Big Picture Mode: frame drops and slow display

[Luna]

ISSUE
Streaming any game with client in Big Picture mode introduces display latency and frame drops, making it impossible to enjoy - while streaming in "normal" mode is perfectly fine.
Fast/Balanced/Beautiful client options offer no improvement. Software decoding not tested; can add results if desired.

OS
Windows 10 64bit on host, Windows 7 64bit on client

HARDWARE
I made a new HTPC build with Steam In-Home Streaming in mind:

• AMD A8-7600 APU with R7 integrated GPU, should be plenty for streaming
  
• Asus A88XM-Plus motherboard
  
• Spare 2x4GB G.Skill DDR3-1333 RAM
  
• Spare 120GB SSD

(PCPartPicker[pcpartpicker.com])
Both PCs are connected via a Gigabit Ethernet Switch.


STEPS

• Start Steam on Host PC
  
• Start Steam on Client PC in BigPicture mode
  
• Launch a game (stream) on Client PC in BigPicture mode

RESULTS
Game starts, noticeable framedrops and judder.
Performance overlay shows: Inpute latency <1ms, display latency 65ms (sometimes even more with warning: slow display)
20-25% frame loss.
Tested with Alien: Isolation and Half-Life 2 Deathmatch.


EXPECTED
Smooth 60fps gameplay, just like when I start a streamed game without big picture mode.


Streaming traces: HL2DM in Big Picture Mode[lifetimeclan.de] and Normal Mode[lifetimeclan.de].

[Never Ready Eddie]

Looks the same issue as the thread "Poor streaming performance in Big Picture Mode after March 8 update" which I responded to. I have the same issues only present when streaming from BPM but using desktop mode it works fine. All this has only started since the latest update.

My reply to "Poor streaming performance in Big Picture Mode after March 8 update" below:

******************************
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.
*******************************

[Luna]

The last steam client update may have fixed the issue, I no longer get high display latency or frame-drops.

[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.

[Tannah]

I'm having a similar problem when using in home streaming, it strobes on the screen, I've found shutting off video card "hardware encoding on AMD GPU" under Settings/In-Home Streaming ADVANCED HOST OPTIONS resolve the strobing problem, but then the interface becomes laggy.
My Specs Host:
FX-3850, 32GB, R9 390X Crimson driver 16.3.2 , Windows 7 64bit
1GB wired connection though RT-AC66U (latest firmware)
Advanced Host Options:
Adjust resolution to improve performance: Enabled
Enable hardware encoding: Enabled
Enable hardware encoding on Nvidia GPU: disabled (Non-Nvidia card)
Prefer NVFBC capture method: unselectable
Enable hardware encoding on AMD CPU: Enabled (disabling removes strobing)
Enabled hardware encoding on INTEL iGPU: disabled (Non-Intel CPU/GPU)
Number of software encoding threads: Automatic
Prioritize network traffic: Enabled

[namo]

As answered on topic "Poor streaming performance in Big Picture Mode after March 8 update".

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.

[CataclismoPR]

I have contacted steam support and have shared the three posts dedicated to this issue here in this group. It seems that http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/ is the forum most checked into by Valve's development team. The tech said they would forward my comments to the appropriate department. I haven't heard back from them since, but it seems that my support ticket is still open (I opened it on the 12th). We can either wait and hope this gets looked into, message support, or create a new thread on the provided link to see if we can grab someone's attention...