HTPC Aero problem

[Pagali]

OK, just set up a new HTPC for my home theater. (See specs, please)

The first Win 7 installation showed tearing with 720P h.264 videos played with ZoomPlayer 6 (which I've used for years) Online research suggested enabling Aero would stop the tearing, which happily, it did! Results on my 65" Mits TV are beautiful!

Problem is... although it seems like this system should certainly be able to handle running aero with home theater applications, I repeatedly get a system message that "windows has detected that your computer's performance is slow" then offering to let me drop back to a standard desktop instead of Aero. When I choose to stick with Aero, it allows it, but the same message will come up again later. (As often as not, when watching movies with guests! Rather embarrassing... )

Shouldn't a PC with these specs be able to handle Aero? Why is it saying my computer is slow? Is there a setting somewhere that will make it stop warning me?

Just let me know what further information you might need to help me with this problem. Thanks!

PS: Forgot to mention... using ATI Catalyst 9.11 from Sapphire site. Desktop resolution 1920x1080P --> optimized to 1840x1040 to fit screen exactly.

 

[thefabe]

Areo yes. Only thing I would have suggested was to get the driver driectly from AMD ATI site.Why well maybe something got lost in translation. http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/1810-latest-ati-catalyst-driver-windows-7-a.html Good luck. Fabe

 

[Pagali]

I'm quite sure that's the Catalyst version I have. If I'm remembering correctly, the Sapphire website actually linked to the file download at the ATI/AMD website.

And anyway... I don't have a problem running Aero on this computer... I would just like to find a way to turn off the meaningless annoying alerts about a slow computer, when as far as I can tell, it isn't slow...

 

[torrentg]

Install the latest drivers for your motherboard, especially chipset:

GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - Driver - GA-MA770T-UD3P (rev. 1.1)

If you have rev 1.0, don't worry. Install anyhow - same difference.

 

[Pagali]

You know, I had downloaded that same file from Gigabyte.us (I always get the latest MB drivers for a new computer). But when I started to run it, it looked exactly like the ATI Catalyst installation process I had already done, so I canceled out. I didn't get far enough into it to see the couple of additional options there. I don't quite get how Gigabyte offers this as the only motherboard chipset update. How do they know the user doesn't have an Nvidia graphics card? Or is that included too?

Anyway, I've installed it, everything's working fine at this point, but it will take a day or two to see if the problem is truly solved. Thank you so much for your help! I hope I won't have to ask for more right away.

 

[torrentg]

The chipset drivers are unrelated to video card drivers. So Gigabyte doesn't care or it doesn't matter to them which video card you have.

Computer should be alright now. Enjoy.

 

[Pagali]

The chipset drivers are unrelated to video card drivers. So Gigabyte doesn't care or it doesn't matter to them which video card you have.

Computer should be alright now. Enjoy.

Yeah, it should be. Unfortunately, that same error just popped up again!
("windows has detected that your computer's performance is slow") and a minute later Windows changed my color scheme back to Windows 7 Basic! So no more aero, the tearing is back.

Sorry to be a nag about the Gigabyte chipset file... but have you ever actually run it? Please believe me when I say it is exactly the same as the ATI Catalyst 9.11 installation file. Same design, same choices, everything, except for an additional Northbridge chip option IF you use the custom installation. I suppose it's installed automatically if you use the Express install.

 

[torrentg]

lol no I've never ran it before since I don't have a Gigabyte board. Now I'm curious so I'm downloading it to check it out.

Two things that will help:

1) Open an elevated command prompt. Type sfc /scannow then hit enter.

2) Type msinfo32 into the start menu search box. Hit enter. Ctrl+s on the screen that opens. Zip or rar the saved file and attach to a post using the paperclip. I will have a few suggestions after, I'm sure of it.

 

[z3r010]

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).

 

[Pagali]

lol no I've never ran it before since I don't have a Gigabyte board. Now I'm curious so I'm downloading it to check it out.

Two things that will help:

1) Open an elevated command prompt. Type sfc /scannow then hit enter.

2) Type msinfo32 into the start menu search box. Hit enter. Ctrl+s on the screen that opens. Zip or rar the saved file and attach to a post using the paperclip. I will have a few suggestions after, I'm sure of it.

OK. Result of the /scannow was: "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."

System info file is attached.

 

[Pagali]

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!

 

[torrentg]

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?

 

[Pagali]

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.

 

[torrentg]

Install the monitor driver?

 

[Pagali]

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...

 

[torrentg]

Set the refresh rate as high as the tv allows?

 

[Pagali]

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?

 

[Pagali]

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!

 

[Pagali]

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.