What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies?

Baiter · 03-28-2007, 04:32 AM

I have several PCs and put a Pioneer DVD unit in the AMD Athlon 1.2GHz / 1.5G ram PC; it plays CDs and music files on DVD well, but movies jerk and pause.
I removed all other applications including internet, firewall and antivirus apps that often slow the system.
The CPU seems to be running at 100% when this happens.
Should a 1.5G CPU have enough power for this? What is the minimum spec CPU that would work?
cheers, Baiter.

crazijoe · 03-28-2007, 06:14 AM

I remember my old IBM Aptiva with a PII 400MHz and watching DVDs on it.
Your hardware's up to par. You might check your event logs for any errors.

**smz** · 03-28-2007, 09:47 AM

he didn't mention his video card which is most important I would think and if he is attempting to watch them off a dvd rom that may not have enough speed to run continuously. please provide that information. as posted in the reply, your system spec is overkill for a simple action of playing back a dvd so it's gotta relate to another component most likely a video card running stock Microsoft drivers or a severely underpowered card like a trident. but your system is new enough where i don't think you could have a card that low. I've seen a lot of amd's with s3 savage graphics but still with optimal drivers it should be enough to run.

Baiter · 03-29-2007, 02:21 AM

thanks for the quick reply.
I have a Powercolor 256 MB Radeon 9600 Pro AGV 8x video card, driving a wide-screen monitor.
The video driver version is 6.14.6512.
My system is Win2000, and I use Nero Showtime for movies.
It scans virus-free and is not connected to the internet.
The DVD unit is a new Pioneer DVR-111D, but the old one had the same problem.

**smz** · 03-29-2007, 02:33 AM

well your video driver is only one version off the current one. If you want the current ATI driver, I suggest you download the whole suite and not just the display driver here

Did we previously discuss chipset drivers as well as direct x.. Sorry I don't have the whole thread in front of me.

If Not, Microsoft's Directx can be found here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baiter

thanks for the quick reply.
I have a Powercolor 256 MB Radeon 9600 Pro AGV 8x video card, driving a wide-screen monitor.
The video driver version is 6.14.6512.
My system is Win2000, and I use Nero Showtime for movies.
It scans virus-free and is not connected to the internet.
The DVD unit is a new Pioneer DVR-111D, but the old one had the same problem.

**TheMatt** · 03-30-2007, 01:52 PM

Hi,

Your processor will be fine, and you will need a graphics driver. I remember reading the minimum processor speed in a laptop book I read, but I forget the exact speed. I think it was something like 300 MHz.

What process is using all the CPU usage when you watch DVDs.

Baiter · 04-02-2007, 03:36 AM

Hi, I'm back. Thanks for the replies.
I downloaded the latest video driver from your link, no change.
The AVG is auto-set to 4x so I tried manual set 2x and 1x; no change.
When I play a DVD movie and the CPU is showing 100%, the main user is Showtime (around 65).
I might download the chipset driver next...scary stuff!
Cheers, Baiter.

**smz** · 04-02-2007, 07:26 PM

did your video card or computer come with an OEM DVD software program? I've seen some media players with the option "use ati radeon hardware acceleration" which in turn takes a ton of load off the CPU.

I can't remember what software dvd player had that option but it made a difference on a first generation centrino laptop I had with a hardware radeon on board.

Baiter · 06-02-2007, 12:45 AM

Well, thanks for the advice, I tried everything but the problem would not go away.
However, it is fixed now; I bought another PC and gave the old one to a student!
cheers, Baiterhttp://www.techsupportforum.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

03-28-2007, 04:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Baiter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 7 OS: win2000	What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? I have several PCs and put a Pioneer DVD unit in the AMD Athlon 1.2GHz / 1.5G ram PC; it plays CDs and music files on DVD well, but movies jerk and pause. I removed all other applications including internet, firewall and antivirus apps that often slow the system. The CPU seems to be running at 100% when this happens. Should a 1.5G CPU have enough power for this? What is the minimum spec CPU that would work? cheers, Baiter.

