The HP Z5x5 media center PC thread

[elaw]

I'm starting this because I'm going nuts dealing with stuttering issues on my HP Z555 media center PC, and from what I've seen on other threads I'm not the only one. Maybe we can all compare notes and figure out what really works?

A couple months ago I almost had it figured out - most videos played fine with VMR9 except 1080i recordings which required overlay (interestingly, 720p would stutter with overlay but not with VMR9).

However after updating various drivers and codecs, now it won't play 1080i smoothly no matter what I do. By changing codecs I can select between frequent mini-stutters and infrequent major stutters but that's about it!

FWIW currently I'm using Forceware v93.71 and the MainConcept MPEG decoder that came with the PC. I also have PureVideo v223 installed which I prefer for it's PQ and color adjustments, but the stuttering is worse when using it.

So is anyone having success with 1080i on one of these machines?

[blade]

What type of video card or onboard video does the PC have?

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by elaw

I'm starting this because I'm going nuts dealing with stuttering issues on my HP Z555 media center PC, and from what I've seen on other threads I'm not the only one. Maybe we can all compare notes and figure out what really works?

I had the exact same problem when I went to set up my Z545. My problem was with SD, not HD (I don't have HD). Changing the "boost thread priority" registry setting (as per this thread) fixed it for me.

Jere

[elaw]

Originally Posted by blade

What type of video card or onboard video does the PC have?

The Z555 (and AFAIK the Z545) comes with an nVidia 6600 (not GT).

I notice someone posted a question in another thread about possibly upgrading. I haven't had the cover off mine yet but looking at the connector layout on the back panel, I have a nasty feeling the video is on the motherboard, not on a card. So upgrading may not be possible.

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by elaw

The Z555 (and AFAIK the Z545) comes with an nVidia 6600 (not GT).

The Z545 has a Radeon x300XT.

Jere

[elaw]

Originally Posted by jds23

For your "jittery video" in SD resolutions...

Actually with my current setup (knocking on wood here), things are great with SD material, and even with 720p. It's only 1080i that has a problem.

I have yet to try the registry trick Jere suggested though, maybe that will help!

[elaw]

Originally Posted by jds23

One last thing...Elaw, did you get the new version of the MCEdisplay working on your Z555 for TV?? And are you using the new HP driver for the display if so? I can't get any type of TV working with it, but imported videos work great!! I love this app, and it has the potential to make the Z555 do what MCE did with the display...sooooo very nice!

Haven't had a chance to try... I'm at work right now. Got the thing with Nielm's status monitor plugin straightened out though, I'll try the display this evening and report on the results.

[elaw]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

The Z545 has a Radeon x300XT.
Jere

That's interesting! I thought I had read somewhere they both had the nVidia card.

How's your performance with the ATI?

I have another HTPC I built myself with a "lowly" Radeon 9550 and it seems to work happily with all resolutions (even WMV HD), although only with overlay.

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by elaw

How's your performance with the ATI?

It's hard to say since I'm only using SD and that really isn't that taxing. I am not an ATI fan though, so if it does get replaced, it will get replaced with an nVidia card.

Jere