Video Card / Windows Media Player problem ...

janimation · 03-11-2008, 08:49 AM

I just updated my system with a new graphics card: BFG Graphics Cards 6200 OC.

I got the new card because the videos I watched used to stop/start or play incredibly slow. I thought that it was because of my low color quality. However since I updated the graphics card to a higher quality, I can't seem to play any of the videos.

Now, the videos are freezing my entire system. Is it the graphics card or windows media player or my system? I can't seem to understand. From all I understand is that the video bitrate of these videos (in .wmv format) are relatively high. The videos that do play have a low video bitrate.

I would think that having a higher graphics card would help videos of any bitrate perform at a better quality or at least smoothly, but I'm not getting that at all.

any help or suggestions?

**POADB** · 03-11-2008, 01:24 PM

Janimation, welcome to TSF.

Do you know which Codecs you're using?
I would try downloading the K-Lite Codec pack and see if using these codecs help with video play back?

Here for info/download: http://www.codecguide.com/about_kl.htm

ebackhus · 03-11-2008, 01:52 PM

What about the rest of your PC? Post your specifications and we can narrow down the problem.

**koala** · 03-11-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janimation

From all I understand is that the video bitrate of these videos (in .wmv format) are relatively high. The videos that do play have a low video bitrate.

The CPU plays an important role in decoding videos, regardless of the video card. You can find your full system specs using Everest (Computer > Summary)

janimation · 03-13-2008, 08:45 AM

hey everyone. thank you so much for your suggestions. i tried the k-lite codec pack but unfortunately i got the same results: the sound would be playing for 30 seconds or so, but the video image would be nothing but distorted colors. in other words, the video image just wouldn't load.

here is the computer information. i'm using a DELL OptiplexGX110. the CPU is an Intel Pentium IIIE, 933 MHz (7x133).

**koala** · 03-13-2008, 09:03 AM

Press ctrl-alt-del to bring up the Task Manager. Under the Processes tab, click the CPU column header twice to re-order the list (highest at the top), then play a high bitrate video. If your media player is at the top of the list showing 100% CPU usage, then your CPU is struggling to keep up.

Distorted colours can usually be fixed by installing the correct codec or reinstalling the graphics driver, then rebooting.

To reinstall the latest graphics driver, go to Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager. Click the [+] next to Display Adapters, right click the graphics card entry and select Uninstall. Close down all windows and programs. Reboot and keep tapping F8 while the computer is starting until you see the Advanced Options menu. Select VGA mode. When Windows has finished loading, the display will look strange. This is only temporary while using the standard VGA driver. Disable your antivirus and install Forceware 169.21. Reboot to complete.

If you've already downloaded KLite, there will be a program called GSpot in the Start menu (Start > Programs > KLite > Tools). Run Gspot and drag a video from Windows Explorer into its window to see the video's codec details. It will tell you if you have the correct audio/video codecs installed.

03-11-2008, 08:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
janimation Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 OS: XP Professional	Video Card / Windows Media Player problem ... I just updated my system with a new graphics card: BFG Graphics Cards 6200 OC. I got the new card because the videos I watched used to stop/start or play incredibly slow. I thought that it was because of my low color quality. However since I updated the graphics card to a higher quality, I can't seem to play any of the videos. Now, the videos are freezing my entire system. Is it the graphics card or windows media player or my system? I can't seem to understand. From all I understand is that the video bitrate of these videos (in .wmv format) are relatively high. The videos that do play have a low video bitrate. I would think that having a higher graphics card would help videos of any bitrate perform at a better quality or at least smoothly, but I'm not getting that at all. any help or suggestions?

03-11-2008, 01:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
POADB Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6,482 OS: XP SP2	Re: Windows Media Player / Bitrate problem Janimation, welcome to TSF. Do you know which Codecs you're using? I would try downloading the K-Lite Codec pack and see if using these codecs help with video play back? Here for info/download: http://www.codecguide.com/about_kl.htm __________________

03-11-2008, 01:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,255 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Video Card / Windows Media Player problem ... What about the rest of your PC? Post your specifications and we can narrow down the problem. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

03-13-2008, 08:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
janimation Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 OS: XP Professional	Re: Video Card / Windows Media Player problem ... hey everyone. thank you so much for your suggestions. i tried the k-lite codec pack but unfortunately i got the same results: the sound would be playing for 30 seconds or so, but the video image would be nothing but distorted colors. in other words, the video image just wouldn't load. here is the computer information. i'm using a DELL OptiplexGX110. the CPU is an Intel Pentium IIIE, 933 MHz (7x133).

03-13-2008, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,336 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: Video Card / Windows Media Player problem ... Press ctrl-alt-del to bring up the Task Manager. Under the Processes tab, click the CPU column header twice to re-order the list (highest at the top), then play a high bitrate video. If your media player is at the top of the list showing 100% CPU usage, then your CPU is struggling to keep up. Distorted colours can usually be fixed by installing the correct codec or reinstalling the graphics driver, then rebooting. To reinstall the latest graphics driver, go to Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager. Click the [+] next to Display Adapters, right click the graphics card entry and select Uninstall. Close down all windows and programs. Reboot and keep tapping F8 while the computer is starting until you see the Advanced Options menu. Select VGA mode. When Windows has finished loading, the display will look strange. This is only temporary while using the standard VGA driver. Disable your antivirus and install Forceware 169.21. Reboot to complete. If you've already downloaded KLite, there will be a program called GSpot in the Start menu (Start > Programs > KLite > Tools). Run Gspot and drag a video from Windows Explorer into its window to see the video's codec details. It will tell you if you have the correct audio/video codecs installed. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here Last edited by koala; 03-13-2008 at 09:05 AM.