films from HDD stuttering

TheCrow · 24 May 2006 at 15:21

Hi, i have got a problem that i just cant get rid of.

xvid films that are on my HDD stutter when i play them back (stutter for about 10seconds every 2mins) None of my rescources are maxed out. I have tried difrent codec packs. Uninstalled all the ones i could find (which seemed to b them all as they wouldnt play) and reinstalled. But still have the same problem, but from my other pc (same codecs) i can watch them over the network just fine.

Spec:

AMD X2 3800+
2GB Geil RAM
DFI Ultra-D Mobo
200GB Maxtor Sata
NEC DVD+-RW

Has anyone got sugestions for me to try as it is really doin my head in now. Or any programs that may help, codec cleaners, gaurnteed codecs (even if not the best quality) etc?

Thanx

EDIT: If i burn to dvd/cd then play back from there is fine, so maby its more a HDD/SATA problem, although it all shows up as healthy, any good utilitys to check this with?

semi-pro waster · 24 May 2006 at 15:37

I don't know what is wrong but have you tried setting the affinity for WMP or whatever you use to one core? You can check hard drive throughput with something like HDTach but it might not highlight any real problems.

TheCrow · 24 May 2006 at 15:39

ye i have tired the affinity thing, no luck

ninja2000 · 24 May 2006 at 15:43

I had the same on my PC with a maxtor drive. Try this:

Open Device manager
expand the disk drive section
Double click on your maxtor hard drive
open policies tab
You will see your hard drive is set to "optimise for performance"
below this option is a check box (sorry cant remember what its called because I am at work)
Uncheck this box, apply and bobs your uncle.

Will confirm the option when I get home.
cheers

Raymond Lin · 24 May 2006 at 15:46

ninja2000 said:
I had the same on my PC with a maxtor drive. Try this:

Open Device manager
expand the disk drive section
Double click on your maxtor hard drive
open policies tab
You will see your hard drive is set to "optimise for performance"
below this option is a check box (sorry cant remember what its called because I am at work)
Uncheck this box, apply and bobs your uncle.

Will confirm the option when I get home.
cheers

The enable writing caching on disk option?

ninja2000 · 24 May 2006 at 15:47

Thats it!

Give it a go

TheCrow · 24 May 2006 at 15:52

Thanks, that worked

+1 beer 4 u.

Though my comp is noticbly slower at opening things now, is there any work round for this?

Is it a reconised problem by Maxtor?

ninja2000 · 24 May 2006 at 16:05

Thats odd! Mine showed no performance decrease by turning it off.

I take it that you have also disbled NCQ? this is also a problem with maxtor drives on NF4.

Also what version of nvidia chipset drivers are you using?

TheCrow · 24 May 2006 at 16:10

I not to sure about all this.

I havent activly disabled NCQ, so my guess is its still on, how do i change this?

version of chipset drivers, again where to find out?

ninja2000 · 24 May 2006 at 16:15

With regards to the Maxtor problem I did a quick google search and it appears that even though write caching is on in windows, it is not enabled on the drive (hence the stutering)

To check NCQ go back into device manager
open your SATA controller, it will show you the drives installed and the SATA speed (ie 150 or 300) below that you will see an option for NCQ, make sure it is not checked.

TheCrow · 24 May 2006 at 16:43

hmm i cant find that :s