Choppy Playback

[aylatrigger]

Hello!

I recently bought a new Dell Studio Hybrid to hook up to my 1080p LCD TV. I want to use it for Bluray movies...I have it connected to my TV via HDMI. Here are some specs:

Studio Hybrid 140g, Intel Core2 Duo T8100, 2.1GHz, 800Mhz 3M L2 Cache
4GB, DDR2, 667MHz (2 Dimm x 2GB)
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with DVI and HDMI
BD Combo Drive(CD/DVD+/-R Bluray Read)w/ Media Accelerator Card
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1

When I played 300 using Dell's MediaCenter (the program that came with the computer), it played alright, but the quality was meh. It looked more like a regular DVD would. After some research, I decided I needed to buy an actual software package. I tried ArcSoft's TotalMedia Extreme, and the picture looks nicer, but it's very very choppy! There was no choppiness with the Dell program.

Is my video card lacking? There was not an option to upgrade it, but Dell assured me that it would be adequate to play Bluray movies on my TV. Is that simply not true?

Are there settings I can change to make this better, or is there anything I can do? Should I try another playback software? I don't want to throw money at a bunch of programs if it isn't going to help, and their free trials don't include bluray playback (which is just silly).

The normal picture the PC outputs is nice, and looks 1080p and crisp.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

[blckman]

Originally Posted by aylatrigger

Hello!

I recently bought a new Dell Studio Hybrid to hook up to my 1080p LCD TV. I want to use it for Bluray movies...I have it connected to my TV via HDMI. Here are some specs:

Studio Hybrid 140g, Intel Core2 Duo T8100, 2.1GHz, 800Mhz 3M L2 Cache
4GB, DDR2, 667MHz (2 Dimm x 2GB)
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with DVI and HDMI
BD Combo Drive(CD/DVD+/-R Bluray Read)w/ Media Accelerator Card
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1

When I played 300 using Dell's MediaCenter (the program that came with the computer), it played alright, but the quality was meh. It looked more like a regular DVD would. After some research, I decided I needed to buy an actual software package. I tried ArcSoft's TotalMedia Extreme, and the picture looks nicer, but it's very very choppy! There was no choppiness with the Dell program.

Is my video card lacking? There was not an option to upgrade it, but Dell assured me that it would be adequate to play Bluray movies on my TV. Is that simply not true?

Are there settings I can change to make this better, or is there anything I can do? Should I try another playback software? I don't want to throw money at a bunch of programs if it isn't going to help, and their free trials don't include bluray playback (which is just silly).

The normal picture the PC outputs is nice, and looks 1080p and crisp.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

Wow...Let's get something straight. I think I will be repeating this a million times about Dell(fones). Welcome to the exciting and helpful forum aylatrigger. Sit back, get some popcorn, and enjoy the visual show I'm about to give you. LOL...On with the show. First, you might want to upgrade that T8100, 2.1GHz CPU. I would open up the Dell case and get the motherboard model and number. Go to that motherboard manufactures website and see if the board can handle a more proffecient Duo-Core CPU. I would say go to 2.6GHz or higher. If you can also look for a BIOS update for that specific board as well, then update it. The memory is more than enough at 4Ghz. Now, let's go with the videocard. It is a must that you go into the BIOS, turn off that onboard video, and pop in a PCI Express Videocard. I would go with the Nvidia based 8, 9, or 260 series of cards. They're pretty cheap on newegg.com or pricewatch.com right now. You can get some pretty decent cards for around $100.00-$250.00 these days. Even better with a mail-in rebate. The software if great. The Arcsoft Total Media Extreme is fine. You can also look for patches and updates as well within Arcsoft's website.

Lastly, Dell has always sucked overall in my opinion. It is so much better to build your system from now on because you have the satisfaction of building a system to your liking. Plus, forums like this are top notch as far as help is concerned. That's why we're all here: To help each other. I love helping people if I can. I can learn from you as well. Oh, by the way. You might want to turn off some programs that are running in the background of Windows as well. Some people have had problems with running Blu-Ray movies in Vista as well. I am not having any problems with playback so far. Cross my fingers. Hopefully, this helps. When you open up the case, give me the motherboard maker and number and let's go from there. Hopefully, this helps. Take care and be good.

[dadkins]

T8100 is fine - this laptop has one.

Integrated Graphice is not a *card*.
You might want to look into getting an actual video card for the machine - nVidia would be my suggestion.
8600 GT or higher.
This laptop has a 8400GT and plays *ANY* Blu-ray that I have thrown at it.
It's not Vista either... Vista or XP will work fine.

[blckman]

Originally Posted by dadkins

T8100 is fine - this laptop has one.

Integrated Graphice is not a *card*.
You might want to look into getting an actual video card for the machine - nVidia would be my suggestion.
8600 GT or higher.
This laptop has a 8400GT and plays *ANY* Blu-ray that I have thrown at it.
It's not Vista either... Vista or XP will work fine.

