Windows 10 - Adding a Video (Media) causes CPU increase to 90%

Nass86

Nass86

Member
I've wiped a Windows Laptop to rebuild it on Windows 10 on 1809

I've installed the latest OBS and now when I add either an MOV or MP4 of the same short video loop, the CPU usage jumps to 90% and the computer almost grinds to a halt (mouse jitery). The file is either 60mb or about 200mb depending on which file type I loop.

I'm not even streaming or recording yet.

It is set at:
720p, 3000kb/s, 60fps, NVENC Encoder.

Does anyone know how to calm the CPU down? it used to rest at around 17% with this looping on the above settings. I appreciate it might be a Windows setting rather than an OBS one.
 
L

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
Have you checked CPU impact when playing the video outside OBS?
Assuming you mean playing video within OBS, are you using Media Source or VLC Source?
if yes, did you enable hardware decode?

Do you have OBS Studio enable, ie rendering 2 separate video outputs? What happens when you exit Studio Mode?

As always,

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

OBS Studio creates a log file each time you run it which contains very useful diagnostic information. Without a log file, it's much harder for any support volunteers to figure out problems and your post may be ignored. To upload a log file, go to the Help menu > Log Files > Upload Last Log...
obsproject.com obsproject.com
 
Nass86

Nass86

Member
Hello,

Here's what I've tried:

- Playing the video outside of OBS (interestingly, this does not work in Windows Media Player, or the Movies and TV app
- Studio mode was always off
- In OBS, I use it in Media source as normal
- Hardware Decode on or off makes no difference (it used to work fine with this left on)

Is there something I should be downloading that makes OBS work better with standard video files in the Media Source?

It is not doing anything else at this stage.

CPU rests at around 11-20% with fresh OBS open, then the first thing I do is add this Media source and boom 90% and lagging mouse.

Log file:
 
L

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
Ok, so that is an old, low-end CPU... don't have high expectations.
Why 60fps?
And you have 2 different audio refresh rates listed in your logs (not a good idea)... though unlikely to be cause of CPU spike, just a side observation and something to look into and probably fix

log doesn't include a recording or streaming (needed for additional info in log)

So, your desired Video doesn't play in Windows OS natively?
Have you thought about doing a one-time video re-encode to be something more CPU friendly. Or maybe there is something wrong with the video file?
 
Nass86

Nass86

Member
SOLUTION

Hi guys,

I'm circling back round to this on here in the hope that someone's search engine will land them here and save them the days its taken me to work this out. Problem: obs (and whole computer) grinding to a near halt when adding .mov or .mp4 video background.

I eventually remembered a problem from 15+ years back where I didn't have video Codecs needed to play video files because I couldn't play .mov and .mp4 video in bog standard Windows Media Player. So i tried to just "play the file" outside of obs and sure enough, blank screen.

There were two stages involved in fixing this. You might only need the second step.

My rebuilt / fresh install of Windows 10 Laptop did not have the following:

1) The correct Graphics Drivers. My Laptop comes with Nvidia dedicated GPU and I had installed those drivers, but missing piece was the integrated Intel Graphics Driver. I overlooked this because I did install Nvidia's correct driver thinking that was the job done. I went to Intel's website to update this (and all other intel devices and chipsets inside my machine) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html

2) Furthermore, it was this step that highlighted the above was the problem, as I got a warning flash across the screen upon my first attempt of installation which said "Setup has detected that you are using the generic graphics driver "Microsoft Basic Render Driver" for your primary GPU" (my Primary GPU was the inbuilt Intel Graphics card). So I installed the K-Lite Codec Pack from: http://www.codecguide.com/configuration_tips.htm?version=1595

3) I went to my computer manufacturer's website and ran the "Driver Update Tool" where it downloads a file onto your computer, runs a scan, and suggests a myriad of updates you are missing. So if you are on Lenovo, Dell, or whoever, they'll have a support > Drivers (or update my computer) page that, when you find it, will save you a lot of searching and time and bring you up to date for the build of windows you run.

I'm sure that for me it was 1 followed by 2 that helped me the most, the third is optional but I recommend it over the "Device Manager - Update Driver" option because, frankly, it just does not seem to give you the newest drivers from your manufacturer but some other 'make-do' equivalent from windows.

My computer is working well now and I hope yours does too!
 
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