[jreese831]

I tried doing a quick search for this issue and found nothing, but I apologize if this has been addressed before.


I have a Sony Bravia 40W4100, software rev. 202r; my computer is as follows:


ASUS P5N SLI

Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz

2GB RAM

eVGA GeForce 9600GT

Windows XP MCE, SP3, all updates


My OS is run off a PATA HDD, all files are stored on 2 400GB SATAs in RAID0. Until recently, I had the PC connected to the TV via VGA and had no problems playing DVDs, SD or HD video, or Blu Rays. I found a DVI to HDMI cable and connected it with no issues, and also noticed a major improvement in picture quality across the board. However, when watching any sort of video now, the picture stutters, especially during pans. I can't understand it, except that it must be a problem with the HDMI connection, since no harware has been replaced or modified. The computer is outputting at 1920x1080 at 60Hz.


Like I said, when it was connected over VGA, there were no problems; only when I started using the DVI to HDMI did I start noticing video stutter.


I appreciate any help anyone can give. Thanks in advance!

 

[walford]

Were you also using 1080p/60 over VGA?

Do you have the same problem if you play a DVD using your DVD player instead of when playing it off of your HDD?

Do you get stutter if you pause the fiile you are playing for about 30 seconds and then start playing it again without fast forwarding?

 

[jreese831]

Yes, the resolution and refresh rate was the same over VGA, and I get the stutter whether playing video from a disc or off the hard drive. Pausing seems to have no effect on the problem either.


Just to clarify, the audio suffers no deficit; only the video is affected.

 

[walford]

What driver release from the Nvidia Website are using for your 9600GT?

Did you have any problems getting the card to output 1080p/60 over DVI?

Have you also tried 1080i/60 over DVI?

 

[jreese831]

I'll have to wait until I get home to check for certain, but the driver release is a couple months old; it definitely isn't the most current one. However, there was no change in drivers between using VGA and using DVI. The VGA was simply done with a DVI to VGA adapter; the card has dual-DVI outputs. I had no issues getting the computer to output at that resolution/rate, either with the VGA adapter or with teh DVI-HDMI. And no, I have not tried changing it to 1080i.


I am also using Combined Community Codec Pack (current release) with no modifications or changes.

 

[Lucifer1977]

Slysoft- Reclock. End of problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[walford]

I asked about 1080p/60 over DVI since it is not a standard resoloution mode in the Nvidia drivers wheras 1080i/60 is. Just becasue a driver interface does not change does not mean that bugs fixes, PQ improvements or performance improvements have not been changed;.

 

[jreese831]

I have been meaning to upgrade the drivers. I will do that tomorrow (hopefully). If that alone doesn't fix the problem, will there be any issues with playback quality (aside from what I'm already dealing with) of HD content--which includes BD--if I switch to 1080i?

 

[walford]

Since no scaling has to occur any degradation in PQ may not be noticable with 1080i.

Try it and see.

 

[jreese831]

Upgraded drivers to latest nVidia release with no effect; also tried changing to 24Hz (after updating the drivers my computer realized I was connected via HDMI and gave me that option) with no effect. Also saw no change with 1080i.


Since all these suggestions seem to have had no effect, and I don't see this problem with my other devices connected via HDMI (cable box/DVR and Xbox 360), what could the problem be? If my TV had no issues receiving 1920x1080 via VGA, why is it a problem with DVI/HDMI?

 

[walford]

The VGA receiver chip is a totally different chip with differnt specifications then the HDMI receiver chip.

 

[jreese831]

Okay, but that still doesn't account for why I'm only having issues with the PC and not my other HDMI-connected devices. Sorry if this is becoming irritating...I'm just incredibly frustrated by this.

 

[walford]

Have you used Slysoft Reclock as suggested by Lucifer to change the HDMI refresh rate?

 

[jreese831]

I had completely forgotten about that. ReClock, with default settings only, did not make a difference. I also noticed that it did not start with Media Center, though it did start with Windows Media Player. Is this a normal occurrence, or is it something I should report to the developer?


As for going beyond the default settings, unless you guys have some suggestions as to what I might be able to change, I'm going to have to mess around with it for a while on my own before I can report back on any improvements.

 

[Bignickfly]

Sorry to add my 2cents but, I have the sony 40" lcd and have dvi>hdmi and vga and found the picture quality to be better with vga than hdmi. ATI2600pro cat8.10

 

[terryj47]

Ditto for me. My main HTPC has an HD 3450 connected to my 42" LG. CCC 8.6 (I think). UXVGA cable with line out sound. 1920 x 1080 x 32 @ 60. Pic is perfect. Especially noticeable in windows desktop when compared to same over HDMI. And stutter-free in MC.


Still in search of the Holy Grail, I'm switching to an nVidia 9400 GT this weekend in an attempt to get stutter-free video and HDMI sound. I reason to be optimistic but wish me luck.

 

[jreese831]

I may just end up going back to VGA. I had noticed an improvement in color quality with the HDMI, and that also allows me to use the TV's configuration options (can't do that with the VGA input), but I'd rather have a smooth picture and tweak the colors through the computer than worry about having TV menu options available.

 

[Bignickfly]

It just seems that people with the later ATI cards have consistently better results .

 

[unsecluded]

I'm having this problem, exact scenario as OP, similar setup but 8800gt though...


any ideas?

 

[jreese831]

Since I started this thread, I've made a few changes to my setup; I'm now running 6GB RAM, OS is now a SATA and storage is 2x1TB drives, no RAID. I'm also running Win7 x64 and have changed to a Zotac 9500 fanless card because of excessive noise from the 9600GT; I am still using the DVI-HDMI connection though. I am also using the Shark007 codec packs instead of Combined Community Codec packs.


Because of all these changes, I can't pin down one reason over another that could have been causing my issue. My first guess would have been poor DXVA support in XP, since the hardware hasn't changed drastically enough for me to say that it wasn't able to handle full acceleration of HD content. I still notice minor stuttering here and there on long pans, but for the most part I no longer experience this issue. As I said, my best guess at this point is some difference betwen XP and Win7 in the handling of HW acceleration, and it also may be differences and/or improvements in the Shark codec packs over the CCC pack.


Hope that helps!