Graphics card utilization reaching maximum capacity in numerous video games leading to problems with live broadcasting.
Graphics card utilization reaching maximum capacity in numerous video games leading to problems with live broadcasting.
Hi everyone! I’m experiencing difficulties while streaming certain games on my personal computer. Currently, I only have one PC setup, and I’ve been considering adding a second machine, although that's something for another time.
Here’s my current PC configuration:
CPU: i7-8700k
GPU: 1080ti STRIX
RAM: 16GB Kingston Hyper X
PSU: 650 Watt G2 EVGA
Monitors:
- Primary Gaming Display: Acer 1440p 165Hz (mostly displaying games at 100Hz or less for streaming purposes)
- Two LG 1080p 60Hz Displays
Peripherals:
Elgato Stream Deck
Yamaha MG10XU
Elgato KeyLight
Thrustmaster HOTAS t16000M
Corsair Strafe RGB
Corsair Scimitar
Logitech C920 video camera
Streaming Software: Utilizing StreamLabs OBS and OBS Studio.
Base Resolution: 2560x1440
Output Resolution: 1280x720
Downscale Method: Bicubic
Frame Rate Target: 60fps
Encoding Method: Software (x264)
Rate Control: Constant Bitrate
Bitrate: 4500
CPU Usage Setting: Fast, though I occasionally switch between faster settings.
Profile: Main
Tune: None
Process Priority: High
TL;DR: Previously, my PC could stream a wide variety of games—as long as they were reasonably optimized—but I encountered significant problems with Hunt: Showdown. Eventually, I discovered a workaround to achieve stable frame rates within the game and in OBS. After a PC reset, I’m now primarily able to stream Sea of Thieves successfully.
Recently, however, I couldn't launch Hunt: Showdown anymore, and a PC reset resolved the issue. Following a reinstall of my commonly used software, Sea of Thieves seems to work fine again.
Yet, I recently attempted to stream Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Gang Beasts, both of which previously functioned without issues. However, I couldn’t prevent either game from utilizing 100% of my graphics card. I also struggled to stream Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 in a similar way. I intend to conduct further testing with Warframe, Elite: Dangerous, and other games. It’s perplexing why my stream is lagging despite utilizing CPU encoding. My roommate uses my PC to stream Hunt: Showdown, but consistently experiences substantial FPS drops on the output, despite the game running smoothly on his system. Interestingly, all of the games I have difficulty streaming perform flawlessly on my monitor, yet OBS consistently fails to capture them correctly, even though CPU usage remains low—generally below 15%.
My standard setup involves having StreamLabs OBS on the left monitor, Discord and the StreamLabs Chatbot on the right, alongside the game itself. I regularly adjust settings within games to avoid pushing my GPU too hard, but it’s unusual that I couldn't stream Gang Beasts, let alone Lego Star Wars. To my knowledge, there shouldn’t be any reason for my GPU to struggle with those games given its capabilities, especially considering I am not utilizing GPU encoding.
I would greatly appreciate any assistance in resolving this problem! It’s possible that my RAM is causing issues, or perhaps a component is failing. Before the PC reset, I could stream nearly any game, and I’m unsure what triggered these recent problems. Please let me know if you require any further information.
Failing to specify your internet service provider's upload rate means a minimum of 9 Mbps is required for a 4500 bitrate stream. Furthermore, due to the performance difference between Intel’s six-core processors and Ryzen’s eight-core counterparts when streaming, consider utilizing 720p resolution for your stream while aiming for 1080p playback. This adjustment could potentially increase viewer numbers, as many users lack the necessary internet speeds to reliably watch 1080p content without experiencing interruptions.
Regarding Frag Maniac:
You neglected to specify your internet service provider’s upload rate, which requires a minimum of 9 Mbps for a 4500 bitrate stream. Considering that Intel’s six-core processors aren't as effective as Ryzen’s eight cores for streaming, I advise experimenting with a 720p stream at 60 frames per second instead of 1440p. This could potentially increase viewership, as many users lack the internet speed necessary to smoothly view 1080p content without interruptions.
My own upload and download speeds are currently at 1GB each from AT&T, and I stream at 720p with a frame rate of 60. Moreover, my CPU usage rarely exceeds 40-50% even in demanding games – a far cry from being a performance bottleneck.
However, you claim the stream is consistently experiencing lag when using CPU encoding. Is this a 40-50% drop while actively streaming, or simply during playback? Something seems inconsistent with this information.
Regarding Frag Maniac:
You claim the stream is consistently lagging when utilizing CPU encoding, but it’s unclear whether that's occurring during streaming or simply while playing. Something is perplexing me. I’m experiencing lag in OBS preview and during the output of my stream. The game itself performs well, which is odd. I share your confusion; I can't stream Lego Star Wars and I’m puzzled by the reason. Reviewing past VODs from Hunt: Showdown, OBS Studio seemed to work without issues, while Streamlabs OBS encountered problems. Yesterday’s Anthem Demo stream was poor—I received around 10 frames per second on Streamlabs, despite the game running smoothly. However, task manager indicated 100% GPU usage and 90% CPU usage, which may be due to the demo’s poor optimization.
You claim the broadcast is undeniably experiencing lag when utilizing CPU encoding. Is that a consistent 40-50% while actively streaming, or is it simply occurring during playback? Something feels inconsistent here.
You failed to respond to my inquiry.
This is occurring during streaming.
This user is experiencing a perplexing situation. Were you using a reliable tutorial for capturing and streaming configurations, or were you simply trying things out on your own?
I’ve been broadcasting for approximately two years, and I’ve held several technology positions, constructing around thirteen computers over time. However, recently my computer has malfunctioned unexpectedly, and I’m unsure how to resolve the issue.
Considering your role in information technology, you likely considered running a system file verification and malware scan. It’s vital to verify that before executing an sfc /scannow command, you back up your system image.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help...le-checker