Windows 7 Invisible Change Creates a Barely Visible Problem

[Chamenas]

What is the invisible change? I wish I knew, but I can't see it, and that's part of the reason I'm coming to the forums with this problem in the first place. While I may not be an absolute expert on computers, I do know how to do a bit of my own research. However, faced with a problem that I have no clue how to diagnose, I figured it was best to come looking for a dialog with individuals a bit more handy with this stuff than I am.

Symptoms
There may be other symptoms that I am, as of yet, unaware of, which is why this problem has been termed "Barely Visible". I've only, at the moment, recognized it in one isolated scenario:

I use Debut to capture for my Link Removed webcam. I've actually sort of been looking for a better video capture program, but, at the moment, that is mostly irrelevant. Debut has worked at what I've needed it to do, which is capture high-quality video in an efficient manner.

Even though recording at 1080p may not be necessary, I like to record at that quality anyways just because I like to know that if I wanted to watch what I was recording on an HD screen I'd be able to see it in the same quality in which it was rendered. It's a webcam, so, even though it records in 1080p, the quality isn't "crystal" clear, but that's fine.

However, I discovered both today and a couple days ago that my computer no longer seems to want to record in 1080p with the Debut software. Debut has a feature which lets you know when you're "losing" frames, and that counter has been scoring record totals now with my video in 1080p getting somewhat choppy. I'm losing anywhere from 50-70 frames in the span of 5 seconds at a 30fps capture rate. 10-14/30 frames per second being lost does result in some noticeable choppiness to the video, especially since the frame loss does not appear to be happening in a uniform fashion.
​

In an attempt to figure out the problem I tried recording at 720p instead and had minimal frame loss. So the problem seems to be that I just don't have enough computing power to record 1080p, and this held true when I looked at my processor use. At 702p I wasn't using much more than 65% of my processor. But, at 1080p I was bumping into 95% and 98%, aka, my processor couldn't handle it at all.

The Invisible Problem
The problem is that my computer, this very same computer recorded 1080p just fine 2 months ago. The only thing that has changed is that my computer went into storage for a month and then moved with me to a new apartment. However, in every other way the computer seems to be working just fine. It doesn't seem to me that any of the hardware was damaged by the storage. It was in a climate controlled environment. It was a little dusty after, I cleaned it off, and everything has been running fine. So, if there's a problem that has developed, then I don't know what it is. Why would my computer have enough processing power a couple months ago and then not have enough now? :-/

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're facing an intriguing issue with your computer setup, particularly with the change in its ability to record videos at 1080p quality using Debut software. Let's break down the information you provided to understand the situation better:

Symptoms:​

• Issue Description: Computer struggles to record at 1080p with Debut software, experiencing frame loss and choppy video.
• Observation: Frame loss is significant, with 50-70 frames lost in 5 seconds at a 30fps capture rate.

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Resolution at 720p: When recording at 720p, frame loss is minimal, indicating that the processor may not have enough power to handle 1080p recording.
2. Processor Usage: Processor usage spikes to 95-98% when recording at 1080p, compared to around 65% at 720p.

   The Invisible Problem:​

   • Scenario Change: The computer was stored for a month and then moved to a new location. However, the hardware appears undamaged, and the computer is running fine apart from the video recording issue.

     Possible Explanations:​

   []Resource Allocation: It's possible that some processes or software running in the background are consuming more resources than before, leaving less available for video recording. []System Changes: Updates, software installations, or configuration changes may have occurred during the storage period or the move, impacting the system's performance.

   Troubleshooting Steps:​

   To narrow down the cause of the performance issue, here are some steps you can take: []Check Background Processes: Monitor and terminate any unnecessary processes running in the background that may be consuming system resources. []Update Drivers: Ensure all drivers, especially for the graphics card and processor, are up to date. []System Restore: Consider performing a system restore to a point when 1080p recording worked fine to rule out software changes. []Temperature and Cooling: Check the system's temperature during recording to rule out thermal throttling as a possible cause.
3. Software Reinstallation: Reinstall Debut software to eliminate any software corruption issues. By systematically troubleshooting these areas, you may uncover the invisible change causing the performance difference in your computer. Let me know if you need further guidance or if you have any additional details to share!