Choppy video

bobster · Jan 5, 2008

My Granddaughter sends me videos on MySpace and YouTube and they appear
broken up and choppy, both the video and audio.

Since I have a broadband (4-5 meg) cable connection, I'm sure the problem
is not limited by my ISP. I think it might be my computer. Should I be
able to get smooth video performance on my old dog or is it incapable
because of its limitations. Here are its specs:

P11 300 MHz processor
324 megs of ram
32 meg video card
Windows 98SE

Some videos play reasonably smoothly, while others, like above, do not.

Is there something that I could do to improve my video performance or should
I just give in and buy a new XP or Vista computer?

Robert Baer · Jan 5, 2008

bobster wrote:

> My Granddaughter sends me videos on MySpace and YouTube and they appear
> broken up and choppy, both the video and audio.
>
> Since I have a broadband (4-5 meg) cable connection, I'm sure the problem
> is not limited by my ISP. I think it might be my computer. Should I be
> able to get smooth video performance on my old dog or is it incapable
> because of its limitations. Here are its specs:
>
> P11 300 MHz processor
> 324 megs of ram
> 32 meg video card
> Windows 98SE
>
> Some videos play reasonably smoothly, while others, like above, do not.
>
> Is there something that I could do to improve my video performance or should
> I just give in and buy a new XP or Vista computer?
>
>
Forget Vista.
Period.
Increasing RAM (if possible) might help some maybe the difference is
from buffer size requirements may be different.
Not letting any other program run (even in the background) might help
some (like anti-virus or firewall software).
If these tricks make zero improvement, thena faster CPU would be the
next step.

philo · Jan 6, 2008

"Robert Baer" <robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:13o0of0dtcukbaf@corp.supernews.com...
> bobster wrote:
>
> > My Granddaughter sends me videos on MySpace and YouTube and they appear
> > broken up and choppy, both the video and audio.
> >
> > Since I have a broadband (4-5 meg) cable connection, I'm sure the
problem
> > is not limited by my ISP. I think it might be my computer. Should I be
> > able to get smooth video performance on my old dog or is it incapable
> > because of its limitations. Here are its specs:
> >
> > P11 300 MHz processor
> > 324 megs of ram
> > 32 meg video card
> > Windows 98SE
> >
> > Some videos play reasonably smoothly, while others, like above, do not.
> >
> > Is there something that I could do to improve my video performance or
should
> > I just give in and buy a new XP or Vista computer?
> >
> >
> Forget Vista.
> Period.
> Increasing RAM (if possible) might help some maybe the difference is
> from buffer size requirements may be different.
> Not letting any other program run (even in the background) might help
> some (like anti-virus or firewall software).
> If these tricks make zero improvement, thena faster CPU would be the
> next step.

I agree...all I can add would be that a video card with more memory might
also help...
but even on my own machine with greater spec...some videos are still choppy

Ingeborg · Jan 6, 2008

philo wrote:

>
> "Robert Baer" <robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote in message
> news:13o0of0dtcukbaf@corp.supernews.com...
>> bobster wrote:
>>
>> > My Granddaughter sends me videos on MySpace and YouTube and they
>> > appear broken up and choppy, both the video and audio.
>> >
>> > Since I have a broadband (4-5 meg) cable connection, I'm sure the
> problem
>> > is not limited by my ISP. I think it might be my computer. Should
>> > I be able to get smooth video performance on my old dog or is it
>> > incapable because of its limitations. Here are its specs:
>> >
>> > P11 300 MHz processor
>> > 324 megs of ram
>> > 32 meg video card
>> > Windows 98SE
>> >
>> > Some videos play reasonably smoothly, while others, like above, do
>> > not.
>> >
>> > Is there something that I could do to improve my video performance
>> > or
> should
>> > I just give in and buy a new XP or Vista computer?
>> >
>> >
>> Forget Vista.
>> Period.
>> Increasing RAM (if possible) might help some maybe the difference
>> is
>> from buffer size requirements may be different.
>> Not letting any other program run (even in the background) might
>> help
>> some (like anti-virus or firewall software).
>> If these tricks make zero improvement, thena faster CPU would be
>> the
>> next step.
>
>
> I agree...all I can add would be that a video card with more memory
> might also help...
> but even on my own machine with greater spec...some videos are still
> choppy
>

I don't agree. 324 MB memory should be enough to play YouTube video's on
W98. Most video's are (much) smaller than 64 MB, so it could be buffered
completely. Adding video memory is only reasonable when playing games
which use lots of memory for textures. For video the extra memory is not
used.

