I've ironed out most wrinkles for my new Media Center PC, but, like so
many other people I've read about, I still get stuttering TV.
Usually starts happening after watching Live or Recorded TV after 10 -
20 minutes.
The stutter ranges from a 1 sec lag to a freeze where I have to either
change the channel, or rewind / ff to get it to come back. I _KNOW_
the system can handle the load - because when its not stuttering, I can
record two shows at once, AND playback the beginning of one of the
recorded shows or do anything else on the computer, and things are fine
- processor load is minimal. Just look at the specs:

My specs:
WMCE 2005 Rollup 2 with additional Hotfix
Abit An8-Ultra with nForce4 chip (SATA 3.0Gb/s) and onboard audio
(using latest driver set)
AMD 64 x2 3800 Dual Core processor
1GB RAM (single channel)
2 Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Asus EAX300SE 128MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
ATI TV Wonder Elite Tuner (latest driver)
Sapphire Theatre 550 PRO Tuner (latest driver)
nVidia PureVideo decoder v1.02-185 (latest version)
DVD-RW and CD-RW
Using SPDIF Passthrough
Hardwired to network switch

Its a brand new machine (installed 3 days ago), so no defrag issues.
Fresh install with MCE2005 and Rollup2 + Hotfix.

Here's the things I've read and addressed already:
- I've addressed the problem with AMD dual-core processors -
I installed the latest chip driver from AMD, and I installed a hotfix
from Microsoft that addresses the issue.
http://blogs.msdn.com/david_fleischm...01/499046.aspx

- I turned on / off the Abit Cool 'N Quiet feature

- I've updated every driver for every component in the computer to the
latest I could find

- I've disabled AntiVirus Real-time file protection

- I tried setting the recorded tv path to my other hard drive

- DMA is enabled on the hard drives

- I read a bunch of posts where people state that using their PATA port
instead of SATA makes the stuttering go away. They put a PATA drive in
the machine and pointed the 'recorded tv' path to it, and it works
fine. I cannot try this, because all I have is SATA.

Why would SATA, which is supposed to be superior to PATA, be causing
this?

Is there anything else I haven't tried?

Stutter in MCE is normally cause by the video/graphics card not being able
to keep up with the inputed frame size and frame rate at the output
resolution being requested without dropping frames. Media Player drops
frames in a much more elequent manner than MCE so many time a recorded
program that stutters in MCE will not stutter in Media player. Other causes
of stutter besides lack of graphics card processing power are the AMD X2
problem which you have addressed or an inadequate DVD Decoder which you also
have addressed.
Also shared IRQs between componnents requred to watch TV have been known to
cause a problem but then the problem in normally the Tuner card sharing its
IRQ with the graphics card and this only causes a problem during Live TV and
not with recorded TV. One other cause of stutter that has been observed is
caused by the audio card not having the latest drriver when using other than
just standard stereo audio. When this has been the cause the audio usually
stutters along with the video.

"MarcF" <mfouchi@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1134682173.320881.215720@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> I've ironed out most wrinkles for my new Media Center PC, but, like so
> many other people I've read about, I still get stuttering TV.
> Usually starts happening after watching Live or Recorded TV after 10 -
> 20 minutes.
> The stutter ranges from a 1 sec lag to a freeze where I have to either
> change the channel, or rewind / ff to get it to come back. I _KNOW_
> the system can handle the load - because when its not stuttering, I can
> record two shows at once, AND playback the beginning of one of the
> recorded shows or do anything else on the computer, and things are fine
> - processor load is minimal. Just look at the specs:
>
> My specs:
> WMCE 2005 Rollup 2 with additional Hotfix
> Abit An8-Ultra with nForce4 chip (SATA 3.0Gb/s) and onboard audio
> (using latest driver set)
> AMD 64 x2 3800 Dual Core processor
> 1GB RAM (single channel)
> 2 Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
> Asus EAX300SE 128MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
> ATI TV Wonder Elite Tuner (latest driver)
> Sapphire Theatre 550 PRO Tuner (latest driver)
> nVidia PureVideo decoder v1.02-185 (latest version)
> DVD-RW and CD-RW
> Using SPDIF Passthrough
> Hardwired to network switch
>
> Its a brand new machine (installed 3 days ago), so no defrag issues.
> Fresh install with MCE2005 and Rollup2 + Hotfix.
>
> Here's the things I've read and addressed already:
> - I've addressed the problem with AMD dual-core processors -
> I installed the latest chip driver from AMD, and I installed a hotfix
> from Microsoft that addresses the issue.
> http://blogs.msdn.com/david_fleischm...01/499046.aspx
>
> - I turned on / off the Abit Cool 'N Quiet feature
>
> - I've updated every driver for every component in the computer to the
> latest I could find
>
> - I've disabled AntiVirus Real-time file protection
>
> - I tried setting the recorded tv path to my other hard drive
>
> - DMA is enabled on the hard drives
>
> - I read a bunch of posts where people state that using their PATA port
> instead of SATA makes the stuttering go away. They put a PATA drive in
> the machine and pointed the 'recorded tv' path to it, and it works
> fine. I cannot try this, because all I have is SATA.
>
> Why would SATA, which is supposed to be superior to PATA, be causing
> this?
>
> Is there anything else I haven't tried?
>

Marc,

If you have PureVideo Decoder installed, you might want to check what your
de-interlacing is set on.

