Jerky DVD playback

KT8KT8 Surrey, UK.
edited November 2003 in Hardware
I'm building a budget PC for a friend, all works well except the DVD playback isn't smooth.

PC Spec:
PIII 500mhz
128MB PC100 RAM
32MB Nvidia TNT Graphics
Cheap & cheerful 4 channel soundcard made by Gamesurround.
Windows XP Pro.

I've tried an ATI Rage Fury with hardware DVD encoder onboard,
Audigy soundcard, different DVD-ROM, instead of the above and tried another IDE cable.

It improved slightly with the ATI card, but it still wasn't right.

I know that the spec is on the minimums for XP, so some extra RAM might do the trick.

Any other suggestions?

Comments

  • verselloversello New
    edited October 2003
    Hmm, I've had similar specs on an old machine and DVD ran fine - but it had more RAM, so yea, try that.
  • stoopidstoopid Albany, NY New
    edited October 2003
    I had similar problems with a similar system years ago... never could figure it out, and ended up solving itself with a major hardware upgrade (same DVD ROM though and OS).
  • cramstadcramstad Iowa
    edited October 2003
    Make sure that DMA is enabled for the DVD-ROM. Right click on "My Computer" and click on Properties, then click on the hardware tab, and then the device manager button. Expand the "IDE Controllers" branch and right click on the IDE chanel that your DVD-ROM is attached to. Click on the "Advanced Settings" tab and see what is says by "Current Transfer Mode" If it says anything other than UDMA2 then this may be your problem.
  • KT8KT8 Surrey, UK.
    edited October 2003
    Transfer Mode is saying: DMA if Available.
    Current Transfer Mode: Ultra DMA Mode 1.

    This PC was mine a few years back, and I had the DVD player working fine with both 98SE & XP.

    I do have a 128MB stick of RAM on it's way, but I'm sure I had it running on it's current spec before.

    Any more suggestions?
  • cramstadcramstad Iowa
    edited October 2003
    Hmmm...try this just for fun. Delete the IDE controller and the DVD-ROM both from device manager, reboot and let Windows reinstall them....you might also wat to check that the BIOS setting for the IDE controllers is set to AUTO.
  • KT8KT8 Surrey, UK.
    edited October 2003
    This is still bugging me!!

    I've added 128MB RAM (Upto 256MB now) - The PC runs better, but no improvement on the DVD playback.

    I've run the DVD-ROM both with & without DMA enabled.

    I've formatted the HD and done a fresh install of Win98SE, just the same.

    The only common factors are the MB & CPU, but I know they're capable or running DVD smoothly as they were fine a couple of years back.

    What can I try next guys?:mad:
  • stoopidstoopid Albany, NY New
    edited October 2003
    I had the same problem with my 500mhz celeron, upgraded to a new VH6-T mobo and P3 1ghz and my problem went away. This could mean that 1) the 500mhz isn't enough (unlikely) or 2) the VA6 chipset (forgot which it was, but this was my 500 celeron's board) was crap for bandwidth... I think #2, you're having a bandwidth limitation issue. Run sisoft sandra and see how your motherboard's chipset clocks compared to others.
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited October 2003
    I've always heard that for smooth DVD playback you need a 1ghz or better CPU.

    Since these days 1.4ghz Athlon and mobo can be had for ~$70 US (ECS K7S5A Pro & 1.4ghz Athlon XP) maybe your friend should set his sights a little higher.

    It's not a bargain if the system wont do what you need or want it to do.
  • KT8KT8 Surrey, UK.
    edited October 2003
    I know the PC is capable of smooth DVD playback, as it was my own a couple of years back. It's just really annoying as it should be OK....

    I've really run out of ideas, I might just have to give up on the DVD. Everything else is OK...
  • verselloversello New
    edited October 2003
    For smooth DVD playback you just need a P2 350MHz.
  • natenutnatenut earth
    edited October 2003
    what are you using for a player? I have never had good luck with PowerDVD on older hardware but i had excellent results with the Cinemaster decoder. I'm not sure what its called now but try a different player. Also get DVD Genie to tweak your settings a little more. you can download all over and i think its free/share ware. Just beware, you can really screw up your dvd playback.

    Furthermore, i have about 15 P3 500 machines with 256 megs of ram and they run XP like crap. Then we have about 15 P3 450 with win2000 that work very well so you may want to consider your OS.

    Also, check the DMA settings of your hard disk and drive and make sure you have the 80 conductor cables if your motherboard supports ATA66 or better.
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by natenut
    Furthermore, i have about 15 P3 500 machines with 256 megs of ram and they run XP like crap. Then we have about 15 P3 450 with win2000 that work very well so you may want to consider your OS.

    Good point about the OS
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited October 2003
    yeah but he said he reloaded it with 98se and the problem was still there. im assuming that dvd player doesn't have a hardware decoder... but if it does that could be overheating or something
  • maggie99635maggie99635 Alaska
    edited November 2003
    Do you have the latest motherboard drivers? I have a P4 laptop and put on the Intel Application Accelerator and upped my dvd/cdrw from PIO to DMA- MW2. I'm not that familiar with Intel computers my desktop is an AMD and VIA.
  • KT8KT8 Surrey, UK.
    edited November 2003
    Motherboard just needs the VIA 4in1's, but have tried both with & without, and with an older version and the latest.

    I was using PowerDVD, but have just tried an alternative player (BlazeDVD) and it's exactly the same.

    It's very frustrating as I know the PC can do it.....
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