Video Stream Lag / Stutter - Flash Player Issue or GPU?

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W4RCH1EF

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 217757 11-Jul-2017 09:56

Hi there,

First off, forgive me for posting a NEON / Lightbox issue here. I understand they have their own forum directories, however this does cover off on all of them.

I am trying to stream content using various streaming services, however I am only having issues with NEON and Lightbox. Streaming using youtube (I have tested 4k video) and Netflix seem to run perfectly smooth. Whenever attempting to stream a video on NEON or Lightbox, the video Lags and stutters and renders the video unwatchable.

As this is literally a new laptop (3 days old), I have updated the GPU drivers to the latest version, installed the latest flash player and obviously installed the latest browsers; I primarily use Firefox, however have tried Chrome for fault finding purposes.

Now I believe youtube runs off HTML5 video, and netlfix is similar, however I believe NEON and Lightbox utilise Flash player. This makes me wonder if there is an issue with flash and potentially a conflict with AMD drivers (excuse my ignorance, I have only had Intel CPUs and GPUs and have not experienced this issue until switching to AMD).

I have attempted to suss out the AMD GPU settings, and try switching the GPU to the dedicated card, however browsers seem to be locked to the integrated GPU.

My partner's older laptop can run these streaming services fine.

Please see my laptop specs below:

HP 15.6" Pavilion Blue Laptop: 15-CD012AX

Processor: AMD Dual-Core A9-9420 APU (3 GHz base frequency, up to 3.6 GHz burst frequency, 1 MB cache) 25W TDP

Memory: 16GB DDR4-1866 SDRAM (2 x 8 GB)

Disk Drive: 256GB M.2 SSD

Display: 15.6" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080)

Connections/Ports: 1 multi-format SD media card reader, 1 USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 (Data up to 5Gb/s), 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data Transfer Only), 1 HDMI, 1 RJ-45, 1 headphone/microphone combo

Software: Windows 10

Graphics: 2GB AMD Radeon RX530 (linked) and 512MB AMD Radeon R5 (primary)

smalltrader

136 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 55

Reply # 1819459 11-Jul-2017 11:16

OP,

What browser are you using? It is worth trying a different browser to see if the problem still persists. I have found switching browser sometimes fix strange video issue. Chrome, FireFox and Microsoft Edge are the "main stream" browser to try.

djtOtago

319 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 1819494 11-Jul-2017 11:33

Lightbox should also be HTML 5 based video player. At least it is for me when viewing Lightbox using chrome.

I general fined any Flash based video service these days can be a bit hit and miss on whether they work smoothly or not on different computers. Can work fine on one computer and not on another, even if they are similar spec machines. I've never tried to problem solve why, all the streaming service I use today I watch via chromcast.

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farcus

966 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 90

Reply # 1819514 11-Jul-2017 12:19

djtOtago:

Lightbox should also be HTML 5 based video player. At least it is for me when viewing Lightbox using chrome.

I think lightbox's html player only works in Chrome (otherwise it uses silverlight) - so for the OP - try disabling silverlight in Chrome and then test lightbox.
Personally I don't even have flash installed any more - content providers should't be using flash players.

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1819521 11-Jul-2017 12:26

farcus:
Personally I don't even have flash installed any more - content providers should't be using flash players.

No, they shouldn't. But half of the things I want to watch are Flash only. What do you do then? How do you get these doofus sites to modernise?

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farcus

966 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 90

Reply # 1819523 11-Jul-2017 12:32

Rikkitic:

farcus:
Personally I don't even have flash installed any more - content providers should't be using flash players.

No, they shouldn't. But half of the things I want to watch are Flash only. What do you do then? How do you get these doofus sites to modernise?

almost every site I have visited that still uses flash has a backup player (usually jw player)

W4RCH1EF

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1819524 11-Jul-2017 12:32

@smalltrader
I use Firefox, but tried Chrome also as that's what my partner uses and works for her. I have since tried MS Edge and would say that performs the worse out of the 3.

@djtOtago
I predominantly use my smart TV Netflix and YouTube apps to watch all my content. However because LG smart TVs don't support flash and don't support Neon apps, I have since turned to Neon on laptop so I can rewatch GOT. Playing local video files works fine.

For a new laptop with those specs, this issue just baffles me. Hardware? Software? CPU or GPU?

I have noticed that my CPU maxes out at 100% when playing Neon content; is this normal (does the jump in CPU just identify that any vacant resources are just pooring into streaming the content smoothly as expected?

Is anyone familiar with AMD Switchable Graphics? I would like to try assigning the browser to the more powerful dedicated 2GB GPU however it appears that browsers are locked to low performance battery saving setting assigned to the integrated GPU. Is there a way to unlock it and switch it?

W4RCH1EF

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1819528 11-Jul-2017 12:35

farcus:
djtOtago:

Lightbox should also be HTML 5 based video player. At least it is for me when viewing Lightbox using chrome.

I think lightbox's html player only works in Chrome (otherwise it uses silverlight) - so for the OP - try disabling silverlight in Chrome and then test lightbox.
Personally I don't even have flash installed any more - content providers should't be using flash players.

Thanks, I will try disabling silverlight tonight and will post results.

Definitely open to any more ideas people!

SepticSceptic

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Reply # 1819565 11-Jul-2017 13:44

One person supports this post

I would recommend trying Internet Explorer - I watch skygo, which is flash-based, via web browser, and it just chokes when using Firefox. Chrome is marginally better, but IE seems to handle it the best.

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Batman

Mad Scientist
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Reply # 1819575 11-Jul-2017 13:56

One person supports this post

In the past, Chrome works with everything.

Nowadays, I have spent many hours doing things over and over on Chrome to find the websites don't work, only to use IE and it just works.

Try all browsers!

I don't know about your GPU sorry, but yes GPU matters.

richms

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Reply # 1819576 11-Jul-2017 13:58

One person supports this post

+1 for IE. Back when twitch was flash, it was theonly way I could watch streams without massive judder and lag. Not sure why firefox and chrome had such gimped flash performance, but IE worked great for it. Also youtube on a second monitor was always better in IE than sharing the same firefox I was browsing with on the other one.

Richard rich.ms

W4RCH1EF

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1819712 11-Jul-2017 17:25

So.....Internet Explorer works flawlessly...scratching my head here. I didn't even realise IE was still around, i thought it was superseded by MS Edge.

I attempted to disable silverlight on Firefox and Chrome but it appears they don't event support and therefore use silverlight these days. I even tried to disable it on IE however it looks like its not installed so i don't think that was the issue anyway.

Ultimately I would like either firefox or chrome to work the way its intended...any ideas as to why IE works but firefox, chrome and ms edge do not?