Also you need to have the "Live TV" going while doing this....Basically go
to Live TV first then back up to the main menu under "More Programs"....

Under the MCE interface "More Programs" Go to Nvidia Settings..Audio/Video
Playback Settings....De-Interlacing....Make sure it is set on "Auto"....

This stop my shuttering....

Hope this helps..

Let me know if you don't understand what I'm trying to say...My mind works
differently than what I type....

Charlie


"MarcF" wrote:

> I've ironed out most wrinkles for my new Media Center PC, but, like so
> many other people I've read about, I still get stuttering TV.
> Usually starts happening after watching Live or Recorded TV after 10 -
> 20 minutes.
> The stutter ranges from a 1 sec lag to a freeze where I have to either
> change the channel, or rewind / ff to get it to come back. I _KNOW_
> the system can handle the load - because when its not stuttering, I can
> record two shows at once, AND playback the beginning of one of the
> recorded shows or do anything else on the computer, and things are fine
> - processor load is minimal. Just look at the specs:
>
> My specs:
> WMCE 2005 Rollup 2 with additional Hotfix
> Abit An8-Ultra with nForce4 chip (SATA 3.0Gb/s) and onboard audio
> (using latest driver set)
> AMD 64 x2 3800 Dual Core processor
> 1GB RAM (single channel)
> 2 Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
> Asus EAX300SE 128MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
> ATI TV Wonder Elite Tuner (latest driver)
> Sapphire Theatre 550 PRO Tuner (latest driver)
> nVidia PureVideo decoder v1.02-185 (latest version)
> DVD-RW and CD-RW
> Using SPDIF Passthrough
> Hardwired to network switch
>
> Its a brand new machine (installed 3 days ago), so no defrag issues.
> Fresh install with MCE2005 and Rollup2 + Hotfix.
>
> Here's the things I've read and addressed already:
> - I've addressed the problem with AMD dual-core processors -
> I installed the latest chip driver from AMD, and I installed a hotfix
> from Microsoft that addresses the issue.
> http://blogs.msdn.com/david_fleischm...01/499046.aspx
>
> - I turned on / off the Abit Cool 'N Quiet feature
>
> - I've updated every driver for every component in the computer to the
> latest I could find
>
> - I've disabled AntiVirus Real-time file protection
>
> - I tried setting the recorded tv path to my other hard drive
>
> - DMA is enabled on the hard drives
>
> - I read a bunch of posts where people state that using their PATA port
> instead of SATA makes the stuttering go away. They put a PATA drive in
> the machine and pointed the 'recorded tv' path to it, and it works
> fine. I cannot try this, because all I have is SATA.
>
> Why would SATA, which is supposed to be superior to PATA, be causing
> this?
>
> Is there anything else I haven't tried?
>
>

I solved this same problem by completely uninstalling my tuner card drivers
and then reinstalling them. I think the key is to make sure that you
completely uninstall the drivers. I had to use a cleaner tool to do this.

Hope this helps.
--
Joe Pastori
Gigabyte mainboard w/AMD Sempron 2200+
Avermedia UltraTV 1500MCE
GeForce 5200
InterVideo WinDVD 5.0 Decoder
786MB RAM


"MarcF" wrote:

