Lagging 720p videos while using computer / what needs upgrading ?

[Roman]

So as the title says...

When I put out a 720p resolution video on the HDTV it plays fine ...if I leave the computer alone.

If I start using the computer for something else at the same time, video lags.
The more I use the computer, the worst it gets.

Computer isn't new at all but always served me well so far:
2.8 Pentium IV HT w/1Gb RAM
ASUS RADEON 9200SE 128mB graphics card connecting the TV though the DVI output.
(monitor is on the VGA output right now)
720p vids are running off my 80Gb hard drive for which I can't remember the details right now.


Questions are:

What needs to be upgraded to be able to play videos and look up emails or forums without any lag ?
More RAM ?
Graphics card ?
Something else ?

And by how much should it be upgaded ?

Thanks.

[eddysdaman]

Two things I'll point out.

1. Ram. (it's possible, depending on file sizes and speed of current ram)
2. Graphics.

Depending on the size of the HD material, RAM is probably something worth doing but I can't help but realise the age of your graphics card. It's really kinda shameful For that kind of video playback I guess I'd recommend just about any card with at least 256mb with your standard DVI connections.

[Roman]

I'm pretty sure the graphics card is the culprit too but many people here know more about this stuff than I do so it's a good idea to ask.

RAM I will likely upgrade shortly anyway but WINBAR suggests that it is not a problem so far.
BTW current RAM is DDR PC3200 (2X512mB).
Thinking of doubling that soon.


Upgrading the graphics card I would likely go for a 512mB with twin DVI so I could hook up my monitor the right way too.
(monitor has DVI & VGA inputs)

[eddysdaman]

Sounds like those 2 should definitely do the trick. Your current Ram is only running at 200/400mhz clock/data but shouldn't really be the problem anyway. I'd do the GFX upgrade first, then see how you go

[Viper007Bond]

Upgrading RAM alone probably won't help. Playing back a video uses next to no RAM. However, if you run out of RAM (opening too much stuff at once), that WILL lag you to hell as it uses your relatively slow hard drive as a RAM block.

Mainly HD playback hogs tons of CPU, especially when it's compressed (i.e. H264 MKV rather than a "raw" Bluray disc). My current one can't play back 1080p for example, but my new PC will be able to no sweat.

Additionally, since you're playing it back with hardware acceleration, your video card and it's drivers come into play.

So, free -- upgrade your video drivers to the very latest. Get CoreAVC (warez it) as that'll help with playback.

If none of that works, upgrade your RAM (relatively cheap and makes sure you aren't using your HD for RAM overflow). Helps your overall PC in general too.

Then upgrade your video card (your current one is a huge bottleneck) as it's easy to swap out and you can get like a low end nVidia (nVidia drivers > ATI drivers) for $100.

Lastly your CPU. It's the hardest to replace (impossible if you have a pre-built from like Dell or whatever) and your current one should manage for 720p, but you're outta options at this point, so...

[Roman]

Can the CPU be swapped out without changing anything else ?
(my computer is not a pre-built)
Just asking ...for now.

Thanks for all the infos.

[eddysdaman]

Thats an eerie question.

Yes and No - depends on the rest of the system (motherboard mainly)

[Roman]

Originally Posted by eddysdaman

Thats an eerie question.

Hey ! Let the noob learn something will you ?

And thanks for the answer.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by Roman

Can the CPU be swapped out without changing anything else ?
(my computer is not a pre-built)
Just asking ...for now.

Thanks for all the infos.

Yes, but the problem is CPUs have moved on. All the new CPUs have a different socket type, etc.

You'd be able to upgrade, but not to a Core 2 Duo for example.

[73GMCSprint]

I think your graphics card is your biggest bottleneck. A Radeon 9200 is a bit on the low-end for HD playback. I can pretty much guarantee your processor won't handle 1080 (mine is similar spec and won't do it, and I have a little better gfx card than yours), but it should do 720 without too much trouble.

CoreAVC might help, like Viper mentioned, if it's not already installed.

