Windows 7 64 bit pixelation

[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.

[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.

[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

[renjida]

Same problem here, it's terribly annoying and the basic theme is slowing down my PC.

[cyanide7]

same problem here

[VLC_help]

It is driver issue.

[Jimmy McNulty]

Any way that Nvidia can be contacted about this?

[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

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Known issue. We don't know what happens there...

[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.

[konstantinX]

delete the file libdirect3d_plugin.dll - quality is now ok but Windows works in the "Basic" schema.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

No, don't do this. This is wrong and stupid.

Set video output to DirectX in preferences.

[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

[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.

[VLC_help]

It isn't OpenGL issue. Default output module under Windows 7 is Direct3D. Pixelation is driver issue as said before.

[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...

[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).

[Zane]

Thank you. Let's hope we can get an updated driver soos, then!

[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 take look on kmplayer - it supports everything what vlc and there is EVR renderer support.

[Zane]

As a temporary fix, switch to OpenGL: on my PC, it renders the video pretty good, without killing Aero.

[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

[Zane]

I agree. But try it won't hurt either

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Blabla, VLC on Vista works fine and no pixelisation.

[lordmarv]

Blabla, VLC on Vista works fine and no pixelisation.

lol j-b is funny guy

[VLC_help]

so EVR support is needed

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.