OBS stuttering on footage | Linux Mint Community🍵 | Page 1

still hound Dec 10, 2025, 12:41 AM

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For some reason, my OBS doesn't work properly when recording, and instead the footage becomes choppy.
I don't know how to replicate it, however I've tried every fix on earth to make this work and it just doesn't stop the stuttering, anyone knows as to why this could happen?
OBS says it's a GPU overload but it happens with light games when my GPU is chilling as well, so I have no idea anymore

covert geyser Dec 10, 2025, 5:44 PM

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You can download Kdenlive. It also has a screen recorder. You just have to enable it. Usually what will chug is setting the FPS to 60, 4k or a very high bit rate. If the issue persists on Kdenlive. Then it's probably your settings.

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Also make sure under Driver Manager you have the green recommended gpu update.

flint wind Dec 11, 2025, 6:47 AM

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what GPU?

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Output of sudo apt install vainfo && vainfo too please

flint wind Dec 11, 2025, 6:48 AM

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flint wind what GPU?

iGPUs suck ass for game recording.

Becahse GPUs have to both render the game and the frame OBS sends to the encoder.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 6:27 PM

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covert geyser You can download Kdenlive. It also has a screen recorder. You just have to enabl...

If I can't fix it I will, I wanted to use OBS specifically

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 6:27 PM

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flint wind what GPU?

GeForce GTX 970

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 6:28 PM

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flint wind Output of `sudo apt install vainfo && vainfo` too please

libva info: VA-API version 1.20.0
libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/nvidia_drv_video.so
libva info: va_openDriver() returns -1
vaInitialize failed with error code -1 (unknown libva error),exit

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I think it didn't work ngl

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 6:53 PM

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covert geyser Also make sure under Driver Manager you have the green recommended gpu update.

I'll be honest, I use the latest because the recommended one makes most games I play unable to run

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 9:08 PM

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use the 550/535 driver

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and install the nvidia-vaapi-driver package using sudo apt install nvidia-vaapi-driver

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then re run vainfo and show it here

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:47 PM

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flint wind use the 550/535 driver

I tried them, the games I play stopped working unfortunately so that's kind if non-negotiable

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I'll install the package though

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:48 PM

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Upgrade to... oh 970?! That's crazy old. 580, driver is the normal go to fix.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:48 PM

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Yea I'm suffering LMAO

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580 is the driver I use yea

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:49 PM

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flint wind then re run `vainfo` and show it here

libva info: VA-API version 1.20.0
libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/nvidia_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_0
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA-API version: 1.20 (libva 2.12.0)
vainfo: Driver version: VA-API NVDEC driver [egl backend]
vainfo: Supported profile and entrypoints
VAProfileMPEG2Simple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileMPEG2Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Simple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Advanced : VAEntrypointVLD
<unknown profile> : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264High : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVP8Version0_3 : VAEntrypointVLD

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:51 PM

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There will be a major gpu update to the 590 in a few weeks. However, the 970 is really really old. It will be missing some modern features.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:51 PM

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I wish I could upgrade

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:51 PM

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If possible, pick up a 3050. It'll only be an upgrade.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:51 PM

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That's crazy expensive tbh LMAO

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:52 PM

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OMFG! They used to be $120. ):

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:52 PM

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I barely have money to get a haircut

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And I live outside as well

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:52 PM

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Your best bet is to buy a used PC off Ebay or a lot. Tons of people are downgrading to Win11. They are forced to abandon old hardware.

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We're talking dollars to free if you can find them.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:53 PM

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Ebay isn't a platform that's used in my country tbh, but I'll plan on upgrading someday

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I just literally can't, my money goes toward my survival lmao

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But I appreciate it

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:54 PM

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Don't give up. Keep an eye out for anyone upgrading to Win11. Those PCs will be tossed by the tens of millions.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:55 PM

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Which is sad ngl

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:55 PM

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One person's trash is another person's treasure. That's how I got my 3050 GPU for dirt cheap.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:55 PM

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Which is insanely lucky ngl LOL

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Happy for you

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:56 PM

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Best bet is to wait for the new wayland update in a few weeks. See if that fixes it. You can also hunt down some old PPA, repository files for your 970 that may improve it.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:57 PM

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I hope it does

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Also, I'm kinda new to Linux, what exactly is Wayland?

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I hear a lot of people talking about it but idk what exactly it is

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:59 PM

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Wayland is the new GUI update for your desktop and 3d graphics. It is superior to Windows. Eventually... We're slowly getting near completion.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:59 PM

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Anything is superior to Windows

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 9:59 PM

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Same way that Vulkan surpasses OpenGL. It's a matter of development.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 9:59 PM

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True

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That's actually pretty hype, I'm excited

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:00 PM

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Mint 22.3, along with the 590 driver update are in beta testing.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:00 PM

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Hopefully it fixes it

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:05 PM

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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update

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Try those for good measure.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:07 PM

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2 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.
mintfrost@frost-System-Product-Name:~$ apt list --upgradeable
Listing... Done
libnvidia-egl-wayland1/noble 1:1.1.17-0ubuntu0~gpu24.04.1 amd64 [upgradable from: 1:1.1.13-1ubuntu0.1]
libnvidia-egl-wayland1/noble 1:1.1.17-0ubuntu0~gpu24.04.1 i386 [upgradable from: 1:1.1.13-1ubuntu0.1]

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Do I update these as well?

