HD Stutter Nvidia PureVideo DXVA ...Solution found (I was loosing my mind…)

Last post 01-18-2009 11:32 AM by scrambler. 5 replies.

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01-03-2009 4:50 PM

scrambler
Joined on 01-28-2007

HD Stutter Nvidia PureVideo DXVA ...Solution found (I was loosing my mind…)

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I have an XP MCE on a core2duo 6700 and a 7900GTX with an Nvidia DualTV tuner, and recently added an HDHomerun Tuner.

I installed the HDHR a couple of days ago and everything was fine, I can watch live HD, record it, play it back everything was working.

Then suddenly yesterday, I got a choppy playback on recorded HD files (it would play fine for a while then one jump, then fine for a wile then a jump…) To check if the recording was bad, I opened the file on my primary monitor with WMP11 and it played fine and smooth (so the recording is fine). So I moved WMP11 on the TV, and I found out that the video would not play on the second monitor (TV). I would hear the sound, but black image. I then tried various Video files, and found out that only the video of Mpeg2 files (the ones decoded by the Nvidia purevideo decoder) do not play in WMP11 on the second monitor (TV). I know for a fact that this used to work fine before.

So something has happened that prevents the video of mpeg2 file / purevideo decoded files to play on the second monitor in WMP11, and causes the hidef files to play choppy inside Media Center (on the TV).

I tried doing a restore a few days back, then de-installing and reinstalling the Nvidia purevideo decoder, then tried to remove and reinstall the Graphics card driver, but I cannot fix the problem.

From the little I know it looks like an Overlay problem, but ONLY with Purevideo. Does anyone has a clue of what could be interfering with Nvidia PureVideo decoder that prevents file to play on the second monitor in WMP11 and deteriorate performance in MCE.

Hoping for a light Smile

01-03-2009 5:14 PM In reply to

Chris - Moderator
Joined on 03-07-2003
Houston, Texas

Re: I am loosing my mind…

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Overlay is only supposed to work on the Primary monitor. It was designed that way. Switch WMP to VMR7 ("High Quality") and that will work.

As for it not working in Media Center (VMR9), your specs look good so the only thing I would suggest is checking to make sure your video card driver is up-to date.

Chris Lanier
The Green Button Forum Moderator

01-03-2009 5:33 PM In reply to

scrambler
Joined on 01-28-2007

Re: I am loosing my mind…

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thanks, Video card driver is up to date, and has not change since all was working fine.

Can you clarify the following:

I tried to switch to high quality, but then the HD video play back jumps on Both monitors and it did not use to. Could something be corrupting VMR playback?

The other place I found a choice of Overlay / VMR7 / VMR9 was inside the PureVideo Codec Window, and I tried all 3 but none fixed the issue

If Overlay was the problem, would it work with other video files like WMV, Mpg4...? Because with WMP11 in Overlay mode, all other than Mpeg2 format play fine on the second monitor.

Thanks again

01-04-2009 6:30 PM In reply to

scrambler
Joined on 01-28-2007

HD Stutter... Nvidia PureVideo DXVA Solution found (I was loosing my mind…)

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After Chris's input on VMR7 and VMR9 (thanks Chris!), and with some more web research and testing I finally found the cause of the problem.

I am sharing this is case it can help some of the numerous people who also have stutter problems and are using Nvidia (HW & or PureVideo)

Having an Nvidia graphics card and a DualTV tuner, I am using the PureVideo decoder and here is what happens.

First only some shows present the problem. I discovered mine with a network show called Liptstick Jungle. For the show that have the problem, the stutter will only show when I have a combination of using VMR7 or VMR9 (what MCE uses) and PureVideo Hardware acceleration (DXVA) is ON.

If I setup WMP11 to use Overlay, then the problematic shows play fine in WMP11 on my primary monitor regardless of the PureVideo HW Acceleration setting. But one side effect, if Hardware Acceleration (DXVA) is on, WMP11 does not display the video on the secondary monitor in Overlay mode. If HW Acceleration if OFF, it displays the video fine on the secondary monitor in Overlay mode.

If I setup WMP11 to use High Quality (VMR7) or play the show in MCE(which uses VMR9), then if Nvidia PureVideo has HW Acceleration ON, the problematic show will stutter both in WMP11 and MC, but if I turn HW Acceleration OFF then it plays fine in both.

When HW Acceleration is ON in PureVideo, it uses DXVA mode A (idct). When it is OFF it uses SW YUY2 Video Mixing (with or without DirectX 9 depending on setting inside WMP11). So either something on my configuration is corrupting that part, or there is an Nvidia bug that makes PureVideo HW Acceleration not work properly with VMR7 and VMR9 (for certain shows). If so it hopefully will be fixed in the future.

I am not sure what in certain shows makes this Nvidia (or DXVA) bug come up, but on the problematic one I had, I noticed that if I open the PureVideo window while it is playing, Video format keeps switching between Anamorphic Widescreen Film and Anamorphic Widescreen Video, while the good shows display a stable unique format.

If anyone has more insight that could indicate if I have a configuration problem, of if there is an Nvidia bug here, please share.

01-17-2009 9:09 PM In reply to

evergreen.97
Joined on 07-27-2006

Re: HD Stutter... Nvidia PureVideo DXVA Solution found (I was loosing my mind…)

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This definitely sounds like my problem, right down to the switching modes while playing. Only difference is that I am using Intel integrated graphics (965G and G45). I don't see a way to turn off HW acceleration when using the nVidia PureVideo codec. Do you know how to do this (messing with HW acceleration settings in WMP11 doesn't seem to do the trick for Media Center with Intel integrated graphics)? Playback in WMP has never been a problem, nor has it been a problem in Graphedit.

This does seem to be a bug, but its not limited to nVidia. On the G45 PureVideo doesn't show the problem on the same content that shows the problem on the 965G. Using PowerDVD 8 Ultra the problem shows on both the G45 and 965G. I was blaming Intel drivers, maybe its a Media Center overlay thing?

For what its worth, Windows 7 Beta didn't have the stutter, but its been really flaky for so far in my initial tweaking so I don't think I'm going to count on it to replace anything in my HTPC setup at this stage.

01-18-2009 11:32 AM In reply to

scrambler
Joined on 01-28-2007

Re: HD Stutter... Nvidia PureVideo DXVA Solution found (I was loosing my mind…)

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You can only access PureVideo settings while it is in use, so while the file is playing (either in media center or WMP, if PureVideo is being used, a small icon will appear on the right side of the startup bar. You right click on it and select properties, and this will allow you to turn off HW Acceleration.

With other decoders, you may have to do some digging to find out if they have the option to turn off the HW Acceleration (or DXVA).

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