Video stutter on DVB-T on Win7 Hauppauge HVR4400 & ATI Video card

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27 posts

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#524553 22-Sep-2011 12:13

Hi mm1352000,

Thanks for the reply and your advice. I did give the 11.9RC drivers a shot and the problem seems to be the same (and also the same across the previous three driver sets as well: 11.6b, 11.7 and 11.8).

I built this PC for freeview HD recording and media center use and the A8-3850 seemed like a perfect solution for this, its hard to know how long it may take for ATI to resolve this problem through driver updates.

If anyone has any tips/hints in the meantime to get h264 videos playing smoothly from with media center 64-bit, please let me know. I'll try anything... well, almost anything.

Thanks again! :)

mm1352000

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#524562 22-Sep-2011 12:23

Regarding MC and codecs: I could be off track here, but my understanding is that 64 bit W7 has 2 versions of MC - a 32 bit and a 64 bit version. You need 32 bit codecs for 32 bit software and 64 bit for 64 bit software. Now is there any reason why you couldn't set up the codec merits on your machine in such a way that a different codec is used by MC? If you lack a 64 bit codec then you can try the 64 bit version of FFDShow (which doesn't support DxVA).

DISCLAIMER: I've only used MC for a sum total of about 1 hour and I hated it. What I've suggested may not be possible - I'm just trying to help.

AllenG

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#524574 22-Sep-2011 12:46

Media centre 64 bit uses the 64 bit version of media player. you cannot substitute any other codec for the microsoft foundation tv/dvd codec. Disabling the foundation codec breaks media centre 64 bit tv viewing. End of story 8^) I think there is a registry/driver hack on hack7mc or similar to use powerdvd9 codec but it wont work with 64 bit. Allen.

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Pinky83

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#524579 22-Sep-2011 12:55

Hi mm1352000,

Thanks for more suggestions.

I have done a bit of research and from what I gather with Windows 64-bit it does contain both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Media Player, but only a 64-bit version of Media Center which runs 64-bit codecs and also it seems that the Microsoft Live TV codec is unable to be changed in the 64-bit version, sadly :(

With regards to Media Center, it seems to be a bit of a love/hate scenario for most people. I really like it as I have had a 7mc system running for a few years really well and for live tv (especially with xbox 360s as extenders) it seems the best solution.

I will definitely have a play around with FFDShow and will let you know how i get on.

Thanks for all your help, it is much appreciated! :)

AllenG

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#524731 22-Sep-2011 19:07

My MC TV seem pretty good now. Occasional minor pixelation when I take the focus off media centre IE Windows Tab to another app on the monitor and leave MC on the TV.

Biggest improvement came from removing the ATI and putting in the Nvidia graphics card. May be imagination, but motherboard BIOS and driver update may have helped as well.

If you have an ATI card and can beg borrow or steal an Nvidia card, try it.

Good Luck. Allen.

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#524765 22-Sep-2011 20:26

Pinky83: If anyone has any tips/hints in the meantime to get h264 videos playing smoothly from with media center 64-bit, please let me know. I'll try anything... well, almost anything.

Simple solution is to buy a nvidia card. I'd imagine you could pick up a 8400 card for cheap as chips these days.

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AllenG

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#524781 22-Sep-2011 21:24

Some General FYI for anyone considering trying an Nvidia card to fix 7mc TV issues:

Providing you have enough slots and power, an ATI and Nvidia card should co-exist quite happily. They did for me.
If you have a high-end ATI card for gaming etc, instead of replacing it with a high end Nvidia, you could add a secondhand or entry level Nvidia card.

Before I had to rebuild my Win7 64bit PC, (HDD failing), I had an Asus HD5770 card an an Nvidia GT220 both in the PC with V11.8 Catalyst and Nvidia Control centre both installed. I could swap media centre between video cards at will. The stutter/pixelation when skipping through recordings or changing channels was like night and day. Nvidia was near perfect. I now have a single nvidia GTX260. The ATI card has been removed for now.

Pinky83.

64 bit media centre/media player appears to be hard coded or otherwise forced to use the 64 bit Microsoft Foundation TV/DVD codec for H.264 TV. FFD show won't work. I have previously tried various codecs etc including FFDshow with the shark007 64bit codec pack. One of the configuration options is to disable the microsoft TV/DVD codec with the warning that it will break live TV. It does.

Beg or borrow an nvidia card to try. Odds are it'll fix the bulk of your issues.

Regards Allen.

Pinky83

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#524798 22-Sep-2011 22:05

Hi AllenG,

Thanks for your response. The idea of two different graphic cards co-existing makes me very curious... I have a couple of questions I hope you may be able to help with them:

1. Currently I have two screens connected to the Ati 6550D (Dell ultrasharp through DVI for desktop use and Plasma TV on HDMI for movies and tv). Would it be possible to have the Dell with DVI connected to the 6550 ATI and then the plasma connected to the Nvidia card through HDMI and view media center through that?