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:07 PM

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Yes. Worst case scenario. Just reinstall the 580.

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It should only add or not work at all. The PPA is just a old repository.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:08 PM

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Do I do like, sudo apt update libnvidia-egl-wayland1/noble 1:1.1.17-0ubuntu0~gpu24.04.1 amd64

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Or am I stupid

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:08 PM

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covert geyser It should only add or not work at all. The PPA is just a old repository.

Fair

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:09 PM

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Wayland should be automatic with the 580. I say go for it too.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:09 PM

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still hound Do I do like, sudo apt update libnvidia-egl-wayland1/noble 1:1.1.17-0ubuntu0~gpu...

Doesn't work OK I am infact stoopid

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:10 PM

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Like I said. It's probably already in there.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:11 PM

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Hopefully

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It said upgrade, not install, it's why I ask

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:13 PM

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Give it a run next time you boot up. See if it improved anything. Otherwise, lower your screen record settings to 720p.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:28 PM

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I tried a few things

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It looks like my GPU has to be really chill to barely have the bug happen

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And again same thing, only chops on fullscreen

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My GPU has to be like around 50% usage range max to barely have it happen

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:29 PM

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Screen recording only recently became reliable. Back then people would get a second PC or card for direct recording.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:29 PM

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That's insane

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:29 PM

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still hound libva info: VA-API version 1.20.0 libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-lin...

yeah this GPU is worthless for video encoding

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:30 PM

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Pain

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:30 PM

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can i see the OBS settings?

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:30 PM

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I lowered them as much as I could as well as lower the game settings to get decent results on fullscreen, but let me show

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:31 PM

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From the 1980's to 2010's it was just easier to have secondary hardware dedicated for recording. Such as Pinnacle.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:31 PM

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30fps, 720p upscaled to 1080p

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The video looks awful already tbh

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:33 PM

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What is your CPU?

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:33 PM

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i7-8800 iirc, but let me check

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:33 PM

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Leave it on 720 with a better bit rate. Upscalling is ideal for larger resolutions. 1080p to 4k. Switch from H.264 to MPEG4. Format MP4

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:33 PM

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i7-8700k

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:33 PM

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covert geyser Leave it on 720 with a better bit rate. Upscalling is ideal for larger resolutio...

h.264 is the most this gpu can do

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:34 PM

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His GPU can't do MPEG4?

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:34 PM

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mpeg4 is the video format

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:34 PM

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Otherwise dump it down to MPEG2, then re encode it to MP4.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:34 PM

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covert geyser Leave it on 720 with a better bit rate. Upscalling is ideal for larger resolutio...

I'm doing MOV because for some fucking reason Davinci doesn't accept MP4

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:34 PM

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h.264 is the codec

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:35 PM

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Ah... I recommend trying KDENlive. It has more expansive codec options.

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h.264 is different from mpeg4. Mpeg4 came first.

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:35 PM

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i guess you can try software encoding

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:35 PM

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It ran worse LMAO

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:35 PM

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oh well

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expected

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:36 PM

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I tried messing with multiple different configurations

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It's awkward because like

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:36 PM

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Definitely give Kdenlive a shot. It's what I recommended earlier. Davinici has lots of issues on Linux.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:36 PM

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The chopness only happens when my game is fullscreen

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:36 PM

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covert geyser Definitely give Kdenlive a shot. It's what I recommended earlier. Davinici has l...

Yea, mine stopped working properly as well but I got way too pissed to fix, it's painful

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:37 PM

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Another trick is lowering your FPS to 30 and resolution to 720 from your monitor settings in the NvidiaServerSettings.

still hound Dec 13, 2025, 10:37 PM

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still hound The chopness only happens when my game is fullscreen

I just wish it didn't chop, like idc if it lagged my game

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:37 PM

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covert geyser Definitely give Kdenlive a shot. It's what I recommended earlier. Davinici has l...

Davinci is in such a shit state on Linux it'd be best if it didn't even exist

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:37 PM

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Agreed. That's why I recommend Kdenlive.

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:38 PM

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since when you can screen record there?

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:38 PM

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It's tucked away in settings. Off by default. You turn it on, then click the red button in the upper left corner.

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Hit me up anytime if you want the screen record settings.

flint wind Dec 13, 2025, 10:40 PM

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but i don't think it'll change much. GPU is underpowered by today's standards.

Recording needs both the 3D (rendering the frame to send to the encoder) and Video pipeline. Since both the game and the recording are using the 3D pipeline it'll saturate quickly and lead to this behaviour.

covert geyser Dec 13, 2025, 10:41 PM

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Davinci is made for higher end PCs. KDENlive is made to work on most PCs.

dark wind Jan 2, 2026, 6:20 PM

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covert geyser Davinci is made for higher end PCs. KDENlive is made to work on most PCs.

Kdenlive works on one of my laptops which is 18 years old lol

rotund scarab Jan 17, 2026, 9:54 PM

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offloading the H.264/HEVC encoding to something like a 1050 Ti is what I would've done

#OBS stuttering on footage