Problem Playing HD Movies From Networked PC.

Pulse · 11 Jul 2008 at 23:01

Recently I've got my old SN25P shuttle back, specs are AMD x2 3600 @ 2.5GHz, 2GB ram, 2400Pro.

Now my problem is that when I attempt to play a HD movie from my main pc, it quickly goes out of sync and the picture is very stuttery. I can run the same HD movies on my laptop, again from my pc, and it has no problem at all. Laptop spec is C2D 2GHz, 2GB ram, 8600M GS.

Both machines are being tested with Media Centre on Vista. Any idea what the problem might be? I've been told that it really shouldn't be CPU related, I know the GFX isn't great, could be causing the problem?

Any help is much appreciated as I don't want to spend out on new parts, but I do have some money reserved for upgrades if needs be, maybe even a complete new build, but that's the extreme end of things.

binaryknight · 12 Jul 2008 at 01:33

bad codecs?

it may well be cpu related depending on the res of the film, is it 1080p?
my own cpu is a barton at around 2.3ghz and gives the same issues you describe, you do have dual core but as far as im aware only one will be used for the actual video decoding. the lesser res variations play fine for me tho.

have you tried CoreAVC supposed to be one of the more efficient codecs for hd playback

Pulse · 12 Jul 2008 at 08:40

I'm using the same Vista Codec Pack on all 3 of my machines and so my main pc and laptop are playing them fine. And no, unfortunately the problems I'm having is with 720p, which worries me even more. I suppose I should send one of my larger videos over to it directly and then see if it plays that fine, might just be a wireless network card issue; though I have tried it over a cable and still had the same problem actually

ssmacc · 12 Jul 2008 at 09:13

Try, ffdshow as it uses both cores, have a search on how to set it up (i use CoreAVC) i set it up on another PC and 1080p stuttered until i used both cores, there is a thread on it in the home entertainment section

Pulse · 12 Jul 2008 at 09:32

Suppose I could give that a try to, I'll monitor CPU usages during video playback, obviously if it's only using one core that will show up.

Pulse · 12 Jul 2008 at 21:59

Right after managing to break it good and proper, I'm still none the wiser. I install K-Lite and now when I try to play a HD video it just tries to play it then goes to the stopped menu. flashes between them about 6 times when it eventually comes up with "media center cannot play the file"

I've tried different codec packs, different graphic card clocks in case thats was a problem. Different CPU overclocks, now installing 32bit windows as I've read that 64bit can affect :confused:

HighlandeR · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:08

Try CoreAVC codec and VLC see if that helps

binaryknight · 13 Jul 2008 at 16:03

Pulse said:
I've tried different codec packs, different graphic card clocks in case thats was a problem. Different CPU overclocks, now installing 32bit windows as I've read that 64bit can affect

multiple codec packs can cause problems personally i only install single codecs when i need them, using gspot to tell me what codec i need for a file.

any joy with monitoring the cpu usage / windows 32 bit?

Pulse · 13 Jul 2008 at 17:19

When monitoring the CPU it comfirmed that it WAS using both cores to play the video but still had the problem, installed 32bit Vista last night and now testings, seems to be working fine. Will have to try multiple videos and multiple lengths to test that it truely works.

Added Note: I did find a command that should have start Media Center in 32Bit - "Unregmp2 /Swap To:32", which it prob did as it did make a difference, it made it a lot worse.