Guest bobster Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 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?
Guest Robert Baer Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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.
Guest philo Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video "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
Guest Ingeborg Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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.
Guest bobster Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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.
Guest philo Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video "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
Guest AlmostBob Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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 > >
Guest bobster Posted January 6, 2008 Posted January 6, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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 > >
Guest philo Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 Re: Choppy video "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!!!!
Guest Paradoxdb3 Posted January 8, 2008 Posted January 8, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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!!!! > > >
Guest bobster Posted January 8, 2008 Posted January 8, 2008 Re: Choppy video 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!!!! > > >
Guest Name Posted January 9, 2008 Posted January 9, 2008 Re: Choppy video "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.
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