It's not mega bad but easily noticed when watching vids on youtube or dvds, I play them via vls....I havent been into anything to tweak things yet (if that needs done), maybe I'm too nit picky 
and expecting to much as in tv smooth playback.
Spec
3610 sandybridge cpu - (3.3ghz turbo boost)
16gb ram
dvd writer
AMD Radeon 7970m super fast gaming laptop (scores 6300 in 3dmark 2011)
1600x900 screen
500gb Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid SSD/7200rom Drive
Killer NIC
and expecting to much as in tv smooth playback.Spec
3610 sandybridge cpu - (3.3ghz turbo boost)
16gb ram
dvd writer
AMD Radeon 7970m super fast gaming laptop (scores 6300 in 3dmark 2011)
1600x900 screen
500gb Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid SSD/7200rom Drive
Killer NIC