Choppy video playback

[Ryououki]

Ok, I see alot of people having choppy video playback. My problem is that when the video is playing back in VLC, the screen looks like the video is not refreshing fast enough on the display. Kinda like a sync issue when playing a video game when you turn off vertical sync.

It makes it look like the video is drawing on the screen with slight delays in areas of the screen where there is alot of motion.

I do not have this problem when using Windows Media Player using the Koepi XViD codec when playing back XViD and DiVX files. WMP also has no problems with DVDs or any other video types.

Something else I noticed. If I playback a video using Windows Media Player even for only 3 seconds and then close Windows Media Player and open a video in VLC within 15 seconds, I do not have the sync/delay problems. It's almost like VLC is using the previous codec, if it is loaded shortly after using the codec in WMP. However, is this possible since VLC doesn't use external codecs?

The choppy video playback happens whenever playing any type of video in VLC. XViD, DiVX, DVD, SVCD, and VCD.

I am running VLC 0.8.5 and also tried VLC 0.8.2, both having the same issue.

I have tried disabling Skip Frame.

My system specs:

Dell m1710 laptop
- Dual Core T2600 2.16Ghz CPU
- 1GB DDR2-677Mhz RAM
- GeForce 7900GTX 512MB PCI-Express video card
- Running Nvidia 84.69 drivers (Also tested with 91.31 drivers)
- WUXGA+ 17" LCD screen at 1920x1200 resolution
- Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Also, since I have no issues running WMP, even when running 1080p video content, it's not the refresh/delay rate of the LCD screen causing an issue.

Please help. Thank you!

[Guest]

Try to disable overlay video output

if it doesn't help try changing video output module to Windows GDI

[Ryououki]

Ok, tried both Disabling Overlay Video Output and setting Video output module to Windows GDI video output, and also tried each one individually and still have same problem.

Also, this problem occurs while the video is running in the VLC window or fullscreen.

While experimenting, I found another odd behavior. I figured I'd try taking a snapshot of the video using VLC's built in image capture snapshot tool. The snapshots all come out fine and do not show the video problem I am encountering. However, I noticed that after taking the snapshot if I hit the Stop button and then have it play the video again by pressing the play button, the video problem is now gone. If I take the snapshot but do not stop the video, it continues to have the video problem.

[Guest]

Ok, tried both Disabling Overlay Video Output and setting Video output module to Windows GDI video output, and also tried each one individually and still have same problem.

The video overlay switch only works with directx! These are tests to point out the problem. Shutting down directx uses another video output module, in this case Windows GDI output. This generally establishes that the problem is directx or the way directx communicates with your video drivers.

When you try to play a commercial DVD what does your task manager say the CPU usage is with and without directx? I have a good reason for asking and the explanation would be longer than the test.

Also, this problem occurs while the video is running in the VLC window or fullscreen.

I would be rather surprised if it were different, as this would point to your video card.

While experimenting, I found another odd behavior. I figured I'd try taking a snapshot of the video using VLC's built in image capture snapshot tool. The snapshots all come out fine and do not show the video problem I am encountering. However, I noticed that after taking the snapshot if I hit the Stop button and then have it play the video again by pressing the play button, the video problem is now gone. If I take the snapshot but do not stop the video, it continues to have the video problem.

I agree this is odd behavior and generally like your running WMP and then VLC no problem. Shutting off the video overlay has resolved the issue for many users, but please understand that this resolve again points to your video cards drivers.

In VLC when you press stop, releases all of the libraries and directx or whatever vout you are using. when you press play again everything is reloaded. Taking a snapshot in the interim should have no bearing on the issue. But VLC does use a cache. Try shutting off this cache in preferences --> advanced untick the box marked "Use a plugins cache".

You could also try separately "Minimize number of threads" and "Increase the priority of the process" if there are allot of background process running and CPU usage is is high without VLC running. These can be found in the same place in preferences. One user came back and stated DVDs were much smother for him with "Minimize number of threads" but this makes no difference on my machine and may not on yours.

The skip frames option in preferences video was intended for older video cards but does effect some newer video cards adversely, so I would leave this off. Don't forget to press Save and close the player when making changes in preferences. The next time you open the player the changes will take effect.

Please answer the question asked earlier and tell us what worked or didn't work for you.

[Ryououki]

The video overlay switch only works with directx! These are tests to point out the problem. Shutting down directx uses another video output module, in this case Windows GDI output. This generally establishes that the problem is directx or the way directx communicates with your video drivers.

Already told you I did each one individually, this proves that the DirectX is NOT the problem. Also, in my first post I showed that I have used 2 generations of drivers to verify it's not a driver issue. Also, my desktop computer is not having an issue with VLC using the same driver I am currently using on the laptop.

When you try to play a commercial DVD what does your task manager say the CPU usage is with and without directx? I have a good reason for asking and the explanation would be longer than the test.

Obviously you are checking to see if the DirectX components are working correctly. And as the results below show, they are.

Playing a DVD movie for 1 minute in VLC with DirectX output module was showing a range of 2 to 11% CPU usage on VLC, and total system CPU usage was between 2% to 14% CPU usage during the time of playback.

Playing the same 1 minute section of the same DVD in VLC with video set to Windows GDI output module was showing a range of 10% to 19% CPU usage, and total system CPU usage was between 11% and 23% during the time of playback.

