FPS drops receiving Skype/FB message

[bats_88]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this Forum, but i need help solving an issue! Thanks in advance for taking the time to read~

Going directly to the issue - my FPS drops to i'd say about 30-40 FPS when:

- i receive a message on Skype
- someone is writing to me on Facebook

(yes, while they are typing)
- my Spotify friends feed "moves"
- i use a On-Screen Keyboard (Hot Virtual Keyboard) while streaming with OBS
- when someone writes something on my stream channel's chat

Notice that:

- the FPS drops BUT the FPS counter shows the exact same FPS. Basically, i "feel" it lags to about 30-40 FPS, even if counter is at 200+
- system stops "lagging" after i see the Skype message ("orange" notification dots disappear), and when the person isn't typing anymore on Facebook

Extra info:

- dual monitor setup - BenQ XL2411Z (144Hz) primary, LG 22MP55 (60Hz) secondary
- only drops FPS when in dual-monitor
- Skype messages make me lag more than someone typing on Facebook

My rig:

CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K 3.40GHZ 8MB BOX
GPU: Asus GeForce GTX 560 TI DC II TOP 1024MB GDDR5
Mobo: Asus Sabertooth P67
RAM: GSKILL PC3-12800 Sniper CL9 1600Mhz DC 8GB
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower
PSU: Aerocool Strike X 800W 80 Plus Modular
Cooling: Artic Cooling Freezer 13 Pro

 

[Ralston18]

Any chance that Skype and Facebook are being restricted by your router via QoS or some Parental Controls?

Can you launch the Performance Monitor and see what is going on while Skype and Facebook messages are being typed. Do any other processes or services start?

Does not address the "dual monitor effect" per se" but that can be looked into:

What happens if you switch the primary and secondary monitors? Just to test and again watch the performance.

Need to work through the "flowpath" and identify the bottleneck.

There are some other things that can be done to perhaps diagnose the problem. Learning more about the problem is what is immediately necessary.

 

[bats_88]

Any chance that Skype and Facebook are being restricted by your router via QoS or some Parental Controls?

How do i check this?

Can you launch the Performance Monitor and see what is going on while Skype and Facebook messages are being typed. Do any other processes or services start?

I did, and didn't see any additional services/processes starting when there was activity on Skype/Facebook.

Does not address the "dual monitor effect" per se" but that can be looked into:

What happens if you switch the primary and secondary monitors? Just to test and again watch the performance.

Didn't try this, but my BenQ is set as the secondary monitor because i had issues with the desktop icons and my LG is to my right, and if i set the BenQ as primary, i can only hover my mouse to the left (off-limits). Sorry if i mislead you by saying "BenQ XL2411Z (144Hz) primary, LG 22MP55 (60Hz) secondary".

 

[Ralston18]

To check the router you need administrative access. Who controls the router?

No other services or processes starting....okay. Will set that possibility aside for the moment.

To work with the displays you need to go into the display settings via the GPU card control panel, or a right click on the display screen.

Once you are in the correct window you can identify the monitors as 1 and 2. See if they are expanded or extended.

Your system and graphics card need to support those functions/features.

By the way, can you temporarily set the BenQ to also be 60Hz? Do not see 144Hz as the problem per se but would like to rule that out as I look back through your original post. If the problem only happens in dual monitor mode then something is demanding or requiring more processing time. So some existing process cannot keep up versus another process starting up as you have already looked into.

 

[bats_88]

To check the router you need administrative access. Who controls the router?

I have administrative access.

To work with the displays you need to go into the display settings via the GPU card control panel, or a right click on the display screen.

Once you are in the correct window you can identify the monitors as 1 and 2. See if they are expanded or extended.

2 is the BenQ. 1 is the LG. They're extended.

By the way, can you temporarily set the BenQ to also be 60Hz? Do not see 144Hz as the problem per se but would like to rule that out as I look back through your original post. If the problem only happens in dual monitor mode then something is demanding or requiring more processing time. So some existing process cannot keep up versus another process starting up as you have already looked into.

Well... i had a hard time looking at 60Hz again and trying to see if it lagged, but it definitely didn't. So i guess it only happens when one monitor is 144Hz and the other 60Hz. Did not try 120Hz/60Hz, etc. Interesting.

EDIT: I just tried with the BenQ at 120hz + the LG at 60 hz, and the FPS drop was noticeably less. It felt higher than 60 FPS also, for sure.

 

[Ralston18]

Not sure what else to suggest. You might be able to tinker with some of the other display and graphics settings.

Or maybe stop some background application to dedicate/free up more processing time to the displays.

Change only one setting at a time and make note of what you changed: both the "from" and the "to". In case you need to change something back.