Poor streaming performance in Big Picture Mode after March 8 update

[davew_uk]

Host: i5 6600k o/c to 4.4ghz, EVGA GTX970 SC, 16gb running Win10 Pro
Client 1: Mac Mini 2010 core 2 duo 2.4ghz, GT320M, 4gb running Win 7 home
Client 2: Macbook Pro 2009 core 2 duo 2.83ghz, GT9600M, 4gb running Win 10 home
Client 3: Mac Mini 2006 core duo, Intel GMA950, 2gb running Win 7 32bit

Client 1 is used as an XBMC box connected to a surround receiver and a 1080p display. We switch to Steam running in Big Picture Mode for couch gaming. Client 2 is my laptop and generally only used for testing and mucking about. Client 3 is another XBMC box but this one is connected to a 720p display in the kids room and isn't used much for gaming.

Today I noticed that streaming performance on Client 1 had taken a massive hit after the March 8 update with loads of stuttering and audio glitches. Log indicates high decode times, high display times and lots of dropped frames. Normally it works fine in 1080p/60fps with 25mbps bandwidth and "beautiful" quality. If I use the desktop steam client the performance is back to normal.

I set up Client 2 with identical settings and was able to reproduce the issue consistently. Client 3 cannot run Big Picture Mode and is configured with only 10mpbs bandwidth and the "fast" preset because it doesn't have hardware decoding. I wasn't able to reproduce the issue on Client 3, the streaming was fine.

It definately seems that I have to turn off BPM on client and host to get decent streaming performance after this last update. I have one more client I can test, and a different host if needs be. Can post logs too.

[Never Ready Eddie]

I can confirm I am having the exact same problem. I started up my game on my i3-2120 HTPC client (fully wired connections on both) today from big picture and it was a slide show with the error "slow display" flashing up when I showed the stats. Nothing had changed as far as I know since I last played several days ago so I rebooted both machines several times and tried everything with the IHS settings. Then I found your post and tried reverting both back to desktop UI modes and launched the game stream from there.....voila...1080p 60hz just like I had been getting every time in BP before the latest update.

Funny thing is before finding your post I tried using my wife's laptop (Dell XPS 13 Broadwell) in BP mode as the client and it worked flawlessly (on wifi I might add too!). So the issue is with my i3-2120 HTPC when streaming from within BP. My HTPC with the issues is Windows 7 and the Dell XPS 13 is Windows 10. I haven't got around to upgrading the HTPC but right now it works well (other than this issue) so I didn't want to tempt fate.

I am happy to try some other configs for you to confirm so let me know.

[ryan.kegel]

I'm using the March 10th client (which it says is the latest.) I'm still seeing this issue!

[wavracer]

I have the same problem as well in the latest Steam client - lots of lag that was never there before, when not using Big Picture Mode there is no lag at all.

NETWORK
Both machines are wired and connected at 1.0 Gbps

SOFTWARE
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, latest Steam client (non-beta) and video drivers on both

HARDWARE
Host: i5-3570, 16 GB PC3-12800, GeForce GTX 960, HDMI @ 1080p
Client: i3-3240, 8 GB PC3-12800, HDMI @ 1080p

[Never Ready Eddie]

I am still getting this issue. I even updated the client to Windows 10 to try and fix but nope. Still lag and droped frames using BPM on the client. USing desktop mode the issue is gone.

[Ian Storm]

Same here. I am only having issues in the BPM, streaming in desktop mod works flawless.

My setup:
Host: FX-8350, 16GB, R9 380 4GB OC; Windows 10; 1080p; Advanced Host Options: Network priotization on, everything else unchecked
Client: Intel NUC DN2820FYKH; Windows 10; 1080p
Host and Client are wired and connected via Gigabit Ethernet.

[CataclismoPR]

Valve please take a look at this. I purchased equipment just to use this feature and BPM is stuttering terribly.

Network:
Cat5e wired connection

Software:
Both running Windows 10 x64bit Pro; Latest version of steam

Hardware:
Host - Intel i7 3.2ghz, GTX 980 ti, 8gb DDR3
Client - Intel Celeron j1900 2.42ghz, 8gb DDR3

[namo]

Issue is still there as of May 17th...

Everything was fine before in BP (1080p 60fps).

My streaming client : GIGABYTE BRIX CELERON N2807 with 4GB RAM and windows 10 booting directly to BP instead of explorer.

BP is renderd in 720p (with 1080p desktop resolution) for smoothness because of slow NUC processsing performances. Games are streamed in 1080p (hardware decoding is working perfectly).

I've been having slow decode when using BP on client (unplayable since march).
With normal Steam on client, everything is fine...

I Really hope it will be fixed or some workaround will be found.

[Maneauleau]

ISSUE
Steam home streaming works flawlessly with the normal steam view and lags when using big picture mode

OS
Windows 10

STEPS
Use steam-home streaming in big picture mode

RESULTS
the stream starts lagging, frame is choppy, inputs are not instantaneous, image quality is lesser (not sure about this one)

EXPECTED
the stream should work equally well no wonder which steam view is used.

MORE DETAILS
Both computers running latest Steam versions. Host computer has i5 gtx 970 graphic card 8gb ram. Client is a Celeron NUC with 4gb ram. I get 1080p@60fps with no lag streaming to the client when using the normal view.

When I switch to big picture mode I get some lag and maybe less quality in the image? (unsure about the latter)

Thanks

[FrostySonic]

Also having this issue. Get "Slow Display" and FPS of 20-30 when launching from Big Picture, fine if launching from normal steam client.

Client: Celeron NUC.
Host AMD 7950, intel i7, wired network.

[y3000]

Same problem here :(

This bug is for example also discussed in the following thread:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/homestream/discussions/0/405694031552917201/

[Never Ready Eddie]

A user @Ryan on another thread about the same issue posted the following. This looks to be a promising find regarding the root cause. I just wish Valve were paying any attention at all :(

Ryan's post was on 19 Oct @ 11:09am in "New micro-stutter issue since last update" http://steamcommunity.com/groups/homestream/discussions/0/405694031552917201/?ctp=6

"After much experimentation I have discovered that on the client PC, if you alt-tab out of the game, move the Big Picture screen all the way back to the home screen (where it says library etc) and then alt-tab back into the game, it fixes all the issues - even though BPM is still running.

The game will stream smoothly with no issues after this, still in BPM on the host, so you get the easy access to the menus etc with the xbox / ps button.
It's like when the game info is displayed on the client it is tying up the system resources, rather than putting them to idle when the stream starts, as it should."

[Exe of Doubt]

Still same here. ;(
BPM unusable on streaming client...

[HeikkiH]

Same problem with J3455 and W10 where the frame loss is 20 - 30 % when streaming via Big Picture.

Alt tab trick works for me like following:
- start the game from Big Picture
- alt tab to Big Picture
- minimize Big Picture from start screen
- choose the game from taskbar.

After that the huge frame loss is gone. Big picture interface works normally. Quite interesting bug.

[黑白喵宅急送]

Same problem still here.

With desktop interface I get stable 1080@60 streaming.
With BPM on the streaming lags and shutters badly, totally unplayable.

==================================
Client, W10 on Atom 3735 F, 2G Ram
Host, FX8300 + GTX1070, 16G Ram
Wired, 100M,
Streaming cap, 30M
HW encoding/decoding enabled.

[elkdanger]

Same for me. Starting a game from BPM on the client makes the game unplayable, with up to 50% frame loss and slow display warnings. Streaming the same game from the desktop client works perfectly.