Jerky playback of HD videos

Hi. I always had problems playing HD videos (i.e. 1280x720) and thought they'd be solved when I increased my RAM from 1Gb to 4Gb. Unfortunately, such videos are still a little jerky when played. Could the reason be my 'video card'? I'm not too sure about these things - would the card be built into the motherboard given that none of the slots on the back of the PC case have been used? Here's how the company who bult the PC described it:
Graphics Card 512MB GEFORCE 7300GS (256MB SMA) PCI Express + DVI + TV-OUT

And here's how it appears with Yamicsoft's 'Windows 7 Manager':
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
VideoProcessor: GeForce 7300 GS AdapterRAM: 256MB
VideoMemoryType: Unknown AdapterDACType: Integrated RAMDAC
InfFilename: nv_lh.inf (nv_G7x)
InstalledDisplayDrivers: nvd3dumx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2umx.dll, nvwgf2um
DriverVersion: 8.15.11.8172 DriverDate: 02/04/2009 01:00:00
PNPDeviceID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01DF&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1\4&E0C58C3&0&0010
VideoArchitecture: VGA Resolution: 1024 * 768 Pixels
CurrentNumberOfColors: 4294967296 ValidRefreshRate: 56 - 75 Hz
CurrentRefreshRate: 75 Hz CurrentBitsPerPixel: 32 Bits

Many thanks for all suggestions/advice received.

Uninstall any codecs you have and install the 32bit & 64 bit addon codecs from Sharks codecs site and see how it goes.

No, I don't think your video card is a problem. The 7300 GS has the highest core clock speed of the 7300 series. On my P4 1.5 gHz, 6200A-LE video, I can watch files with even a higher resolution than 1280*720 and that's across the network.

It's probably a codec issue.

Hmm I am not sure 100% but isnt 7300 going to have a hard time playing 720p videos?

Also unless you use Coreavc as far as I know the video card just sits there doing nothing in playback. Its mostly the work being done by the cpu isnt it? What are your cpu specs? Just increasing memory is not going to affect video playback that much but rather cpu horsepower that matters.

Ah I just posted my post (text above) right after you posted yours about the 7300 not being an issue.

A hard time? Ya I think so, but it should be able. If it's of any concern, I use PowerDVD, VLC and the WMP classic that has accel.

Thanks all. I should maybe mention that playback of HD is not that bad, just a quick freeze every 10-15 seconds.

Vipermk2 - I've always used Shark's Vista Codecs but, thanks to your link, I now have the Win7 package (the 'normal' one and the x64). I think I see an improvement so thanks for that. There's still a split-second freeze every so often though. HOWEVER, that's on my preferred player, GOM. I've just played a file on WMP and it went perfectly so maybe I'll stick with that for HD files. (I can't abandon GOM altogether, it's (usually) such a great player.)

Digitalrurouni - I've not heard of Coreavc so I'm probably not running it! Even although my choice of player seems to have been the problem, here's the CPU spec (in case you see some obvious problem with it...):
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Description: Intel64 Family 15 Model 6 Stepping 5
Architecture: x64 Version: Model 6, Stepping 5
NumberOfCores: 1 NumberOfLogicalProcessors: 2
SocketType: ZIF Socket ProcessorId: BFEBFBFF00000F65
Manufacturer: GenuineIntel MaxClockSpeed: 3000 MHz
CurrentClockSpeed: 3000 MHz ExtClock: 200 MHz
L2CacheSize: 2MB L2CacheSpeed: 3000 MHz
L3CacheSize: 0Bytes L3CacheSpeed: 0 MHz
AddressWidth: 64 bits DataWidth: 64 bits
SocketDesignation: Socket 775 PowerManagementSupported: False
LoadPercentage: 4%

Once again, thanks to you all.

You could try updating your graphic cards drivers from the inbox Windows ones to the Windows 7 ones from NVIDIA if you haven't already.

Here's a link to the 32 & 64-bit Windows 7 ForceWare 185.85 drivers (7 Series compatible)

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/win7_...5_whql_uk.html

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/win7_...5_whql_uk.html

Where about's in Scotland are you? if you don't mind me asking that is. :)

Hi Mitchell90. I'm a fair bit away from you - Caithness. I lived/worked in Glasgow until recently and was a weekend scuba diver so I know the South West coast fairly well. Thanks for these links. No offence, but are they safe? I say that because I'm wondering why Device Manager tells me the driver is up to date if these are newer ones?? (Driver Date 02/04/09)

Regards

Yep, safe links. They are from the video card manufacturer's website. Can't get any safer than that. Installing the latest driver will probably do well for you with this problem.

Thanks, torrentg. I've downloaded the new driver but I'm a bit concerned about uninstalling the existing driver first. On the screenshot you can see the option to uninstall THE DRIVER. But, when I click that, I'm apparently going to uninstall THE WHOLE DAMN THING!!! Which I don't believe I wanna do...

Any suggestions/clarifications?

Many thanks.