[marc_randles]

Hi

I have a problem when watching movies, the picture quality is pretty poor, its really blocky/pixelated

Yet if i watch the exact same DVD on my mates pc its fine

Ive been told it could be a codec problem but I dont know a great deal about codecs so hope someone can help me

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Hi Marc. A codec is a piece of software that 'compresses' video during the recording process, and 'decompresses' it for viewing during playback. If your problem was codec-related the video wouldn't play at all. More likely your graphics card is of lower quality than the one on your mates PC, or your video settings aren't high enough in Display Properties. You need it set to 32-bit colour with the resolution set as high as that colour-depth will allow. Of course, if you are using an LCD monitor you should set the resolution to it's 'native' values as recommended by the maker, but the colour depth still needs to be set to 32-bit (sometimes referred to as 'full colour'). Too low a colour-depth can make videos look pixellated.

Very often poor quality video playback stems from the fact that the PC is using a cheap 'on-board' or 'integrated' video chip, as opposed to a high quality, separate video card which your mate's PC might have (and which are essential for keen gamers).

Edited by pip22, 05 November 2007 - 12:26 PM.

[pip22]

Hi Marc. A codec is a piece of software that 'compresses' video during the recording process, and 'decompresses' it for viewing during playback. If your problem was codec-related the video wouldn't play at all. More likely your graphics card is of lower quality than the one on your mates PC, or your video settings aren't high enough in Display Properties. You need it set to 32-bit colour with the resolution set as high as that colour-depth will allow. Of course, if you are using an LCD monitor you should set the resolution to it's 'native' values as recommended by the maker, but the colour depth still needs to be set to 32-bit (sometimes referred to as 'full colour'). Too low a colour-depth can make videos look pixellated.

Very often poor quality video playback stems from the fact that the PC is using a cheap 'on-board' or 'integrated' video chip, as opposed to a high quality, separate video card which your mate's PC might have (and which are essential for keen gamers).

Edited by pip22, 05 November 2007 - 12:26 PM.

[marc_randles]

Can u help me to sort it please

[Doug]

Hi

Pip22 is right on track with the above information.
However, many factors may play into smooth function of a computer and its graphic display.

Please give us an overview look of your machine by doing the following:

Please Run the PCPitstop Full Tests, here:
http://www.pcpitstop.com
Register and create a password
Accept the ActiveX component to allow your machine to run the Full Tests
Registering and accepting the ActiveX are both SAFE and FREE.
Full Tests is the first item in the left hand column of that page.

The Full Tests take less than 5 minutes for most machines.
Once you have your Results, please post the TechExpress Link back here into this thread for review.
TechExpress is the last item on the list in the yellow box in upper right area of any Results page.
Post the entire URL link information back here into this Forum thread.

Caution: During the testing of Video Adapter, a variety of patterns, shapes, colors and text are “flashed” onto the users monitor screen. In the many thousands of daily uses of the PCPitstop Full Tests over several years, two individuals who suffer epilepsy experienced discomfort and temporary dizziness when viewing the flashing patterns.
If you know that you are susceptible to photo driven seizure, look away from your screen during the Video Adapter testing sequence.

After you post your TechExpress Link and we have a look at your machine's overall performance, we may be better able to provide informed recommendations.

Best Regards

[marc_randles]

http://www.pcpitstop...9XMHWTHNRVSE3KV

[marc_randles]

Is that the information you need guys??

[marc_randles]

The link is there

Can someone help me with my problem

Thanks

[Doug]

Hi marc_randles,

You have a machine that is relatively strong enough to competently perform most ordinary computing functions including good quality display of media from CD/DVD and media files on Hard Drive.

Your machines performance will very likely improve after you complete the Tune-Up Tips listed in your PCPitstop Full Tests Results. By "improve" it is unlikely that you will experience much in the way of "speeding up" of function though that is possibly after reducing the amount of space reserved for System Restore Points, and defragging your seriously fragmented C:\ partition.

