HTPC Aero problem

z3r010 said:

Have you tried other versions of zoomplayer?

Edit - from zoomplayer 7 changelog

Fixes :

- Fixed a video stuttering issue when using certain video renderers
with Aero Desktop Composition enabled (Windows 7/Vista).

I do have ZP 7, and I did try it. My problem was never stuttering with Aero, though, just video tearing without it. So it didn't make a difference. It's still pretty buggy overall, that's why I've gone back to version 6. I've also tried MPC-HC, PowerDVD 7, and TMT 3. All react the same way... tearing without Aero, no tearing with it on. But darn Windows 7 just won't let it stay on. LOL!

Pagali said:

z3r010 said:

Have you tried other versions of zoomplayer?

Edit - from zoomplayer 7 changelog

Fixes :

- Fixed a video stuttering issue when using certain video renderers
with Aero Desktop Composition enabled (Windows 7/Vista).

I do have ZP 7, and I did try it. My problem was never stuttering with Aero, though, just video tearing without it. So it didn't make a difference. It's still pretty buggy overall, that's why I've gone back to version 6. I've also tried MPC-HC, PowerDVD 7, and TMT 3. All react the same way... tearing without Aero, no tearing with it on. But darn Windows 7 just won't let it stay on. LOL!

Have you tried enabling hardware acceleration in PDVD and MPC-HC?

torrentg said:

Pagali said:

z3r010 said:

Have you tried other versions of zoomplayer?

Edit - from zoomplayer 7 changelog

I do have ZP 7, and I did try it. My problem was never stuttering with Aero, though, just video tearing without it. So it didn't make a difference. It's still pretty buggy overall, that's why I've gone back to version 6. I've also tried MPC-HC, PowerDVD 7, and TMT 3. All react the same way... tearing without Aero, no tearing with it on. But darn Windows 7 just won't let it stay on. LOL!

Have you tried enabling hardware acceleration in PDVD and MPC-HC?

Yes, HA works fine. But the tearing still appears in fast motion scenes.

Keep the questions/suggestions coming! Something has to work.

Install the monitor driver?

torrentg said:

Install the monitor driver?

Sorry, I don't understand. I'm outputting through HDMI to a widescreen Mits HDTV. There is no monitor driver that I know of. ATI properly identifies the HDTV though...

Set the refresh rate as high as the tv allows?

torrentg said:

Set the refresh rate as high as the tv allows?

Refresh rate is 60 hz, that's as high as the TV allows.

Any clues in that system info file?

Any more suggestions for me to try? This error message is really driving me crazy, and having to reset to an Aero desktop every hour. There must be some way to shut this thing off? I really don't want to go back to XP!

Since it's been so quiet, I'm assuming nobody had a solution. :)

Just for the benefit of googlers who might find this thread, with a similar problem... I haven't solved the 'slow computer' alerts, (very strange that I have the same OS on an old C2D machine with no alerts running Aero...) Is it the high resolution that's causing the problems on the HTPC? I wonder if upgrading to X64 would help any, since all 4 GB of memory would be usable then?

But I think I have gotten rid of the tearing in standard non-aero mode, so at least video is still watchable when the system drops out of aero. In the ATI Catalyst (9.11) settings, enable 'Wait for vertical refresh' under Display Options. Move the slider all the way to the right, for "Always On". Now, although the playback quality isn't quite as good as with Aero on, at least it's usable.