Thank you for the correction dadkins. I totally disagree with some of the statements you made though. I refuse to get into arguments on this fourm. God bless you.

[dadkins]

This is my #2 Blu-ray laptop.
It has a T8100.
nVidia 8400GT w 256MB VRAM(offloads the playback from CPU to GPU).

The T8100 is not the problem.
I agree that the integrated graphics should be killed and an actual Video card be used!

Vista is not the problem, as this laptop has Vista Home Premium and works quite well with Blu-ray.

Not arguing, stating real world use.
Be well blckman!

[hiro1030]

Originally Posted by dadkins

T8100 is fine - this laptop has one.

Integrated Graphice is not a *card*.
You might want to look into getting an actual video card for the machine - nVidia would be my suggestion.
8600 GT or higher.
This laptop has a 8400GT and plays *ANY* Blu-ray that I have thrown at it.
It's not Vista either... Vista or XP will work fine.

Right. 2.1GHz x 2 should be fine w/a decent video card. My HTPC is running Opty 170 (2.0GHz x 2) and plays BD flawlessly with ArcSoft Total Media Theatre, but I use the Radeon HD 4670 1GB. So, that is helping a lot in my case. I have also tested the NVIDIA 8400GS 256MB and that worked also.

So, I believe you might need a dedicated video card as other members suggested above. I just checked your model at Dell site. Nice modern style, but it seems to be hard to upgrade the components. There might not be a room for a video card. I just don't know.

BTW, did you check if hardware acceleration is checked in the TMT settings?

[dadkins]

T2500 @ 2.0GHz in my other laptop is fine, even without video offloading - it can run as high as 95% on both cores though... but the movies play.

T8100 @ 2.10GHz *AND* video offloading is fine!
This T8100 never goes above 30% when playing a Blu-ray... and all the other crap i have running.

[aylatrigger]

Originally Posted by hiro1030

So, I believe you might need a dedicated video card as other members suggested above. I just checked your model at Dell site. Nice modern style, but it seems to be hard to upgrade the components. There might not be a room for a video card. I just don't know.

BTW, did you check if hardware acceleration is checked in the TMT settings?

I can't upgrade the video card. I just had a nice long (frustrating) chat with their upgrade people, and they said it's a no go.

And yes, Hardware Acceleration was checked.

[hiro1030]

Originally Posted by dadkins

T2500 @ 2.0GHz in my other laptop is fine, even without video offloading - it can run as high as 95% on both cores though... but the movies play.

That's a good thing to know. I thought so too. When I mentioned a similar thing at ArcSoft forum about a week ago, someone called me a liar. I won't go back to their forum again.

[hiro1030]

Originally Posted by aylatrigger

I can't upgrade the video card. I just had a nice long (frustrating) chat with their upgrade people, and they said it's a no go.

What did they say about choppy playback?

[aylatrigger]

Well I'm not at home right now, so I don't have my service tag # so they won't help me. I'll have to call back tomorrow night to get any kind of help.

I figured since they only offered the one video card (ok fine, not "card") and they offered Bluray, it must be adequate enough. I'm aware that onboard cards are not nearly as good as dedicated cards, but that wasn't an option.

Other than closing down other programs that are running, is there any way I can optimize the performance, or anything else I can try? I can flash the BIOS if you really think that will help, but I don't imagine that being useful.

If I can't get it working the way it ought to, I'm going to have to try to demand a refund. That will not be easy or fun, and I really don't want to do that, but if they sell me a system telling me it's going to do something it better darn well do it like it should.

Thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it!

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by hiro1030

That's a good thing to know. I thought so too. When I mentioned a similar thing at ArcSoft forum about a week ago, someone called me a liar. I won't go back to their forum again.

If it ever comes up again, mention the Sony VGN-AR190G.
The first BD enabled laptop sold in The United states. June 2006.
T2500 Core Duo @ 2.0GHz
nVidia 7600 GT
UJ-210s drive
XP MCE 2005

Got one sitting on my desk ATM.
It plays Blu-ray Discs fine!

[blckman]

I'm sorry. Please forgive my ignorance you guys. I like the way this machine is set up. I usually look at a product before I comment on it. My bad. Anyway, you all made wonderful points. Man, I would love to open up one of those bad babies. It must be a micro atx form factor in there or something. I love the way it looks though. I just would want to have the flexibility of upgrading it. Again, please forgive me you all. Dog...That sucks. You can't really upgrade the video card or anything.

[aylatrigger]

I like the way it's set up, too...it really is a pretty nice machine, and it looks great next to my TV. I'm happy with it, except this bluray thing! No video upgrades possible due to excessive cuteness.

[ewitte]

Thats a big problem with the extremly small or budget machines. There isn't any comparison between onboard and even the slowest PCIe video card. A $50 card and possibly even PCI (not PCIe) would be a good step up.