It is recommended that you run the native Windows Defragmenting Tool (3) three times in a row to accomplish a good defragmentation. Defragmenting most modern hard drives does very little for "speeding up" performance but may make a significant and noticeable difference in reliable error-free loading and function, especially with regard to resource intensive function like media display and media rendering.
______________________

You have a fairly large number of processes and applications that start running when you boot your machine.
You can use the PCPitstop Full Tests Results in the "Windows" section to identify start-up items that are unnecessary and can be disabled via MSCONFIG. In particular, please consider disabling those items that are listed with Purple background on the Windows panel page of your Full Tests results. You can double-click any of those items to receive additional information about the item, its function, and method for disabling the item from Start-up.

You can expect a more significant improvement of machine function after disabling the recommended Purple startup items and you should see a reduction of your CPU load down to (0) zero load, which is what you should expect from a machine with strong resources like your own.
______________________

Specific to you problem of pixelated and choppy media viewing.....

You have a variety of VideoDisplay Players.
ViewPoint Media Player
Windows Media Player 11
Real Player
QuickTime Media Player
VideoLAN VLC media player 0.8.1
and possibly some others embedded in various media rendering utilities you have installed.

It is "OK" to have and use all of those media players, but not necessary.
Some folks prefer the VideoLAN VLC media player because it is open-source, cross-platform compatible, and capable of displaying a wide variety of media formats without the use of additional Codecs.
Your version (VideoLAN VLC media player 0.8.1) is somewhat out-of-date and you may experience better playback/viewing with the more current VLC media player 0.8.6c.

While it is "OK" to have all (5) five of those media player utilities installed, it is not necessary.
Windows Media Player 11 is suitable for playback of most all media formats when Power DVD (you already have this) is installed along with the most recent version of K-lite mega Codec Pack.
Your version of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.71 is significantly out-of-date.
You should consider uninstalling K-lite mega Codec Pack via Control Panel - Add/Remove
Then download and install the current version: K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.5.3
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.5.3 incorporates versions of "Real-Alternative" and "QuickTime-Alternative" which provide the same utility as the branded version, while being less resource intensive.

You have a large assortment of video and audio rendering utilities.
It is likely that some of those utilities are trial or demo versions which have already expired.
You should consider Uninstalling any of these utilities that have already expired.
Each one of those rendering utilities may have their own proprietary associated Codecs.
Some of those Codecs may be "conflicting" with the smooth running of media player utilities.

You have Nimo Codecs Pack v4.33 installed.
This is a mildly older version, but may be conflicting with the competent function of Codecs supplied in K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.5.3
Please consider uninstalling Nimo Codecs Pack via Control Panel - Add/Remove.
___________________

If you consider removing some of the unnecessary media playback and rendering utilities and some of the Codec packs, be sure to use Control Panel - Add/Remove to uninstall them completely and DO NOT try to remove them by a simple Delete, since much of the configuration and file associations can only be removed when competently using the Uninstal function of Control Panel - Add/Remove.
____________________

After you have completed the above recommendations, please run a fresh PCPitstop Full Tests and Post the new TechExpress link back here into this thread for additional review and recommendations if necessary.

Best Regards

[Doug]

Hi again marc_randles,

I forgot a couple of items that should be included at this point.
Others, we can catch up on later after the above have been addressed.

-- When XP was installed on your machine, back in March of this year, did you also install DirectX 9.0c
If not, you would benefit from doing so. You can get it via MS Updates, here:
http://www.microsoft...;displaylang=en

-- and a side-point, that can be easily remedied...
Your version of Spybot Search & Destroy is out of date. The new version is 1.5.1, downloadable, here:
http://www.safer-net...rg/en/download/

I look forward to reading your next post.

Doug

[marc_randles]

Hi

Ive removed Nimo, installed spybot & direct x from the links

the only thing I dont know how to do it is this part 'You have a fairly large number of processes and applications that start running when you boot your machine.
You can use the PCPitstop Full Tests Results in the "Windows" section to identify start-up items that are unnecessary and can be disabled via MSCONFIG. In particular, please consider disabling those items that are listed with Purple background on the Windows panel page of your Full Tests results. You can double-click any of those items to receive additional information about the item, its function, and method for disabling the item from Start-up.'

So if some could help me out it would be hughly appreciated

Thanks