Really though, when it comes down to it, I think your system (I'm not trying to slam you, I'm in the same boat) just isn't up to multitasking when you're doing something as processor and gfx intensive as HD playback.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

You'd be able to upgrade, but not to a Core 2 Duo for example.

Understood.

Originally Posted by 73GMCSprint

I think your system (I'm not trying to slam you, I'm in the same boat) just isn't up to multitasking when you're doing something as processor and gfx intensive as HD playback.

Well, it was a good system when I bought it like four years ago (which is eons in computer technology).
That it's still up to the tasks I throw at it now (although not so many at a single time) is pretty impressive and tells me the sales guy who help me built it then probably sold me something good.

TV is 720p so I will not be reaching for more anytime soon since I just got it.

I should be good for a few more years for very little money in computer upgrades.

Thanks.

[73GMCSprint]

Originally Posted by Roman

Well, it was a good system when I bought it like four years ago (which is eons in computer technology).
That it's still up to the tasks I throw at it now (although not so many at a single time) is pretty impressive and tells me the sales guy who help me built it then probably sold me something good.
Thanks.

I know what you mean. It's been about that long since I built mine. I'm planning on some upgrades once I've got some money saved up. Until then, I'll be single-tasking too

[chongy5]

What player are you running it on?

You ideally want to be using Media Player Classic (MPC) with CoreAVC.

Keep in mind that I haven't dabbled in HD playback in a while so the best combination of player and codec might have changed slightly - I recommend the doom9 forums for keeping up to date with H264 playback.

If you are still stuck I would suggest getting a Nvidia 8500/8600 GPU which can offload almost all of the HD decoding onto the card themselves, providing the correct software has been loaded and installed on the computer (and the computer is running XP and Vista).

If you want to find out more about this technology and stuff just search for 'Nvidia Purevideo' and ATI also do a rival technology called Unified Video Decoder (more commonly abbreviated to UVD).

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by chongy5

You ideally want to be using Media Player Classic (MPC) with CoreAVC.

Keep in mind that I haven't dabbled in HD playback in a while so the best combination of player and codec might have changed slightly - I recommend the doom9 forums for keeping up to date with H264 playback.

Yeah, CoreAVC for the slow PCs, Ffdshow for everything else.


http://hdbits.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

[Roman]

What do you guys think of this ?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...648&CatId=2234

AGP, 512mB, Dual DVI, fairly cheap... should work, right ?
(to replace my Radeon 9200se 128mB)

[cvrefugee]

Honestly I think you should try CoreAVC first. My setup barely plays 720p videos:

3.4GHz Pentium 4
2GB DDR400 RAM
eVGA 6800GT 256MB

Like Viper said, decoding is a CPU-intensive task. The GPU is important, but I think upgrading your video card will do nothing. A faster CPU and more RAM would help in your case, but as you can see even my computer chugs a bit.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by cvrefugee

Honestly I think you should try CoreAVC first. My setup barely plays 720p videos:

3.4GHz Pentium 4
2GB DDR400 RAM
eVGA 6800GT 256MB

Like Viper said, decoding is a CPU-intensive task. The GPU is important, but I think upgrading your video card will do nothing. A faster CPU and more RAM would help in your case, but as you can see even my computer chugs a bit.

WTF cvrefugee? My P4 3.0GHz, 2GB RAM, 6800 GT plays 720p as smooth as butter. I even multitask or play WoW at the same time with no problems whatsoever.

I can't play 1080p though -- the audio chops and lags behind the video.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

WTF cvrefugee?

Yeah, I don't buy it either.

I've installed CoreAVC and it helps a bit ( I prefer VLC to MPC though ) and my computer does the job very nicely as long as it is all it is doing.


So is that one GFX card I posted higher up a good deal or no ?
If you have a better suggestion, please link it here, in Canada preferably.
More RAM will follow shortly but it is cheap and easy to find locally so GFX card is on top of the list of priorities right now.
Thanks.

[AiR]

Buy a new GPU with a dedicated MPEG4-decoder.

[Buba]

Buy a cheapo mobo and a cheapo c2d. 150 Bucks and you won't have a problem. There are boards for 775 socket with agp + ddr1 support.