, second adapter selected, ignoring useless second adapter, I guess.
11:38:20: Loading up D3D10 on Intel(R) HD Graphics Family (Adapter 1)...

I'm not sure if this is something important but I would really like to know how I managed this to change oO

I get that feeling that I should stop touching everything before I make it worse ^^'''

 

[alpinlol]

your cpu isnt capable of doing 1080p30


if you only want to record use 1080p30 with ultrafast preset see how this goes

if you want stream downscale to 720p30 see how this goes and maybe even use a faster preset like superfast.



if your gpu is capable of doing nvenc go ahead and use it

 

[Conankun88]

Nvenc does not work, I already tried that.

Uh I will try superfast and post the log here if it is needed (yay more logs ._.) but ...

You see, I was able to record in 1080p without superfast, so I guess something in my laptop changed, that has nothing to do with OBS. And it's also lagging with lower resolutions.

 

[Conankun88]

New log .. yay ... http://pastebin.com/GwxLerKx

Soooo ... I tried superfast one time with Intel HD family und the other time with my Nvidia Card and look what part of the log came back:
18:57:13: Nvidia optimus detected, second adapter selected, ignoring useless second adapter, I guess.
18:57:13: Loading up D3D10 on Intel(R) HD Graphics Family (Adapter 1)...
So I guess that has something to do with the option, which Graphic Card I chose in the video settings.

But even in superfast there where still laggs and whoa .. the file became way more huge in superfast.
So .... for the moment I will have to accept the laggs and if I need to record I will have to scale down a lot to get rid of the laggs.

If I find something out, I will let you know. I really would like to know, what caused that change from "Hey everything works" to "I'm lagging like hell" overnight ...^^

 

[Conankun88]

Looks like that guy has nearly the same problem. He can't record normal from one day till the other without having any clue why. https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/obs-problem-with-local-recording.20847/

As for what I tried now.
I can use QuickSync and with that the CPU seems to be okay, but I would really like to record again with x264 because the files where comfortable a lot smaller than when I record with QuickSync.

I'll keep this thread updated, to tell you when I find other things and of course when I have a solution.

 

[Jack0r]

In the old log that worked fine you were using obs 631b and according to the log the monitor was connected to the Nvidia GPU but it used the Intel one. Now on 637 the monitor is connected to the Intel GPU and it uses the Intel GPU.
I would suggest to setup OBS to run on your Nvidia chip at all times, add it to the Nvidia Control Panel and tell it to use the high performance nvidia processor.
In OBS do not fiddle with the graphic adapter selection and if necessary start from scratch by backing up %appdata%\OBS (just rename the folder for example, then OBS will create a new configuration if you start it).

 

[Conankun88]

Thank you, for trying to help :)

So ... I tried what you told me but to make it short: With the x264 settings it still drops frames like before. The new log should show, that OBS is now working on the Nvidia GPU.

I also upgraded my Nvidia Geforce 840M to the latest driver: 344.48 because I wanted to try out Nvenc, but now I get the message, that I need at least 334.89 for Nvenc. So is my driver now too new? O.o
In the log it says outdated driver ... but of course that's not the main problem.

In the meanwhile I can use QuickSync and will have to deal with the large Filesizes (Still smaller than Fraps :D).

I guess this log here was the newest one:

