HTPC video stutter - drivers or system spec at fault?

Duke_ · 21 Feb 2011 at 11:29

Hi All,

I have an HTPC which suffers from stuttering which is really noticeable in panning shots (both BluRay and .mkv files). Please could anyone let me know if they can recommend any driver tweaks or if the system spec is simply not up to it?

Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13GHz 2MB cache)
2GB RAM (appears to be at least 800MB free while watching films)
Radeon HD 5570 1GB (latest catalyst drivers installed)
Windows 7
WD 120GB HD (OS)
WD 2TB Green HD (Storage)
Using VLan Player to watch the .MKV files and PowerDVD 9 for BluRay disks.

Thanks

psykix · 21 Feb 2011 at 11:52

That GPU is more than up to the task..

What codec are you using?

Vtec9k · 21 Feb 2011 at 11:55

Spec is more than fine.

If it's in an HTPC case then what are your CPU temps? Some get really hot and you see speedstep throttling.

ZXSpectrum · 21 Feb 2011 at 11:56

I would also stick another 2gb of Ram in to be sure..

Duke_ · 21 Feb 2011 at 12:13

Thanks for the replies

psykix said:
That GPU is more than up to the task..
What codec are you using?

Whatever came with the VLan player

, sorry not great with video software!
Where's the best place to check? Should I hunt through the VLan settings while a video file is loaded up?

Vtec9k said:
Spec is more than fine.
If it's in an HTPC case then what are your CPU temps? Some get really hot and you see speedstep throttling.

Not too keen on adding more ram - have a daft dual RAM type mobo which means I only have two slots DDR2 and two are for DDR3 so I'd need to scrap the two sticks of DDR2 I have. I will if necessary though - then I might as well go for a DDR3 setup and change the ageing processor...!

Skyline said:
I would also stick another 2gb of Ram in to be sure..

The case is a GD05 - I think the graphics temps were around 35C and that's the fanless version of the 5570 so I think the temps are ok as it seems to get good airflow - I'll double check the cpu temps though.

Brian8bit · 21 Feb 2011 at 12:16

Tried a driver roll back just to see if that solves the issue?

Duke_ · 21 Feb 2011 at 12:31

Brian8bit said:
Tried a driver roll back just to see if that solves the issue?

It's a fresh install so apart from windows default drivers I have nothing to roll back to - let me know if I've missed something obvious!

psykix · 21 Feb 2011 at 12:34

I use Mediaportal along with MS codec for both high def and sd content.

I use Arcsoft TMT5 for Bluray playback. I have a GTX460 in my main server, and a HD5450 in one of the clients. Neither have a problem with stuttering.

Are you sure you haven't installed any codec packs or similar?

Duke_ · 21 Feb 2011 at 12:50

psykix said:
I use Mediaportal along with MS codec for both high def and sd content.

I use Arcsoft TMT5 for Bluray playback. I have a GTX460 in my main server, and a HD5450 in one of the clients. Neither have a problem with stuttering.

Are you sure you haven't installed any codec packs or similar?

The only codec I downloaded consciously was for DivX. I think I'm just using the codecs which came with the Vlan player.

Apart from Vlan & Power DVD 9 I'm using Windows Media Centre for TV recording & DivX playback.

eddyc · 21 Feb 2011 at 15:45

Have a look at this thread:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18137281

I think you might be having a 60Hz 3:2 pulldown problem. I think you can use a program called Reclock to sort this out. But I have never played with it so I don't really know much about it.

There is also the classic motion judder problem which is especially bad in slow panning shots.

Also +1 to datalol-jack below, try a different player. I like CCCP bundled with Media Player Classic Home Cinema Edition

datalol-jack · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:03

Check this little guide out: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=407&Itemid=38

Testing whether the rendering is properly off loaded to the GPU is a must. Just open task manager, go to the performance tab and play an HD video. If the CPU utilization is 50-100%, then the software you are using is not utilizing the best out of your GPU.

As for quick tips: set the VLan player to use the DirectX or OpenGL renderer - there should be a quick setting option in its start menu folder; in CyberLink PowerDVD 9, make sure you have the Hardware Acceleration option ticked for your GPU in your Video settings.

As an alternative player under W7, I can recommend Windows Media Player Classic Home Cinema Edition x64(what a mouthful! lol) and this codec page may be of use:
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

You will also find the 64 bit codecs there. It is a software issue and your spec is fine, especially considering that even the least powerful ION/ATI Fusion system can tackle HD playback. Best of luck.

DragonQ · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:05

Are you sure it's stuttering and not judder? You're probably playing 24p material at 60 Hz, which creates judder. Reclock will change your refresh rate according to the frame rate of any video you play, as someone else said above, so try that.

Duke_ · 21 Feb 2011 at 17:54

Brilliant - thanks all, will try these later on this evening and let you know how I get on.

eddyc · 23 Feb 2011 at 15:37

Manage to fix it? I would be interested to hear what happened.

powelly · 23 Feb 2011 at 17:49

try using vlc media player for mkv?
edit: its either vlc or vcl

Duke_ · 25 Feb 2011 at 13:44

powelly2010 said:
try using vlc media player for mkv?
edit: its either vlc or vcl

Thanks - already using that - see OP - VLC = VLan player.
Sadly it's still being a pain.

I have tried the suggested codec packs with no luck.
Going to install SP1 then try FFD show.
CPU usage while watching DVD is ~5% so the GPU seems to be doing it's job.
HTPC currently set for 1080P @24Hz

The judder / stutter is really odd - smooth for 1-2 seconds then it just jumps forward 1/2 a second - watching a film with cars driving they just suddenly appear further forward on the road.

Will keep you (pl) posted...!

Liquid · 25 Feb 2011 at 13:57

I would try downloading shark 007's Windows 7 Codec Pack and also install MKVToolnix v4.5. It's the combination I use and works flawlessly for me in VLC, Windows Media Player etc.

My HTPC has an [email protected] and a 512mb ATI 4670 and video is more important too.

Just a suggestion, check it out.

I do however have mine set to 1080P at 60hz. I would have thought thats how you should have it too. Playing content with higher hz will cause pulldown and have to occasionally drop frames too and that could be what you are experiencing, who knows lol, try it.

DragonQ · 25 Feb 2011 at 14:36

60 Hz is only useful for 30p/60i/60p video. 24 Hz is only useful for 24p video. If you're watching UK DVDs you'll need 50 Hz.

eddyc · 25 Feb 2011 at 14:44

Alex_S said:
Thanks - already using that - see OP - VLC = VLan player.
Sadly it's still being a pain.

I have tried the suggested codec packs with no luck.
Going to install SP1 then try FFD show.
CPU usage while watching DVD is ~5% so the GPU seems to be doing it's job.
HTPC currently set for 1080P @24Hz

The judder / stutter is really odd - smooth for 1-2 seconds then it just jumps forward 1/2 a second - watching a film with cars driving they just suddenly appear further forward on the road.

Will keep you (pl) posted...!

Might be a display / gfx card driver issue?

I had a similar thing for a while where the video would play very slightly more slowly than the sound until the player dropped a load of frames to catch the video up.

I tracked it down to some weird driver that had been installed when I installed logmein free. I disabled that driver and all was fine. It did not even stop me using logmein.

Have a dig around in device manager and see if anything odd is going on.

Duke_ · 25 Feb 2011 at 15:48

Thanks All,

I tried 24Hz for use with BluRay but will change back to 60Hz.
I have the Shark codec pack but will also get MKVToolnix v4.5
It might help to know 1080 HD on Youtube plays flawlessly