Optimizing OBS High CPU Usage & Encoding Overloaded

Published June 12, 2024 | By Matt

Have you ever had a fantastic podcast episode in the bag, only to find out that OBS chewed up your CPU and left you with a choppy, unlistenable mess? It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone. OBS Studio is a powerful tool but can be a resource hog, especially when aiming for high-quality recordings. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got your back. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to tame OBS’s CPU usage and get those podcast recordings sounding smooth as butter when encoding is overloaded.

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Why Does OBS Need So Much CPU Power?

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Before we dive into troubleshooting, let’s understand what’s happening under the hood. Your CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of your computer, responsible for all the calculations and tasks that make your software run. OBS, like any video software, performs a ton of these tasks:

Video encoding: This is the big one. OBS compresses your video and audio data into a format suitable for recording or streaming. It’s like packing a suitcase – the better the compression, the smaller the file, but the more work it takes.
Filters and effects: Adding those fancy transitions or noise reduction filters all increases the CPU workload.
Game capture: If you’re recording gameplay, OBS needs to grab the video output from your game and process it, which can be quite demanding.

So, what’s considered “high” CPU usage? It varies, but generally, you’re in the danger zone if you consistently see OBS using more than 50% of your CPU.

Does a Capture Card Reduce GPU & CPU Usage?

Yes, a capture card can reduce both GPU and CPU usage, especially if it has built-in hardware encoding capabilities. Here’s how:

Offloading Encoding Tasks: Capture cards with dedicated hardware encoders (such as NVENC for NVIDIA-based cards) can handle video encoding, typically GPU and CPU-intensive. By taking over this task, the capture card reduces the load on both the GPU and CPU, allowing for smoother performance within OBS.
Pass-through Capabilities: When capturing from a console or a second PC, capture cards use pass-through to capture footage without requiring your main PC’s GPU to process it. This setup significantly reduces GPU usage, as the GPU no longer handles video encoding for the recording or stream.
Dedicated Streaming Setup: In a two-PC setup (one for gaming, one for streaming), the capture card allows the streaming PC to handle all recording and streaming tasks, drastically lowering the gaming PC’s CPU and GPU load.
Optimizing OBS Performance: A capture card handling video compression can make OBS run more efficiently. This reduces reliance on the CPU for encoding and on the GPU for rendering scenes and transitions.

While a capture card won’t eliminate CPU or GPU usage in OBS (as OBS still requires some processing for scenes and audio), it can substantially lighten the load, especially during high-performance streaming or recording sessions.

Troubleshooting and Optimization

Diagnose the Problem:

Check OBS Stats: OBS has a built-in Stats window (View > Stats). While you record, monitor the CPU usage percentage.
Use Task Manager/Activity Monitor: These tools show how much CPU each running program uses. If something else is hogging resources, close it.

Optimize OBS Settings:

Lower Resolution and Frame Rate: Do you need to record a podcast in 4K at 60 FPS? Probably not. Lowering these settings can significantly reduce CPU usage.
- Adjust Encoding Settings: If you have a dedicated graphics card, enable hardware encoding (Settings > Output > Encoder). This offloads the encoding work from your CPU to your GPU.
- Experiment with the “CPU Usage Preset” (usually set to “very fast”). Try a slower preset like “medium” or even “slow” if your CPU struggles.
Disable Unused Plugins: Go through your OBS plugins and disable or remove any you’re not actively using.
Update OBS: Make sure you’re running the latest version – it may have performance improvements.

Optimize Your Computer:

Close Background Programs: Close any unnecessary programs, especially resource-intensive ones like games or video editing software.
Update Drivers: Outdated graphics drivers can cause performance issues. Check your GPU manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers.

Advanced Tips:

Tweak Encoding Settings: If you’re comfortable, you can explore the encoding settings more thoroughly, adjust the bitrate, or try different encoders.
Consider a Dedicated Streaming PC: If you’re a serious content creator, having a separate PC for recording or streaming can be a game-changer.

Troubleshooting Specific Issues:

OBS High CPU Usage on Laptop: Laptops tend to run hotter, so make sure your laptop is well-ventilated. Some of the newer Macs using Apple silicone run significantly cooler. Lowering your laptop’s performance settings can also help.

Alternatives to OBS for Smoother Podcasting

If you’ve tried everything and OBS is still giving your CPU a hard time, don’t despair. Some other tools and techniques can help you achieve smooth recordings:

Hardware Solutions:

Capture Cards: If you’re recording gameplay or other external video sources, a capture card can be a huge help. These devices handle the video encoding, taking the load off your CPU. This is particularly beneficial for laptops, which often have weaker processors than desktop computers.
Upgrading Your Hardware: If your computer is a few years old, consider upgrading your CPU or adding more RAM. This can give OBS the extra resources it needs to run smoothly.

Software Alternatives:

Streamlabs OBS (SLOBS): A fork of OBS designed for streamers, SLOBS is known for being slightly more resource-friendly in some cases.
Lightstream Studio: A cloud-based streaming platform, Lightstream handles all the encoding and processing on its servers, meaning your computer only needs to send the video data. This can be a great option if you have a reliable internet connection.
vMix: A professional-grade live production software, vMix offers more advanced features than OBS but can also be more demanding on your system. If you’re serious about podcasting and have a powerful computer.

Other Tips:

Record Locally, Edit Later: If you’re doing a lot of post-production anyway, consider recording your audio and video separately. This can be less taxing on your CPU since you won’t encode in real time.
Lower Quality Recording: If you’re only going to be distributing your podcast as audio, consider recording your video at a lower quality. This won’t impact your audio quality but will significantly reduce the CPU load.

Choosing the Right Solution for You

The best alternative for you will depend on your budget, technical skills, and specific podcasting needs. Experiment with different options and see what works best for your workflow. Remember, the goal is to create high-quality podcasts without your computer melting down.

Additional Tips:

Research Capture Cards: Not all capture cards are created equal. Do your research to find one that fits your budget and needs.
Test Software Alternatives: Many software alternatives offer free trials, so take advantage of those to see if they work well for you.
Consider Your Internet Speed: If you’re looking into cloud-based solutions like Lightstream, make sure you have a fast and solid internet connection to avoid lag and dropped frames. If you have access to it, a fiber optic line generally has the same upload speeds as downloads, and is extremely fast and reliable.

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