> I've ironed out most wrinkles for my new Media Center PC, but, like so
> many other people I've read about, I still get stuttering TV.
> Usually starts happening after watching Live or Recorded TV after 10 -
> 20 minutes.
> The stutter ranges from a 1 sec lag to a freeze where I have to either
> change the channel, or rewind / ff to get it to come back. I _KNOW_
> the system can handle the load - because when its not stuttering, I can
> record two shows at once, AND playback the beginning of one of the
> recorded shows or do anything else on the computer, and things are fine
> - processor load is minimal. Just look at the specs:
>
> My specs:
> WMCE 2005 Rollup 2 with additional Hotfix
> Abit An8-Ultra with nForce4 chip (SATA 3.0Gb/s) and onboard audio
> (using latest driver set)
> AMD 64 x2 3800 Dual Core processor
> 1GB RAM (single channel)
> 2 Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
> Asus EAX300SE 128MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
> ATI TV Wonder Elite Tuner (latest driver)
> Sapphire Theatre 550 PRO Tuner (latest driver)
> nVidia PureVideo decoder v1.02-185 (latest version)
> DVD-RW and CD-RW
> Using SPDIF Passthrough
> Hardwired to network switch
>
> Its a brand new machine (installed 3 days ago), so no defrag issues.
> Fresh install with MCE2005 and Rollup2 + Hotfix.
>
> Here's the things I've read and addressed already:
> - I've addressed the problem with AMD dual-core processors -
> I installed the latest chip driver from AMD, and I installed a hotfix
> from Microsoft that addresses the issue.
> http://blogs.msdn.com/david_fleischm...01/499046.aspx
>
> - I turned on / off the Abit Cool 'N Quiet feature
>
> - I've updated every driver for every component in the computer to the
> latest I could find
>
> - I've disabled AntiVirus Real-time file protection
>
> - I tried setting the recorded tv path to my other hard drive
>
> - DMA is enabled on the hard drives
>
> - I read a bunch of posts where people state that using their PATA port
> instead of SATA makes the stuttering go away. They put a PATA drive in
> the machine and pointed the 'recorded tv' path to it, and it works
> fine. I cannot try this, because all I have is SATA.
>
> Why would SATA, which is supposed to be superior to PATA, be causing
> this?
>
> Is there anything else I haven't tried?
>
>

Jumpnjoe, you may be right.

I think its working properly now. I can't put my finger on one thing,
but here's the few things I did last night:

I remembered that I never installed the latest ATI Catalyst drivers - I
just used the default driver that Windows Update installed for me for
my EAX300SE vid card.
So, I d/loaded it, installed it and then Media center wouldn't display
at all!

So, I completely uninstalled all ATI drivers - went back to windows
update - reinstalled their EAX300SE driver (from March, by the way),
then I could see media center again.

Also, when I first setup MC, I had installed PowerDVD 6. It didn't
work, so I installed nVidia PureVideo decoder on top of it. I worked,
and I checked that MC was using it using that tool, but I remembered
how people were having clashing issues. So, last night I uninstalled
PowerDVD and nVidia, then reinstalled nVidia.

I also uninstalled the AMD dual-core driver, then reinstalled it.

No more stuttering! Watched it all night, recorded some things, and it
seems okay. Unfortunately, I didn't test in between each step, but
hopefully knowing what I did can help someone else out in the future.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that I won't be posting here again saying
that it came back.
Thanks to all.

Marc

I had this problem with the nvidia codec. Try another.

"MarcF" <mfouchi@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1134682173.320881.215720@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> I've ironed out most wrinkles for my new Media Center PC, but, like so
> many other people I've read about, I still get stuttering TV.
> Usually starts happening after watching Live or Recorded TV after 10 -
> 20 minutes.
> The stutter ranges from a 1 sec lag to a freeze where I have to either
> change the channel, or rewind / ff to get it to come back. I _KNOW_
> the system can handle the load - because when its not stuttering, I can
> record two shows at once, AND playback the beginning of one of the
> recorded shows or do anything else on the computer, and things are fine
> - processor load is minimal. Just look at the specs:
>
> My specs:
> WMCE 2005 Rollup 2 with additional Hotfix
> Abit An8-Ultra with nForce4 chip (SATA 3.0Gb/s) and onboard audio
> (using latest driver set)
> AMD 64 x2 3800 Dual Core processor
> 1GB RAM (single channel)
> 2 Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
> Asus EAX300SE 128MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
> ATI TV Wonder Elite Tuner (latest driver)
> Sapphire Theatre 550 PRO Tuner (latest driver)
> nVidia PureVideo decoder v1.02-185 (latest version)
> DVD-RW and CD-RW
> Using SPDIF Passthrough
> Hardwired to network switch
>
> Its a brand new machine (installed 3 days ago), so no defrag issues.
> Fresh install with MCE2005 and Rollup2 + Hotfix.
>
> Here's the things I've read and addressed already:
> - I've addressed the problem with AMD dual-core processors -
> I installed the latest chip driver from AMD, and I installed a hotfix
> from Microsoft that addresses the issue.
> http://blogs.msdn.com/david_fleischm...01/499046.aspx
>
> - I turned on / off the Abit Cool 'N Quiet feature
>
> - I've updated every driver for every component in the computer to the
> latest I could find
>
> - I've disabled AntiVirus Real-time file protection
>
> - I tried setting the recorded tv path to my other hard drive
>
> - DMA is enabled on the hard drives
>
> - I read a bunch of posts where people state that using their PATA port
> instead of SATA makes the stuttering go away. They put a PATA drive in
> the machine and pointed the 'recorded tv' path to it, and it works
> fine. I cannot try this, because all I have is SATA.
>
> Why would SATA, which is supposed to be superior to PATA, be causing
> this?
>
> Is there anything else I haven't tried?
>