12:23:18: Open Broadcaster Software v0.637b - 64bit (　^ω^)
12:23:18: -------------------------------
12:23:18: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHz
12:23:18: CPU Speed: 2594MHz
12:23:18: Physical Memory:  8084MB Total, 5895MB Free
12:23:18: stepping id: 1, model 69, family 6, type 0, extmodel 2, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 4, total cores 2
12:23:18: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1536, 864}
12:23:18: Windows Version: 6.2 Build 9200
12:23:18: Aero is Enabled
12:23:18: -------------------------------
12:23:18: OBS Modules:
12:23:18: Base Address     Module
12:23:18: 00000000B6B20000 OBS.exe
12:23:18: 00000000D9C00000 OBSApi.dll
12:23:18: 00000000DBAA0000 DShowPlugin.dll
12:23:18: 00000000DBA60000 GraphicsCapture.dll
12:23:18: 00000000E78C0000 NoiseGate.dll
12:23:18: 00000000DBA30000 PSVPlugin.dll
12:23:18: ------------------------------------------
12:23:18: Adapter 1
12:23:18:   Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 840M            
12:23:18:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 4196487168
12:23:18:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 4238487552
12:23:18:   Video Adapter Output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1536, 864}, attached=true
12:23:18: ------------------------------------------
12:23:18: Adapter 2
12:23:18:   Video Adapter: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
12:23:18:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 33554432
12:23:18:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 1845493760
12:23:18: =====Stream Start: 2014-11-03, 12:23:18===============================================
12:23:18:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
12:23:18:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
12:23:18:   Output resolution: 1920x1080
12:23:18: ------------------------------------------
12:23:18: Loading up D3D10 on NVIDIA GeForce 840M (Adapter 1)...
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19: Audio Format: 48000 Hz
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19: Audio Channels: 2 Ch
12:23:19: Playback device Default
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19: Using desktop audio input: Lautsprecher (2- Logitech USB Headset)
12:23:19: Global Audio time adjust: 0
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19: Using auxilary audio input: Mikrofon (2- Logitech USB Headset)
12:23:19: Mic time offset: 0
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19: Audio Encoding: AAC
12:23:19:     bitrate: 128
12:23:19: ------------------------------------------
12:23:19:     device: Lenovo EasyCamera,
12:23:19:     device id \\?\usb#vid_174f&pid_14b2&mi_00#7&c827edc&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global,
12:23:19:     chosen type: MJPG, usingFourCC: false, res: 1280x720 - 1280x720, frameIntervals: 333333-333333
12:23:19:     use buffering: false - 0, fourCC: 'MJPG'
12:23:19:     audio device: Deaktivieren,
12:23:19:     audio device id Disabled,
12:23:19:     audio time offset 0,
12:23:19:
12:23:19: Using directshow input
12:23:19: Scene buffering time set to 400
12:23:19: Successfully loaded ObsNvenc.dll
12:23:19: ObsNvenc initialized successfully
12:23:19: CUDA loaded successfully
12:23:20: 1 CUDA capable devices found
12:23:20: [ GPU #0 - < GeForce 840M > has Compute SM 5.0, NVENC Available ]
12:23:20: NVENC internal init finished successfully
12:26:58: nvEncOpenEncodeSessionEx failed with 0x2 - outdated driver?
12:26:58: Couldn't initialize encoder
12:26:58: =====Stream End: 2014-11-03, 12:26:58=================================================

 

[Jack0r]

Hmm that log is strange, no video encoding settings are listed.
One thing I noticed, in the advanced settings of OBS, set your scene buffering time to 700. (400 was the original default which we changed months ago)

 

[Conankun88]

Uhm I guess it's because those are logs when Nvenv didn't work, so there was no real recording.
I'll try to post a better log next time^^

 

[Conankun88]

New log hope this is better.: First record shows 10 seconds with QuickSync without any CPU problems and second one shows 10 seconds right after it with x264 and immediately high CPU Usage that never happened some weeks before.

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to change scene buffering time.

