(Streaming) - Will increasing bitrate increase CPU usage when encoding via GPU?

[stormman34]

Hey, so I'm streaming on an R7 260X and an i3-2120 (terrible, I know, nothing I can do about that) and I can stream CS:GO on a relatively watchable framerate with the CPU pegged at 100% all the time. Now, I'm wondering, can I increase the bit-rate without increasing CPU usage? Because my GPU encoder is only being used like 20% max.

 

[mariushm]

R7 260x has hardware encoder, but it's somewhat old and not great quality wise. If you select AMF in OBS, it should still be able to use the encoder on the card.

The hardware encoder has some limitations and it's normal to not be used at 100% , it depends on the resolution and fps you chose and the default encoder settings in OBS. 

 

To reduce the CPU usage, your best option is to reduce the amount of processing OBS has to do using cpu. Capture directly in formats the encoders like, like NV12 for example, don't resize using weird ratios (ex if you capture 1920x1080, resizing to 960x540 is basically free, no cpu usage, because it's exactly half,  simply outputs every other pixel  but resizing to 1280x720 will use some cpu if the resizing isn't done in the video card) 

 

[stormman34]

 

22 minutes ago, mariushm said:

R7 260x has hardware encoder, but it's somewhat old and not great quality wise. If you select AMF in OBS, it should still be able to use the encoder on the card.

The hardware encoder has some limitations and it's normal to not be used at 100% , it depends on the resolution and fps you chose and the default encoder settings in OBS. 

 

To reduce the CPU usage, your best option is to reduce the amount of processing OBS has to do using cpu. Capture directly in formats the encoders like, like NV12 for example, don't resize using weird ratios (ex if you capture 1920x1080, resizing to 960x540 is basically free, no cpu usage, because it's exactly half,  simply outputs every other pixel  but resizing to 1280x720 will use some cpu if the resizing isn't done in the video card) 

 

I have a 1080p display but I play the game in 720p and the canvas and the output size is also 720p. Is there anything I can optimize? And does lowering the resolution of the game decrease cpu usage?