nVidia GPUs and Hardware Encoding

[Spider Pig]

Just FYI, when I was troubleshooting an audio popping issue (turns out root cause was encoding lag), I learned that you need to disable nVidia's Shadow Play / Game Stream feature on your desktop PC for Steam hardware encoding to work.

I felt this was important enough for me to make a separate thread about this. Body of original post below:


Ok. So I figured it out (for me at least). It was related to my nVidia video card (GTX 980).

If you turn on your streaming stats overlay while in-game, you get a lot of information about lag, ping, dropped frames, etc. It also tells you the Encoder that's being used (on your source gaming PC), and the encoding lag that's being added.

If you look at the streaming stats, and see:
Encoder: Game D3D9
Streaming Graph: Dark blue bar (encoding lag) has spikes while you have a lot of activity / motion on screen
Screenshot (manually rename this link): bit-dot-ly/1NhokoU

That means that your game is using software-based encoding, and that it's adding quite a bit of encoding lag; especially when there's a lot of motion on the screen. That added lag introduces audio and video "skipping" when streaming. Steam Link was using software encoding, even though I specifically selected "Enable Hardware Encoding" in Steam settings.


The problem for me was that I had nVidia Game Stream / ShadowPlay running in the background. This is the feature where nVidia cards automatically buffer the last 5/10/20 minutes of game activity (like a DVR), so that you can create instant-replay videos. This feature uses the hardware H.264 encoder on your video card; and prevents other applications from using that H.264 encoder. Go into nVidia GeForce Experience, and disable Game Stream / ShadowPlay.

Once I did that, I re-confirmed that I was using both Hardware Encoding and Hardware Decoding on my Steam Link, and saw that my game was now correctly using the nVidia H.264 hardware encoder. Encoding lag dropped to 0, and no more stutters / skipping.

New streaming stats:
Encoder: Desktop NVFBC
Streaming Graph: No spikes on dark blue bar (encoding lag)
Screenshot (manually rename this link): bit-dot-ly/1VXOXRW

[SilverArrow]

Thanks I think I have the same issue with my 980 card. Thanks for posting!

[SilverArrow]

Just to let you know the shadow play was the issue. It is steaming now at 1080p 60fps no problem with no noticeable lag.Thanks again for posting your solution 😄😄

[ykarie]

How do you turn on the stats overlay? I don't recall seeing that in my time streaming before the Link.

[Spider Pig]

Go into Settings --> In-Home Streaming. It's one of the options under one of the "Advanced" menus.

Once you turn it on, it will show basic streaming stats. There will be instructions to tell you how to turn on detailed streaming stats.

[Sythion]

OMG Thank you!!! This fixed all the problems I was having!

[Greg]

"Encoder: Desktop NVFBC"

Just so you guys are aware this IS SHADOWPLAY, NVFBC is the encoder that is used once shadowplay is enabled for the first time. NVIFR is the non-shadowplay encoder. Some times the Geforce experience software completely screws itself and shadowplay needs to be toggled. Once you toggle it on though the driver generally never uses NVIFR again even if you toggle it off.

On a side note, I have ran into several cases where I will need to open up my task manager and end the "Nvidia encoder service" (or something along those lines) in order for hardware encoding to begin working again. This only seems to happen when using the steam link, not the in-home streaming PC clients.

[jlboyd132321]

Hey everybody in this thread, thanks for the suggestions. It turns out I was using software encoding on my PC although I had hardware encoding checked in the home streaming settings. I toggled Nvidia Shadowplay on then off and now the NVFBC hardware encoder is being used on my PC.

While things seem more stable using hardware encoding, I am still getting audio popping. I posted on another thread about the popping issue, but I'll reiterate here that my only solution was to drop the resolution to 720p. I thought for sure when I saw the hardware encoder being used my sound issues would go away... Regardless, thanks for the tips. I feel like I'm one step closer to solving my audio issues at 1080p. Really, I think my next step will have to be to wire the Steam Link.

[Chargeit]

Should be able to disable "Nvidia Streamer Service" from starting up with windows (Services.msc in run bar). I did without issue. Might have to do it again when Experience updates or with new driver. Not sure since I just got experience since Nvidia is kind of forcing it now.

*Would not suggest messing with services unless you know what you're doing. Also, make sure to remember what you enable or disable.

**This is assuming that you don't own a Nvidia shield and don't mind disabling the streaming service.

[khran]

I'm running a 670, selected Hardware Encoding, but Steam is forcing D3D9. I *do not* have Shield/Shadowplay running or visible in tasks/profiles. 670 is suppose to support H.264... any idea why I'm still being forced into Software? My old wireless (b/g/n) is my biggest current bottleneck, but I want to get all angles ironed out. Oh, and just in case, my CPU does not support Intel Quickplay, so that isn't an option.

[Pootch]

Thanks a lot !

[Greg]

Originally posted by Chargeit:

Should be able to disable "Nvidia Streamer Service" from starting up with windows (Services.msc in run bar). I did without issue. Might have to do it again when Experience updates or with new driver. Not sure since I just got experience since Nvidia is kind of forcing it now.

*Would not suggest messing with services unless you know what you're doing. Also, make sure to remember what you enable or disable.

**This is assuming that you don't own a Nvidia shield and don't mind disabling the streaming service.

I wasn't saying to disable to service. There is an executable that is called "Nvidia capture server (or service" that you force quit and steam will relaunch next session.

[fruiT # granaatappeL]

I had to install new gforce drivers to get the hardware encoding working. Works perfect now ith my 770 GTX. Rocket league is very smooth

[Joe2400]

This is interesting. I'll try it out. I'm hoping this removes the compression in dark scenes.

[Joe2400]

I can confirm that hardware encoding is working now on my Geforce 970. Thanks for the tip! I find there is less compression in dark scenes too. However, still hearing some audio popping in certain games.

[RxStud]

I'll try this out later.