11:30:36: Open Broadcaster Software v0.637b - 64bit (　^ω^)
11:30:36: -------------------------------
11:30:36: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHz
11:30:36: CPU Speed: 2594MHz
11:30:36: Physical Memory:  8084MB Total, 5922MB Free
11:30:36: stepping id: 1, model 69, family 6, type 0, extmodel 2, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 4, total cores 2
11:30:36: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1536, 864}
11:30:36: Windows Version: 6.2 Build 9200
11:30:36: Aero is Enabled
11:30:36: -------------------------------
11:30:36: OBS Modules:
11:30:36: Base Address     Module
11:30:36: 00000000D2370000 OBS.exe
11:30:36: 000000002ED30000 OBSApi.dll
11:30:36: 0000000036020000 DShowPlugin.dll
11:30:36: 0000000035FE0000 GraphicsCapture.dll
11:30:36: 000000003D310000 NoiseGate.dll
11:30:36: 0000000035FB0000 PSVPlugin.dll
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Adapter 1
11:30:36:   Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 840M           
11:30:36:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 4196487168
11:30:36:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 4238487552
11:30:36:   Video Adapter Output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1536, 864}, attached=true
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Adapter 2
11:30:36:   Video Adapter: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
11:30:36:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 33554432
11:30:36:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 1845493760
11:30:36: =====Stream Start: 2014-11-04, 11:30:36========================
11:30:36:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
11:30:36:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
11:30:36:   Output resolution: 1920x1080
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Loading up D3D10 on NVIDIA GeForce 840M (Adapter 1)...
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Audio Format: 48000 Hz
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Audio Channels: 2 Ch
11:30:36: Playback device Default
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Using desktop audio input: Lautsprecher (Logitech USB Headset)
11:30:36: Global Audio time adjust: 0
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Using auxilary audio input: Mikrofon (Logitech USB Headset)
11:30:36: Mic time offset: 0
11:30:36: ------------------------------------------
11:30:36: Audio Encoding: AAC
11:30:36:     bitrate: 128
11:30:36: Using Window Capture
11:30:36: Scene buffering time set to 400
11:30:36: Found QSV hardware support
11:30:37: ------------------------------------------
11:30:37: QSV version 1.8 using MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE_ANY | MFX_IMPL_VIA_D3D11 (actual: MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE2 | MFX_IMPL_VIA_D3D11)
11:30:37: Using 14 bitstreams and 14 frame buffers
11:30:37: ------------------------------------------
11:30:37: Video Encoding: QSV
11:30:37:     fps: 30
11:30:37:     width: 1920, height: 1080
11:30:37:     target-usage: MFX_TARGETUSAGE_1_BEST_QUALITY
11:30:37:     profile: MFX_PROFILE_AVC_HIGH
11:30:37:     CBR: yes
11:30:37:     CFR: yes
11:30:37:     max bitrate: 1500
11:30:37:     buffer size: 1496
11:30:37:     rate control: CBR
11:30:37: ------------------------------------------
11:30:47: FlushBufferedVideo: Flushing 4 packets over 100 ms
11:30:47: Total frames encoded: 311, total frames duplicated: 0 (0.00%)
11:30:48: Total frames rendered: 324, number of late frames: 0 (0.00%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
11:30:48:
11:30:48: Profiler time results:
11:30:48:
11:30:48: =======================
11:30:48: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 4.97 ms] [children: 67.7%] [unaccounted: 32.3%]
11:30:48: | scene->Preprocess - [61.8%] [avg time: 3.072 ms]
11:30:48: | GPU download and conversion - [5.86%] [avg time: 0.291 ms] [children: 5.55%] [unaccounted: 0.302%]
11:30:48: | | flush - [5.21%] [avg time: 0.259 ms]
11:30:48: | | CopyResource - [0.201%] [avg time: 0.01 ms]
11:30:48: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.141%] [avg time: 0.007 ms]
11:30:48: Convert444Thread - [100%] [avg time: 3.858 ms] [children: 99.7%] [unaccounted: 0.311%]
11:30:48: | Convert444toNV12 - [99.7%] [avg time: 3.846 ms]
11:30:48: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 0.486 ms] [children: 89.9%] [unaccounted: 10.1%]
11:30:48: | QueueEncodeTask - [57.2%] [avg time: 0.278 ms]
11:30:48: | ProcessEncodedFrame - [21.4%] [avg time: 0.104 ms]
11:30:48: | sending stuff out - [11.3%] [avg time: 0.055 ms]
11:30:48: ==============================================================
11:30:48:
11:30:48:
11:30:48: Profiler CPU results:
11:30:48:
11:30:48: ========================
11:30:48: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 3.327 ms, total 1078.13 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 1.205 ms, total 390.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.434 ms, total 140.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.289 ms, total 93.75 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0.05 ms, total 15.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: Convert444Thread - [cpu time: avg 4.095 ms, total 1265.63 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 4.095 ms, total 1265.63 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.05 ms, total 15.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | QueueEncodeTask - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | ProcessEncodedFrame - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: | sending stuff out - [cpu time: avg 0.05 ms, total 15.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:30:48: ========================
11:30:48:
11:30:48: =====Stream End: 2014-11-04, 11:30:48===============
11:30:51: CUDA loaded successfully
11:30:52: 1 CUDA capable devices found
11:30:52: [ GPU #0 - < GeForce 840M > has Compute SM 5.0, NVENC Available ]
11:30:58: =====Stream Start: 2014-11-04, 11:30:58==============
11:30:58:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
11:30:58:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
11:30:58:   Output resolution: 1920x1080
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Loading up D3D10 on NVIDIA GeForce 840M (Adapter 1)...
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Audio Format: 48000 Hz
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Audio Channels: 2 Ch
11:30:58: Playback device Default
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Using desktop audio input: Lautsprecher (Logitech USB Headset)
11:30:58: Global Audio time adjust: 0
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Using auxilary audio input: Mikrofon (Logitech USB Headset)
11:30:58: Mic time offset: 0
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Audio Encoding: AAC
11:30:58:     bitrate: 128
11:30:58: Using Window Capture
11:30:58: Scene buffering time set to 400
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:30:58: Video Encoding: x264
11:30:58:     fps: 30
11:30:58:     width: 1920, height: 1080
11:30:58:     preset: veryfast
11:30:58:     profile: high
11:30:58:     keyint: 60
11:30:58:     CBR: yes
11:30:58:     CFR: yes
11:30:58:     max bitrate: 1500
11:30:58:     buffer size: 1500
11:30:58: ------------------------------------------
11:31:09: Total frames encoded: 320, total frames duplicated: 71 (22.19%)
11:31:09: Number of frames skipped due to encoder lag: 54 (16.88%)
11:31:09: Total frames rendered: 280, number of late frames: 2 (0.71%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
11:31:10:
11:31:10: Profiler time results:
11:31:10:
11:31:10: ===============
11:31:10: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 5.656 ms] [children: 71.2%] [unaccounted: 28.8%]
11:31:10: | scene->Preprocess - [51.3%] [avg time: 2.903 ms]
11:31:10: | GPU download and conversion - [19.9%] [avg time: 1.124 ms] [children: 9.26%] [unaccounted: 10.6%]
11:31:10: | | flush - [4.86%] [avg time: 0.275 ms]
11:31:10: | | CopyResource - [3.96%] [avg time: 0.224 ms]
11:31:10: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.442%] [avg time: 0.025 ms]
11:31:10: Convert444Thread - [100%] [avg time: 3.744 ms] [children: 99.4%] [unaccounted: 0.561%]
11:31:10: | Convert444toNV12 - [99.4%] [avg time: 3.723 ms]
11:31:10: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 12.838 ms] [children: 2.33%] [unaccounted: 97.7%]
11:31:10: | sending stuff out - [2.33%] [avg time: 0.299 ms]
11:31:10: ===============
11:31:10:
11:31:10:
11:31:10: Profiler CPU results:
11:31:10:
11:31:10: ===============
11:31:10: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 2.734 ms, total 765.625 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 1.004 ms, total 281.25 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.167 ms, total 46.875 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.111 ms, total 31.25 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: Convert444Thread - [cpu time: avg 3.419 ms, total 906.25 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 3.419 ms, total 906.25 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 5.517 ms, total 1765.63 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: | sending stuff out - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:31:10: ================
11:31:10:
11:31:10: =====Stream End: 2014-11-04, 11:31:10=======
11:31:14: Terminating 0xa70
11:31:14: Terminating 0x450