I would be rather surprised if it were different, as this would point to your video card.

Already know that, that is why I pointed it out to not get statements blaming the video card.

I agree this is odd behavior and generally like your running WMP and then VLC no problem. Shutting off the video overlay has resolved the issue for many users, but please understand that this resolve again points to your video cards drivers.

And as stated, it is not the drivers, again as stated in first message, testing was done under series 84 and series 91 drivers. And not having issues with identical 84 series drivers on desktop. And also as stated, shutting off the overlay did not resolve the issue either.

In VLC when you press stop, releases all of the libraries and directx or whatever vout you are using. when you press play again everything is reloaded. Taking a snapshot in the interim should have no bearing on the issue. But VLC does use a cache. Try shutting off this cache in preferences --> advanced untick the box marked "Use a plugins cache".

Did that and still having same problem. And just like before, if I take a snapshot, stop video, restart video, problem is gone.

You could also try separately "Minimize number of threads" and "Increase the priority of the process" if there are allot of background process running and CPU usage is is high without VLC running. These can be found in the same place in preferences. One user came back and stated DVDs were much smother for him with "Minimize number of threads" but this makes no difference on my machine and may not on yours.

Tried enabling Minimize Number of Threads. Same problem.

Tried enabling Increase the Priority of Process. Same problem. This would obviously do nothing since my CPU usage is low during idle and the processor is way faster than VLC would ever need.

The skip frames option in preferences video was intended for older video cards but does effect some newer video cards adversely, so I would leave this off. Don't forget to press Save and close the player when making changes in preferences. The next time you open the player the changes will take effect.

It's been left off since the beginning. I have no reason to skip frames as the system has no reason to be slow enough to need it.

Also, I always Save changes then exit VLC, then reload VLC after each change.

[Guest]

Well you have managed to beat the odds and are truly unique. About the only thing that hasn't been mentioned here is sound card drivers. Now I know the problem is not audio so please don't get smart here. Digital video is follow audio for sync, this means that the sound card may not be controlling the video properly or the video is not allowing proper control. Either one will end up as video problems.

Another area that looks odd to me is your CPU usage. VLC using DirectX has no CPU usage except when loading and unloading or you making changes to what's going on. This is of coarse assuming that the Messages file is quiet as it should be with a commercial DVD. The Video card handles the video completely, unlike many other players. This leads me to two possible conclusions:

1. The drivers are still not correct. Or more likely the the PCIe to CPU bridge driver is not correct or has never been installed. You should check with the manufacture on this.

2. The sound card is not controlling the video properly. This could be the sound card drivers or 1 above.

It may be worth looking at Messages during playback of a DVD and be sure that the buffers (either audio and or video) are not constantly being reset.

The last thing I can think of is that Microsoft is constantly updating directx the last runtime was 6/9/06, but I really don't believe this is the problem. But if you still are having problems after looking at and trying the things mentioned here it would be worth a shot.

[Ryououki]

I appreciate all your attempts. It is disappointing that I can't use VLC the way it should work right out of the box, but that's life.

The PCIe bridge driver is definetely installed. As are all chipset drivers.

Here is an image of the all devices from device manager listed out :



Highly unlikely the sound card driver is causing an issue or it would be expected that WMP would encounter similar issues. Also tried removing the check from Enale Audio in VLC to be sure. Same problem.

I will run a test of allowing a DVD movie to play later on and see what the Messages Window gives back.

Thanks again.

[RippingFlesh]

MAN! I got the same problem as you! Though my computer specs are a bit different. My video card is an NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT and I recently updated the drivers, but still have the same problem. MPC is working all fine, I just can't find a solution with VLC.

[RippingFlesh]

By the way, I also wanted to say that I've performed the same tests as Ryououki. I tried different file formats, changed some options and got the same results. However, it appears that the problem only occurs in fullscreen mode for me, but this has to be confirmed since I've only carried on tests in fullscreen mode (only scamped some tests in normal screen mode).

[Guest]

Try checking out ReClock on the web. This is for information and not an endorsement of the program. The program is very difficult to get it to work with VLC.

I believe you will find that these problems are hardware or driver related. For me in trying to check stability and jitter, I finally found drivers that were more stable but I do remember struggling and changed the DirectX runtime at near same time. Dshow players were better but during periods of high motion or slow horizontal pans were still annoying.

Another thing I have noticed is the users that have AMD processors with nVidia video cards seem to experience the most problems in this area. I can't even begin to imagine why? Or is the problem really clock stability and the fact that computers in general do not use PLLs to Phase Lock Loop the clocks so the drift appears as jitter and the stability is questionably stable on some systems. This is refreshed every time DirectX is loaded and unloaded.

[Guest]

This is another guest and just wanted to say that I have a similarly powered notebook and have been having the same problems. Ryououki if you find a solution please post it here. Thanks.

[Guest]

I am the guest who has poasted most recently and I have fixed my problem. It was video drivers related. I got this solution from the laptopvideo2go.com forum

1. Go to display properties --> Settings tab
2. Click on advanced`and go to the GeForce FX tab
3. On that side bar that pops up, go to the video overlay settings
4. At the bottom you'll see the Enable VMR box, you know what to do!

[Guest]

...and incase you don't know what to do, disable the VMR

[Guest]

Out of curiosity, what does nVida define as being the usage of "VMR" and what does the abbreviation stand for?