The issue:
XSplit Broadcaster is using some GPU resources even when you choose to use CPU encoder. In fact the GPU resources needed are really critical for a smooth streaming session. Some GPU intensive scenes where the GPU is loaded at full, results in frame stuttering in the stream. Some games requires to set low FPS cap to stream.
The solution:
Having an additional dedicated GPU for XSplit solves the issue, but XSplit does not allow to choose which GPU to use.
The workaround:
Set the GPU to be used by XSplit as Primary Display (need to hook a dummy monitor to do so). Start XSplit. Set the main monitor/GPU as primary display. Run the game.
The proposal:
Make it possible to choose which GPU XSplit will use.
My setup:
CPU: Threadripper 2950X 16 cores/32 threads
GPU 1: NVidia RTX 2080 Ti
GPU 2: NVidia GT 1030
Capture Card (For Console Streaming): Elgato 4K60
Monitor (Gameplay): 2560x1440 @ 165 Hz
Streaming Encoder: x264 CPU Slow Preset
Streaming Resolution: 1920x1080 @ 60 fps
Comments: 2
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15 Jul
Ivan ZhekovNice example of the importance of a second GPU is the game Overload. There is a specific in-game graphics setting "Screen Space Reflection" that when turned on have a great effect over the stream quality. While the game itself runs smoothly, due to lack of free GPU processing power, XSplit is struggling, resulting in a very poor stream quality. Just by making XSplit using the low end GT 1030 dedicated for its needs improves the stream as night and day.
Note this post is NOT about GPU encoding! -
30 Jul
Ivan ZhekovFor those interested, I wrote a small batch file that runs XSplit on the preferred GPU. It is using a third party software named "nircmd" that helps to temporary switch main GPU. You may need to change the display numbers and the timeout to make it work for you.
@echo off
D:\Programs\nircmd\nircmdc setprimarydisplay \\.\DISPLAY1
timeout 3
start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\SplitmediaLabs\XSplit Broadcaster\x64\XSplit.Core.exe"
timeout 10
D:\Programs\nircmd\nircmdc setprimarydisplay \\.\DISPLAY3