5100 Mpeg playback speed when running on battery

Just what else is running in the background? I take it all is 'hunky dory' when running under mains power?

Windows XP has numerous 'services' that are loaded at startup that can detract from the smooth running of memory hungry applications (like video apps) especially if you run on battery power. For more info on these AND advice on what to and what not to stop running, visit http://www.blackviper.com  

> I take it all is 'hunky dory' when running under mains power?

I still have some issues with PowerDVD, but it is mostly OK on mains power.

I've shut down all the services XP will allow while testing, yet still the problem exists.

The odd thing is (using DigiTV), that if I open the power management control panel, re-select the same power scheme as was selected and hit APPLY, the stuttering will stop until I change from full screen playback to windowed and then back to full screen again . This doesn't change any of the running services. It is as if changing full-screen <> windowed forces a rethink of the power management  and a reset of the available power (MPEG hardware perhaps?)

Phil

 

 

You don't actually say but I'm assuming that the system complies with the minimum specs of both powerDVD and  digiTV?

Taken from the respective websites......digi tv faq...  
 recommend a PC running with a 800MHz AMD or Intel CPU (MMX enabled) as a minimum. You should also have 64MB or more of installed RAM and at least 20MB of free hard disk space. Your graphics card needs to support video overlays (practically all do - unless its ancient) and preferably of the AGP rather than PCI variety. Tests have shown that most video adapters integrated onto modern motherboards are also OK.

power dvd specs....Processor: Intel Pentium II 350MHz* or above, or any Athlon processor

* To enable audio effects such as Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, SRS TruSurround XT, CLMEI™, and Dolby Pro Logic II decoder, or to play DVD titles with DTS digital surround tracks, it is recommended to use a 400MHz or higher processor system and at least 128MB of system RAM.
* CLPV™ and CLEV™ are sophisticated video processing technologies that require higher CPU power. If both of them are enabled, together with the audio effects above, it is recommended to have a Pentium®-M/Centrino®, Pentium® 4, Athlon® 1.0GHz, or a system with equivalent or higher performance.

Is the system set up to maximise performance or to max battery life?

My Laptop is brand new, received as a replacement 3 weeks ago.

The problem leens strongly towards (Hardware Mpeg encoding) being turned off or (Power Options Properties) changing automatically when full screen mode is sellected.

**Computer System**
System Model: Inspiron 5100 
BIOS Version: Dell Computer Corporation A26 
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz 
 
Memory (RAM) Capacity: 512 MB
 
Local Disk  (60 GB)   Used: 18.85 GB. Free: 36.99 GB 

Video Card  Model: MOBILITY RADEON 7500C 64Mb

 

Phil.

Could be another case where the Dell speedstep driver isn't up to the job?...a'la... http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_power&message.id=23051

Could be!

Given the number of Speedstep queries posted on this forum it is about time Dell acknowledged the problem.

If you are using Quickset, create a profile for DVD viewing with the processor speed at full and network adapters off.   You may also want to try winDVD.

 

 

You gotta remember that no matter WHAT app you use it still takes up memory/processor power to run not just the app itself but the media that it is playing.

Then there is the power taken by the speakers and the display, and possibly you are listening whilst working on that uni thesis...so more power is required to run the word processor and then to convert your keystrokes into the written word...hey why not connect to the internet whilst you're at it and drain even more power by running Internet Explorer in the background or having Messenger or ICQ or some such sat in the task bar waiting for your girl to whisper 'sweet nothings' to you over the net?

Then you can set your AV to auto update or even have it running when NOT connected to the net...Oh then there's the Firewall, and perhaps something used to block those pesky POP-UP ads?....Perhaps you even have a game of Solitaire open for use between tracks or if yer girl has stopped speaking to ya or you get stumped in the middle of the thesis compliation.Mustn't forget the screensaver set to kick in if there should be a few minutes of inactivity.....

Then of course there are those SERVICES that I've already mentioned chewing away at the available CPU cycles memory and the battey power...tis enough to make any battery expire with the utmost expediance and any processor to get 'hot under the collar' having all them tasks to perform in the blink of an eye.

Bluetracker,

How can I make this clear?

The difference between perfect playback and stutter is as small as changing the screen from windowed to full screen and if, while stuttering in full-screen, I simply switch to the (previously opened) power options panel and reselect the same power option (just so the apply button gets enabled) and press apply. The stuttering will stop and perfect playback resumes . . . until I change to and from full screen again.  Arrrghhh

Paradoxically, I have no problem with DVD playback. The machine up's the power if the DVD/CD-RW is used to play the file. The problem is with files from the HDD (and before you suggest it, it isn't the HDD speed slowing; I've benchmarked it).

 

Are you sure that the processor isn't scaling back under battery power?  There's a program called i8kfangui that can read many parameters reported by the bios, including current processor speed and load.

Rob

PS-  Is DMA enabled on your IDE bus?