 

[alpinlol]

well 1080p is literally impossible on this hyperthreaded dualcore

maybe somewhoe with qsv but with no chance on x264

1080p30 literally maxes your cpu out when you try to stream


since your bitrate is really low anyway (which is a weird bitrate for local recording since your buffer is also set)




for local recording you could try going for 1080p30 on ultrafast preset (doubt its going to work)
if it fails what i would assume then go ahead and downscale by 1.5 but leave the preset on ultrafast (your cpu is still bad)

CBR=UNCHECKED
CFR=checked

bitrate 1000 (for x264 for qsv is different)
buffer 0

 

[Conankun88]

Oh daaaaamn I mixed those things up again, this is starting to get embarassing :P

Yeah I normally scale down to 720p when I'm recording but still in the past I thought I was able to do it in 1080p. I will check my recordings also ... maybe my memory is bad ^^''
I will post some screenshots of the files then.

As for the low bitrate ... I recorded Dust: An Elysian Tale with qsv and tried to lower the filesize, that's why the bitrate is a bit lower. It was okay for the most time but of course you are right, it's weird :D

Forgot to change that setting back for the new log. Same goes for buffer size. Same goes for CBR .... soooo much settings and sooo much ways to try to combine them. Guess I should start making a list what I did change and what I have to change back after testing xD

I will post another log .. I guess around tomorrow... anyway thanks for helping again^^

 

[alpinlol]

Oh daaaaamn I mixed those things up again, this is starting to get embarassing :P

Yeah I normally scale down to 720p when I'm recording but still in the past I thought I was able to do it in 1080p. I will check my recordings also ... maybe my memory is bad ^^''
I will post some screenshots of the files then.

As for the low bitrate ... I recorded Dust: An Elysian Tale with qsv and tried to lower the filesize, that's why the bitrate is a bit lower. It was okay for the most time but of course you are right, it's weird :D

Forgot to change that setting back for the new log. Same goes for buffer size. Same goes for CBR .... soooo much settings and sooo much ways to try to combine them. Guess I should start making a list what I did change and what I have to change back after testing xD

I will post another log .. I guess around tomorrow... anyway thanks for helping again^^

i would say 5000bitrate/buffer with 720p should have decent quality even on ultrafast preset and the filesize stays decent i'd say ... not too huge