Dual monitors causing game stutter

[TobyC1995]

I have 2x 24" 1080p monitors in dual setup.

Whenever I play a game on one monitor, and YouTube, stream or Spotify on the other, my game stutters.

- One monitor is at 144Hz, the other is at 60Hz
- My CPU usage remains low, 16GB RAM
- My DVI cable for my gaming monitor is plugged into my GTX 980
- My HDMI cable for my second monitor is plugged into my GTX 980

Anyone know how to fix this issue?

 

[13thmonkey]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

 

[13thmonkey]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes, I've got 1440p at 144 off my 970 and 1680*1050@60 off my igpu.

 

[utroz]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

 

[utroz]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

My FPS counter never drops on the game when this occurs, just visual stuttering as if it were.

I'll give it a go now. Need to activate intel graphics in the BIOS I think

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

I went into BIOS and the integrated graphics setting only had "Activate multi monitor integrated graphics" which was disabled. The 2nd monitor isnt showing now. Any ideas?

 

[utroz]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

I went into BIOS and the integrated graphics setting only had "Activate multi monitor integrated graphics" which was disabled. The 2nd monitor isnt showing now. Any ideas?

So did you enable the muli monitor integrated graphics option or not?

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

I went into BIOS and the integrated graphics setting only had "Activate multi monitor integrated graphics" which was disabled. The 2nd monitor isnt showing now. Any ideas?

So did you enable the muli monitor integrated graphics option or not?

Nope, I'll be back tomorrow to continue trying to fix this issue. I need to go right now unfortunately.

 

[utroz]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

I went into BIOS and the integrated graphics setting only had "Activate multi monitor integrated graphics" which was disabled. The 2nd monitor isnt showing now. Any ideas?

So did you enable the muli monitor integrated graphics option or not?

Nope, I'll be back tomorrow to continue trying to fix this issue. I need to go right now unfortunately.

Enable the setting and try it again when you get a chance. Then please let us know if it works for you.

 

[TobyC1995]

do you have onboard graphics, if so use that for the second screen.

As in intel graphics and plugging the HDMI into my processor instead?

Yes intel graphics if you have a system that has it. Most mainstream systems from Intel (for the last 5 years) will have a GPU built onto the cpu, and there will be connectors on the motherboard for it.

I have an i7 4690K, will plugging the hdmi into the motherboard fix this issue?

Yes, it will take the load off your 980 for the second monitor putting the load on the intel Igpu allowing all the power of the 980 to go just to your main gaming monitor.

I went into BIOS and the integrated graphics setting only had "Activate multi monitor integrated graphics" which was disabled. The 2nd monitor isnt showing now. Any ideas?

So did you enable the muli monitor integrated graphics option or not?

Nope, I'll be back tomorrow to continue trying to fix this issue. I need to go right now unfortunately.

Enable the setting and try it again when you get a chance. Then please let us know if it works for you.

My options in the BIOS under "Integrated Graphics" are:-

- Initiate graphic adapter (PEG or IGD). Currently on PEG
- IGD Multi-monitor (Enable or Disabled). Current Disabled.

Which one should I change to make my second monitor Intel graphics?

 

[utroz]

IGD Multi-monitor (Enable or Disabled). Current Disabled. Change to Enabled. Let us know if it does the trick..

 

[TobyC1995]

IGD Multi-monitor (Enable or Disabled). Current Disabled. Change to Enabled. Let us know if it does the trick..

Integrated graphics is working, HDMI is plugged into the motherboard, IGD Multi monitor is activated.

I'll test if the stutter is gone and get back to you soon.

 

[13thmonkey]

Thanks, good luck.

 

[TobyC1995]

IGD Multi-monitor (Enable or Disabled). Current Disabled. Change to Enabled. Let us know if it does the trick..

Ok, so the stuttering of the games has gone, but my CPU usage has risen up dramatically.

For example, The Division on lowest graphical settings, I used to get average of 120fps, now I'm getting 10-20 fps less. The CPU usage has also gone up to 92% while playing, which would mean I wouldn't be able to have a stream playing, while I stream and play a game at the same time which is a nuisance.

Specs again:
i7 4690k @ 4GHz
GTX 980 SC 4GB
16GB RAM

I'm going to try streaming on my test account, while playing the game and having Spotify in the background, as I do when streaming.

In the meantime, there were memory options under the IGD multi monitor option in BIOS I believe, would changing this setting help reduce CPU usage?

 

[TobyC1995]

^^^^

Thanks, good luck.

^^^^

 

[13thmonkey]

Shouldn't do. CPU usage just might mean that you are feeding the gpu better, but the fps reduction doesn't fit with that. Memory usage for the second screen should be minimal, but increase it to 1Gb or something just in case it is swapping out of main memory due to what you are using it for.

What are you streaming with?

To be frank I've no idea why it should be like this, it might even be that stuttering was altering fps in unexpected ways.

 

[TobyC1995]

Shouldn't do. CPU usage just might mean that you are feeding the gpu better, but the fps reduction doesn't fit with that. Memory usage for the second screen should be minimal, but increase it to 1Gb or something just in case it is swapping out of main memory due to what you are using it for.

What are you streaming with?

To be frank I've no idea why it should be like this, it might even be that stuttering was altering fps in unexpected ways.

I stream using OBS, with "Very Fast" Encoding and Game Capture.

I've recorded 4 minutes as a test, with Very Fast encoding and lower and the FPS is stuck at around 30-50 on playback for some reason. Haven't seen this happen before integrated graphics.

 

[TobyC1995]

Shouldn't do. CPU usage just might mean that you are feeding the gpu better, but the fps reduction doesn't fit with that. Memory usage for the second screen should be minimal, but increase it to 1Gb or something just in case it is swapping out of main memory due to what you are using it for.

What are you streaming with?

To be frank I've no idea why it should be like this, it might even be that stuttering was altering fps in unexpected ways.

I will try increasing memory. here are the current settings:

Initiate Graphics Adapter - PEG
Integrated Graphics Share Memory - 64M
DVMT Memory - 256MB

 

[TobyC1995]

Shouldn't do. CPU usage just might mean that you are feeding the gpu better, but the fps reduction doesn't fit with that. Memory usage for the second screen should be minimal, but increase it to 1Gb or something just in case it is swapping out of main memory due to what you are using it for.

What are you streaming with?

To be frank I've no idea why it should be like this, it might even be that stuttering was altering fps in unexpected ways.

The stuttering and FPS seems to be normal/ fixed for streaming, at least with The Division. I think the issue was it changed itself to windowed fullscreen, instead of the usual fullscreen.

I'm going to test another game out whilst streaming to see if there is any stutter or too high CPU usage.

 

[TobyC1995]

My game stutters if my stream or OBS preview is playing in the background, will have to do further testing tomorrow. Incredibly frustrating.