In your case the processor is the bottleneck, I'm afraid. The only thing
you can do (without upgrading to a new PC) is downloading the video and
converting it to a less demanding format (mpeg for instance) before
playing it. This conversion will cost more time than the video lasts.

bobster · Jan 6, 2008

Thanks, Robert Baer, Philo and Ingeborg

I tried your suggestions - short of adding more memory - and it looks like
you are all right, that my 300 MHz processor is the bottleneck. Maybe I'll
go for a new PC AFTER Vista SP-1 comes out or perhaps find a good used 3 GHz
XP machine.

"Ingeborg" <a@b.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9A1DC85402FA8abinvalid@207.46.248.16...
philo wrote:

>
> "Robert Baer" <robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote in message
> news:13o0of0dtcukbaf@corp.supernews.com...
>> bobster wrote:
>>
>> > My Granddaughter sends me videos on MySpace and YouTube and they
>> > appear broken up and choppy, both the video and audio.
>> >
>> > Since I have a broadband (4-5 meg) cable connection, I'm sure the
> problem
>> > is not limited by my ISP. I think it might be my computer. Should
>> > I be able to get smooth video performance on my old dog or is it
>> > incapable because of its limitations. Here are its specs:
>> >
>> > P11 300 MHz processor
>> > 324 megs of ram
>> > 32 meg video card
>> > Windows 98SE
>> >
>> > Some videos play reasonably smoothly, while others, like above, do
>> > not.
>> >
>> > Is there something that I could do to improve my video performance
>> > or
> should
>> > I just give in and buy a new XP or Vista computer?
>> >
>> >
>> Forget Vista.
>> Period.
>> Increasing RAM (if possible) might help some maybe the difference
>> is
>> from buffer size requirements may be different.
>> Not letting any other program run (even in the background) might
>> help
>> some (like anti-virus or firewall software).
>> If these tricks make zero improvement, thena faster CPU would be
>> the
>> next step.
>
>
> I agree...all I can add would be that a video card with more memory
> might also help...
> but even on my own machine with greater spec...some videos are still
> choppy
>

I don't agree. 324 MB memory should be enough to play YouTube video's on
W98. Most video's are (much) smaller than 64 MB, so it could be buffered
completely. Adding video memory is only reasonable when playing games
which use lots of memory for textures. For video the extra memory is not
used.

In your case the processor is the bottleneck, I'm afraid. The only thing
you can do (without upgrading to a new PC) is downloading the video and
converting it to a less demanding format (mpeg for instance) before
playing it. This conversion will cost more time than the video lasts.

philo · Jan 6, 2008

"bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
news:e1QDJVKUIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
>
> Thanks, Robert Baer, Philo and Ingeborg
>
> I tried your suggestions - short of adding more memory - and it looks
like
> you are all right, that my 300 MHz processor is the bottleneck. Maybe
I'll
> go for a new PC AFTER Vista SP-1 comes out or perhaps find a good used 3
GHz
> XP machine.
>
>
>

OK

I'm sure a newer machine will do the trick...

Faster cpu will be nice

AlmostBob · Jan 6, 2008

I am using the slowest comp in the house a p2 200MHz
it plays utube video like sh__ if I try to play the streaming file
if i Hit the pause button on the player and let the file continue to
download while I do something else then play the file after it has finished
loading, there is no choppiness
HTH
--
-- -- -- -- --
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://www.safer-networking.org
AVG free antivirus http://free.grisoft.com/
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Super Antispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:%23tE4AbKUIHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
> news:e1QDJVKUIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Robert Baer, Philo and Ingeborg
> >
> > I tried your suggestions - short of adding more memory - and it looks
> like
> > you are all right, that my 300 MHz processor is the bottleneck. Maybe
> I'll
> > go for a new PC AFTER Vista SP-1 comes out or perhaps find a good used 3
> GHz
> > XP machine.
> >
> >
> >
>
> OK
>
> I'm sure a newer machine will do the trick...
>
> Faster cpu will be nice
>
>

bobster · Jan 6, 2008

Bingo! It works.