2. If that is not possible then when changing between graphic cards for media center do cables have to be swapped over also or can HDMI outputs be assigned for different graphic cards?

Sorry, I hope that makes sense. Thanks for everyone for suggestions. :)

AllenG

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#524848 23-Sep-2011 05:25

Pinky83: Hi AllenG,

Thanks for your response. The idea of two different graphic cards co-existing makes me very curious... I have a couple of questions I hope you may be able to help with them:

1. Currently I have two screens connected to the Ati 6550D (Dell ultrasharp through DVI for desktop use and Plasma TV on HDMI for movies and tv). Would it be possible to have the Dell with DVI connected to the 6550 ATI and then the plasma connected to the Nvidia card through HDMI and view media center through that?

Yes. Windows, catalyst and the Nvidia control panel will automatically detect the attached monitor and TV on whichever cards they are plugged into when you start windows. Monitor on one and TV on other is fine. If windows doesn't do it for you, just extend the desktop to the second monitor as you have always done.

Regards Allen.

Pinky83

27 posts

Geek

#524877 23-Sep-2011 08:42

Hi AllenG,

Okay, this almost sounds perfect and thanks for the helpful information. I have one last question regarding two simultaneous graphic cards (ATI and Nvidia):

OK, The Dell through DVI would always be for desktop use... The Plasma would be connected via HDMI, but I would like to use the Nvidia graphics for smooth Freeview HD and DVDs etc through Media Center, but would then also like to use the ATI graphics for when watching Blu-ray movies through PowerDVD9, again all through the Plasma.

Is this in anyway possible without having to switch the HDMI cable physically from the Nvidia card to the ATI? The GIGABYTE board I have does not support hot-swapping of display cables :(

Thanks everyone, hope you all have a nice weekend planned! :)

Nety

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#524958 23-Sep-2011 11:22

Why watch bluray's using the ATI? I would be surprised if you can see any difference between the two cards unless you have your nose a couple of inches way from the screen at which point you are not really watching the movie...

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Pinky83

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#524965 23-Sep-2011 11:38

Hi Nety,

Thanks for your comment. It is just that i'm am trying to get the best out of what i have. From what i gather (my little google research) tells me that hands down nvidia is a more stable option for Freeview HD, but that generally ATI cards play Blu-rays back better at their native framerate. I certainly could be wrong with all of this though.

Currently with ATI 6550D and media center it works ok for freeview HD. Basically, after the first few seconds of artefacts (and occasionally after 40 -60secs from start there is another stutter), but then generally it plays fine. But nevertheless it is a nuisance especially if scrolling through channels.

I am just a little hesitant to purchase another graphics card to have Freeview HD perfect but then it may be less polished in other areas (Blu-ray etc), plus there are the other possible glitches etc that it could introduce that you can't predict/foresee until it is installed and a lil' bit more heat/space taken up etc.

I think at this point I may just bite my nails and wait with anticipation for an ATI release that will work much better with Freeview HD (H264). The system I have built is very tidy and cool running and it would seem such a shame to have to add in another graphic card. Basically if I had started this over I probably would have gone i3 and seperate nvidia card, but hindsight is a beauty.

I am really grateful for all the help and suggestions that any of you have provided. If I have anhy other questions I will not hesitate to ask, hopefully I may be able to help someone in the future too!

Thanks :)

sbiddle

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#524996 23-Sep-2011 12:32

Pinky83:
I think at this point I may just bite my nails and wait with anticipation for an ATI release that will work much better with Freeview HD (H264). The system I have built is very tidy and cool running and it would seem such a shame to have to add in another graphic card. Basically if I had started this over I probably would have gone i3 and seperate nvidia card, but hindsight is a beauty.

ATI haven't been able to fix the problems since they were first reported by a number of people (incl myself) in December 2007 when they first started H.264 trials. I'm not sure it's a problem they'll ever solve, despite their GFX cards and chipsets being superior in a lot of ways.

Nety

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#525058 23-Sep-2011 15:00

+1 you could be waiting a very long time.

I guess my point would be try bluray on the Nvidia and then decide if it is worth switching between cards. I have used both and personally could not see any difference between the two for blurays.

Pinky83

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#525061 23-Sep-2011 15:03

Hi Everyone!

I'm back.... after many hours watching i have concluded that even when the video is playing smooth it still looks very bad with my ATI graphics (jaggies, blurred, dull, washed-out etc) :(

I think I will have to take the plunge and purchase an nvidia card. What do you lot think is the absolute best nvidia card for:

1. Low heat and preferably passive
2. Can Bitstream HD audio and is 3D Blu-ray capable
3. Best video performance for NZ freeview through Media Center & for Blu-rays through PowerDVD9
4. Is capable of dual screen output at 1920 x 1080p (although I would only ever be viewing Blu-rays etc on the one screen and the other for desktop)
5. Is under $100 (hopefully)

Awesome, thanks guys!

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