03-28-2007, 06:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? I remember my old IBM Aptiva with a PII 400MHz and watching DVDs on it. Your hardware's up to par. You might check your event logs for any errors. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

03-28-2007, 09:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
smz Hardware Tech Specialist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 705 OS: Mac OS X / W2K3 Server / XP Home/MCE/Pro / Vista Ultimate / Ubuntu Linux My System	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? he didn't mention his video card which is most important I would think and if he is attempting to watch them off a dvd rom that may not have enough speed to run continuously. please provide that information. as posted in the reply, your system spec is overkill for a simple action of playing back a dvd so it's gotta relate to another component most likely a video card running stock Microsoft drivers or a severely underpowered card like a trident. but your system is new enough where i don't think you could have a card that low. I've seen a lot of amd's with s3 savage graphics but still with optimal drivers it should be enough to run. __________________ {{{{ Scott - 25+ Years HW & SW Expertise - Dos, Linux, Mac OS X, & Windows }}}} Abit IP35 / Core 2 Quad Q6600 / APC 650 UPS / Antec 900 ATX w/Antec Trio 550 PS XFX GeForce 8400GS w/512MB / 320GB Maxtor SATA II HD / 4GB Corsair CAS4 DDR2 HP Laser P1006 & PS 2610 / D-Link DGL-4500 Router / Dell 24" LCD / Asus G1 Laptop

03-29-2007, 02:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Baiter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 7 OS: win2000	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? thanks for the quick reply. I have a Powercolor 256 MB Radeon 9600 Pro AGV 8x video card, driving a wide-screen monitor. The video driver version is 6.14.6512. My system is Win2000, and I use Nero Showtime for movies. It scans virus-free and is not connected to the internet. The DVD unit is a new Pioneer DVR-111D, but the old one had the same problem.

03-30-2007, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? Hi, Your processor will be fine, and you will need a graphics driver. I remember reading the minimum processor speed in a laptop book I read, but I forget the exact speed. I think it was something like 300 MHz. What process is using all the CPU usage when you watch DVDs. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

04-02-2007, 03:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Baiter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 7 OS: win2000	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? Hi, I'm back. Thanks for the replies. I downloaded the latest video driver from your link, no change. The AVG is auto-set to 4x so I tried manual set 2x and 1x; no change. When I play a DVD movie and the CPU is showing 100%, the main user is Showtime (around 65). I might download the chipset driver next...scary stuff! Cheers, Baiter.

04-02-2007, 07:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
smz Hardware Tech Specialist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 705 OS: Mac OS X / W2K3 Server / XP Home/MCE/Pro / Vista Ultimate / Ubuntu Linux My System	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? did your video card or computer come with an OEM DVD software program? I've seen some media players with the option "use ati radeon hardware acceleration" which in turn takes a ton of load off the CPU. I can't remember what software dvd player had that option but it made a difference on a first generation centrino laptop I had with a hardware radeon on board. __________________ {{{{ Scott - 25+ Years HW & SW Expertise - Dos, Linux, Mac OS X, & Windows }}}} Abit IP35 / Core 2 Quad Q6600 / APC 650 UPS / Antec 900 ATX w/Antec Trio 550 PS XFX GeForce 8400GS w/512MB / 320GB Maxtor SATA II HD / 4GB Corsair CAS4 DDR2 HP Laser P1006 & PS 2610 / D-Link DGL-4500 Router / Dell 24" LCD / Asus G1 Laptop

06-02-2007, 12:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Baiter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 7 OS: win2000	Re: What CPU spec is needed to play DVD movies? Well, thanks for the advice, I tried everything but the problem would not go away. However, it is fixed now; I bought another PC and gave the old one to a student! cheers, Baiterhttp://www.techsupportforum.com/images/smilies/wave.gif