Some video playback quirkiness with new WMC box

[JonDeutsch]

I just built a new HTPC that relies on an on-board Intel HD3000 GPU.  Everything else is pretty highly spec’d out (Core i5, 8GB, SSD Boot, etc.).

I was under the impression that the HD3000 would be sufficient for video playback and DVR activity.  Generally, this is quite true.  But I’m experiencing two very odd problems that I wonder are related to the GPU or something else in my setup:

1. When I resume from pause (or after a 7 second skip), my video hiccups when trying to get started playing back.  It instantly gives me a few frames… then freezes for about 2 seconds, and then it skips many frames and then continues just fine and smooth.   The entire time, the audio is playing back fine.  This happens 99% of the time upon play and/or skip forward activity.  I experience no other video wackiness.
2. When playing back MP4 video podcasts (most seem to be at 24fps) I get judder/stutter when I see any kind of horizontal movement.   This seems to also be noticeable on DVR/TV content that is at 24fps.  But it seems more pronounced somehow with these MP4 video podcasts.

Now, I’ve always had the 24fps issue — even on my old HTPC with a dedicated video card.  But the first item I’ve not really seen before.  It’s pretty annoying because it happens all the time.

FYI – I’ve disabled UAC to enable the so-called 24fps features of the HD3000. 

Any info appreciated!

Thx.
Jon

 

[NightCactus]

My HTPC has nearly the same specs as yours, except no SSD. There is a slight lag when changing channels and sometimes a split second hiccup when resuming from pause, but I have seen the same characteristics from more powerful video cards than the Intel HD Graphics 3000. Do you use a dedicated drive for DVR recordings and TV buffer, and is virus scanning disabled for that drive? (that is how mine is configured).

1. When playing back video are you using a codec pack? I’ve been using Shark007 and noticed that the Intel HD Graphics 3000 performs very poorly with cetain settings (i.e. blotchy/blocky video, stuttering). After finding the best settings, everything is buttery smooth and the sound is perfectly synched. (I play back mostly 720p/1080p MKVs at 24p)

2. Are you connected to an AVR? Some AVRs like Onkyo do video processing such as film detection – you might try different settings or change to a “direct” or “through” setting. Same goes for your TV. Some TV manufacturers call it Cinemotion, Motion Enhancer, etc…  Try different settings or turning them off. Finally, in Windows Media Center’s TV Setup, you might check the refresh rate setting. On my TV, 1920×1080/59.94 Hz seems to provide smooth motion for nearly everything.

[JonDeutsch]

Hi NightCactus,

Thanks for the reply.  (BTW, form masters… I did not get an email notification that there was a response!).

I have recently installed a codec pack to play back my MKVs.   I use Shark007 codecs as well (32 and 64 bit both installed).   I had a lot of problems initially with getting my DTS to play back with MKVs as well as DVR content.  But when I finally clicked on the checkbox at the bottom for Shark007 suggested settings, most things seemed to start working.  I play very little MKVs, so I haven’t focused much on them.  But in my brief tests, I saw no significant video playback problems.

Do you think the 24fps stuff can be resolved via Shark007?  I wasn’t aware that it would/could actually affect ‘traditional” DVR content, etc.  (I suppose I should have guessed that it could based on the fact that, poorly configured, I lost my DTS/DD playback).

I am going HDMI directly to my Sony SXRD TV.  I do have a pre/pro processing the audio, but not the video, as it has no HDMI switching built in (it’s “old”).

I have also checked the WMC settings and I am at the proper refresh rate and resolution… good idea though!

So… do you think my hiccups with DVR are based on Shark007 settings?  Is that possible?  There is just something funny with WMC coming out of pause and recovering from a 7 second jump forward (going backward seems to be A-OK). 

And the 24fps thing… you have Shark007 totally fixing that?  What are your settings?

Thanks!

Jon

[mikinho]

For 24p playback, you no longer need to disable UAC.  See 24p Works on Intel Sandy Bridge With UAC Enabled.  Make sure you apply the BIOS properly.

Did you change the MP4 decoder?

[JonDeutsch]

[quote=mikinho]

For 24p playback, you no longer need to disable UAC.  See 24p Works on Intel Sandy Bridge With UAC Enabled.  Make sure you apply the BIOS properly.

Did you change the MP4 decoder?

[/quote]

 

That’s good news.  I might do that, but since I’m OK without UAC enabled, do I still need to update the BIOS to get better 24p support?  Or am I OK as-is right now with an older bios (from 3/1/11)?

Did I change the MP4 decoder… um, I’m not sure.  I would have presumed that Shark007 might have done something, but I’m not a codec expert.   The MP4s (CNET VideoPodcasts, etc.) always looked choppy before and after I installed Shark007 codecs, so I’m guessing this is the default media player codecs in action.

Does this make sense?

Thx.
Jon

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