Thanks for the tip. You're not an "almost Bob", you're the real deal

Bobster

"AlmostBob" <anonymous1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:%23tetFsKUIHA.5516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
I am using the slowest comp in the house a p2 200MHz
it plays utube video like sh__ if I try to play the streaming file
if i Hit the pause button on the player and let the file continue to
download while I do something else then play the file after it has finished
loading, there is no choppiness
HTH
--
-- -- -- -- --
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://www.safer-networking.org
AVG free antivirus http://free.grisoft.com/
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Super Antispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:%23tE4AbKUIHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
> news:e1QDJVKUIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Robert Baer, Philo and Ingeborg
> >
> > I tried your suggestions - short of adding more memory - and it looks
> like
> > you are all right, that my 300 MHz processor is the bottleneck. Maybe
> I'll
> > go for a new PC AFTER Vista SP-1 comes out or perhaps find a good used 3
> GHz
> > XP machine.
> >
> >
> >
>
> OK
>
> I'm sure a newer machine will do the trick...
>
> Faster cpu will be nice
>
>

philo · Jan 6, 2008

"bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
news:e%23i16ULUIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Bingo! It works.
>
> Thanks for the tip. You're not an "almost Bob", you're the real deal
>
> Bobster
>
>

Wow. Almost Bob is a genius!!!!

Paradoxdb3 · Jan 7, 2008

Hi, I just joined in and would like to add a tiny bit of advice. What seemed
to work with my P11 300mhz machine was (as already mentioned) let the file
download completely first AND right click on the flash player movie and
choose low quality. The video and audio are almost not affected a single
bit, and it plays a lot smoother!

"philo" wrote:

>
> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
> news:e%23i16ULUIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> > Bingo! It works.
> >
> > Thanks for the tip. You're not an "almost Bob", you're the real deal
> >
> > Bobster
> >
> >
>
>
> Wow. Almost Bob is a genius!!!!
>
>
>

bobster · Jan 8, 2008

Thanks, Para

I had tried that in addition to letting the file download completely and
found as you have said, that using the low quality setting seems to improve
the performance. Seems counterintuitive but whatever works!

"Paradoxdb3" <Paradoxdb3@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8E293DFC-FBA9-4CAC-85BA-1DD1F7A70286@microsoft.com...
Hi, I just joined in and would like to add a tiny bit of advice. What
seemed
to work with my P11 300mhz machine was (as already mentioned) let the file
download completely first AND right click on the flash player movie and
choose low quality. The video and audio are almost not affected a single
bit, and it plays a lot smoother!

"philo" wrote:

>
> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message
> news:e%23i16ULUIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> > Bingo! It works.
> >
> > Thanks for the tip. You're not an "almost Bob", you're the real deal
> >
> > Bobster
> >
> >
>
>
> Wow. Almost Bob is a genius!!!!
>
>
>

Name · Jan 9, 2008

"AlmostBob" <anonymous1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:#tetFsKUIHA.5516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> I am using the slowest comp in the house a p2 200MHz
> it plays utube video like sh__ if I try to play the
> streaming file if i Hit the pause button on the player and
> let the file continue to download while I do something else
> then play the file after it has finished loading, there is
> no choppiness HTH

I have been through this saga myself using a 450 MHz K6-3. I
continue to use it because after five years of use it works with
zero problems. Unfortunately this is not the end of the story.

I discovered that technique this did not always work. I have
spent a lot of time and frustration with videos that didn't work
and even more time trying to figure out what was going on.

I speak empirically. I have had great difficulty getting help on
these issues and straight statements about what as happening.

It appears that there are two ways videos get sent. One is
called progressive download where the server sends a file that
gets stored locally. You then play the file and the video plays
fine as described above.

The other is true streaming where the video comes and goes into
the bit bucket if not viewed. I have gone through several
videos, some long, where I let it download as described above and
then discovered that the download started all over. With true
streaming, the video is not saved in a file and when you try to
play after downloading there is no file to play and it has to
start over. Part of the idea is that you can't get the video in a
file. But if you can't buffer it, you will never be able to see
it. I don't think you can tell generally if a video on a web
page is one or the other.

To me getting a playable file is very important. Often I don't
have time to view a file when I find it and want to download it
for viewing when I do have time.

I have also discovered that, in fact, sometimes a file is created
nonetheless. I have found hidden files in places like my temp
directory and my IE internet cache files. Once or twice I was
able to play them. Otherwise I wasn't. I haven't found anything
that explains these files and how to play them.

I found some programs that seem to address these problems. See
http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/record-
streaming-video-windows-media.htm

Many such programs exist.

When I get some time I plan to get one of them and see how they
work.

Choppy video

bobster

Robert Baer

philo

Ingeborg

bobster

philo

AlmostBob

bobster

philo

Paradoxdb3

bobster

Name

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