strange video playback issue

[aweber1nj]

I am (still, for those of you who have been kind enough to read and respond to some of my other threads) converting my DVD library to MP4.

When testing playback on my STV "server" (quad-core, 4GB RAM, Nvidia 8600GTS) all the videos I've tested so far have a very jittery playback. This is with the remainder of the STV PC completely idle. I'm pretty surprised at this. Live TV (even in HD) is great on this PC...no issues there.

Here's the kicker: Playback from a STV Client nettop (dual-core atom, NVidia ION) over wireless appears to be perfectly fine!!!

How do I troubleshoot or narrow-down what the problem could be with playback on my (much) more powerful box where the files are local?

Thanks for any ideas,
AJ

[panteragstk]

what codec for the mp4? if it is h.264 try another decoder. or if you have an mp4 splitter installed you can search for the registry entry enablestreamdemux and set the value to 0 to use an alternate splitter.

[aweber1nj]

Sorry for the lack of details.

Yes, h.264. Not really clear if I "have an mp4 splitter installed". I know I didn't install one knowingly. This is Win7 Ultimate.

Should I try installing some codec pack or something like that?

The "H.264 Video Decoder Filter" is set to "Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder" (none other is listed as an option, but I guess I could "search" or something.

Thanks for the feedback.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by aweber1nj

Sorry for the lack of details.

Yes, h.264. Not really clear if I "have an mp4 splitter installed". I know I didn't install one knowingly. This is Win7 Ultimate.

Should I try installing some codec pack or something like that?

The "H.264 Video Decoder Filter" is set to "Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder" (none other is listed as an option, but I guess I could "search" or something.

Thanks for the feedback.

Ok. I assumed too much. Since you only have the ms decoder try downloading the free divx h.264 decoder and see if that helps, or try ffdshow. DO NOT DOWNLOAD A CODEC PACK those can cause lots of issues. you can go to the mpc-hc site and download their mp4 splitter (gabest) and register it using rad light filter manager. I'd try the alternate decoder first. I use ffdshow for everything and never have playback issues...anymore...

[stevech]

Originally Posted by aweber1nj

Here's the kicker: Playback from a STV Client nettop (dual-core atom, NVidia ION) over wireless appears to be perfectly fine!!!

Which Atom? D525? DDR3 or DDR2 memory?
I'm thinking of replacing my old gen-1 Intel mini-ITX motherboard with Intel or Jetway or ?

[aweber1nj]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Ok. I assumed too much. Since you only have the ms decoder try downloading the free divx h.264 decoder and see if that helps, or try ffdshow. DO NOT DOWNLOAD A CODEC PACK those can cause lots of issues. you can go to the mpc-hc site and download their mp4 splitter (gabest) and register it using rad light filter manager. I'd try the alternate decoder first. I use ffdshow for everything and never have playback issues...anymore...

OK, I downloaded ffdshow and then went into STV Detailed Setup and changed my H.264 setting to ffdshow. Now when I launch a video STV appears to crash. No error messages, just the entire STV app disappears.

Do I need to try different settings (in ffdshow or STV)?

EDIT: I got the gabest splitter installed and playback is improved (a lot actually), but I still get the occassional stutter. No measurable CPU or RAM issues, and the video is on a local SATA drive. Any further ideas?

Thanks again!

[aweber1nj]

Originally Posted by stevech

Which Atom? D525? DDR3 or DDR2 memory?
I'm thinking of replacing my old gen-1 Intel mini-ITX motherboard with Intel or Jetway or ?

I got this when it was on sale a few weeks ago for $175:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856119042

It's got an Atom 330 (dual-core 1.6Ghz), NVIDIA ION graphics (with an HDMI port), Gig-E and b/g/n wireless built-in.

I slapped in an 2GB DDR2 stick that I took out of my laptop last year when I upgraded the RAM in that, and had a 120GB 2.5" drive lying about (also removed from a laptop at some point).

I suppose if you don't have those components sitting around, it would be more expensive, but as it stands the little box chuggs right along and has played everything very well so far. I've been duly impressed with it. Only thing missing (mostly due to the size) is a built-in DVD-ROM.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by aweber1nj

OK, I downloaded ffdshow and then went into STV Detailed Setup and changed my H.264 setting to ffdshow. Now when I launch a video STV appears to crash. No error messages, just the entire STV app disappears.

Do I need to try different settings (in ffdshow or STV)?

make sure avc/h.264 is enabled. If that doesn't work download the divx decoder.

[doncote0]

Have you tried watching the MP4's on the SageTV PC outside of SageTV? On that same PC, see if you can see them any other way. If it no longer stutters, then suspect your decoder/filter settings in SageTV.

[aweber1nj]

Originally Posted by doncote0

Have you tried watching the MP4's on the SageTV PC outside of SageTV? On that same PC, see if you can see them any other way. If it no longer stutters, then suspect your decoder/filter settings in SageTV.

Yeah, I will try it again, but IIRC, VLC played the videos perfectly on that same PC (even at full-screen), but Sage was having trouble.