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Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 08 May 2009 00:04
by Jimmy McNulty
Since installing Windows 7 RC1 I've been experiencing pixelation issues in VLC. It appears that the filtering that goes on normally, smoothing the image (which was fine in XP) is disabled in Windows 7. Not only this but frames are dropped frequently, and sometimes even sound breaks for a moment. I've searched the forums and seen other posters with these issues but I haven't found a solution that worked. I tried setting output to direct x and disabling overlay (was disabled by default in VLC anyway) to no effect (other than to disable Aero effects when I started a video).

These are possible relevant system specs

CPU : Q6600
GPU : Nvidia 8800 GT 512MB (Vista 64 bit, 185.81 drivers)
OS : Windows 7 RC1 64-bit
Sound Card : Asus Xonar DX (Vista 64 bit drivers)

In VLC I've tried different outputs, including Direct X, Open GL (shows strange issues) and Default. Overlay mode on or off seems to have no effect.

Edit : Just realised I have the Windows 7 64 bit drivers installed.. not the Vista 64 bit ones. I think I remember seeing a topic saying the Vista drivers work better for video playback, so I'll try that now.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 08 May 2009 01:04
by Jimmy McNulty
Ok an update, I've installed the Vista 64bit drivers in place and tried setting video output to DirectX again, with video overlay on and off. The pixelation was resolved when I had overlay and DirectX output, but it killed Aero, and the video didn't always appear on screen... its a step in the right direction though.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 08 May 2009 18:13
by Xugor
Hi, I have exactly the same problem with the pixelation, any solutions yet??

It works fine with with DirectX output, but I don't wanna kill aero everytime I watch a movie :(

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 09 May 2009 13:03
by renjida
Same problem here, it's terribly annoying and the basic theme is slowing down my PC.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 09 May 2009 14:29
by cyanide7
same problem here :|

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 09 May 2009 17:16
by VLC_help
It is driver issue.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 10 May 2009 16:36
by Jimmy McNulty
Any way that Nvidia can be contacted about this?

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 10 May 2009 17:02
by schnorginator
I,too, have the exact same problem - pixelation and sound breaks - but on Windows Vista, 32 bit.

I have the Aero stuff disabled.
One more sidenote: when the fullscreen controls are displayed, the sound drops do not occur! Otherwise, you can count on them every five seconds.

I have WHQL certified nVidia driver from the 182 series installed (with a custom .inf, because my videocard is not supported).

Well, what can be done? :( I can try recerting to drivers from the 180 range which worked fine with Windows XP

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 May 2009 02:06
by Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Known issue. We don't know what happens there...

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 May 2009 17:29
by VLC_help
Any way that Nvidia can be contacted about this?
I haven't ever got any response from ATI or NVIDIA driver team. If you part of NVIDIA devel program, then you can do bug reports.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 12 May 2009 14:03
by konstantinX
delete the file libdirect3d_plugin.dll - quality is now ok but Windows works in the "Basic" schema.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 12 May 2009 14:05
by Jean-Baptiste Kempf
No, don't do this. This is wrong and stupid.

Set video output to DirectX in preferences.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 01 Jun 2009 11:00
by Zane
Same problem here. Switching to DirectX worked with ATI HD 4850, but then VLC kills Aero every time I open a movie.

VLC 1.0-rc2

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 01 Jun 2009 19:35
by compunett
I'm a bit late, but XBMC users seems to have problems too. For their software which uses SDL, it seems related to the fact that MS default drivers implements only the version 1.1 of OpenGL, which is too outdated for SDL. Maybe VLC is affected somehow by an outdated version too, especially if it is a Windows 7 x64.

Well that was just my 2 coins.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 02 Jun 2009 16:27
by VLC_help
It isn't OpenGL issue. Default output module under Windows 7 is Direct3D. Pixelation is driver issue as said before.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 03 Jun 2009 09:56
by Zane
Pixelation is driver issue as said before.
Uhmm, could you please explain this better? I'm using an ATI HD 4850 with Catalyst 9.5 (latest at the time). Catalyst is a pretty solid driver set, and it's been on develop since Vista...

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 03 Jun 2009 17:56
by VLC_help
Uhmm, could you please explain this better?
NVIDIA and ATI at least have messed the Windows 7 drivers. Some Windows Vista drivers should work correctly under Windows 7. VLC isn't only application that shows the issue. IIRC Media Player Classic and BSplayer should also display same issues with certain video output modules (EVR works OK).

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 04 Jun 2009 10:06
by Zane
Thank you. Let's hope we can get an updated driver soos, then!

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:04
by lordmarv
I have this problems on vista too (Intel GMA4500). Its because VLC doesnt support EVR renderer - which is default in Windows Media Player & so (VLC uses DX, opengl,... good for xp.)

so EVR support is needed :D take look on kmplayer - it supports everything what vlc and there is EVR renderer support.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:12
by Zane
As a temporary fix, switch to OpenGL: on my PC, it renders the video pretty good, without killing Aero.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:13
by lordmarv
As a temporary fix, switch to OpenGL: on my PC, it renders the video pretty good, without killing Aero.
OpenGL won't help everybody

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:18
by Zane
I agree. But try it won't hurt either :wink:

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 12:19
by Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Blabla, VLC on Vista works fine and no pixelisation.

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 13:03
by lordmarv
Blabla, VLC on Vista works fine and no pixelisation.
lol j-b is funny guy :D

Re: Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 15:05
by VLC_help
so EVR support is needed :D

Nope. Driver devs must fix their drivers.
take look on kmplayer - it supports everything what vlc and there is EVR renderer support.
VLC isn't DirectShow player, so EVR support isn't going to get in.