There seems to be a 2sec pausing problem with AVI files in x86 MPC-HC

[Khaaan!]

::: I'm using the latest 1771 SVN build and this issue has only started happening a few versions ago) :::

When playing an AVI video (doesn't matter what codec, I have tried DivX videos, XViD videos and camcorder MJPEG videos with various audio format tracks too) I get anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 seconds of pausing which happens roughly every 2 seconds of playback.

It only happens on AVI files and isn't on any certain codec. However if I repeatedly close and re-open the video I may get lucky and it doesn't stutter every 2 seconds.

The stuttering stops after 10-30 seconds though and playback resumes as normal.

I watched the CPU usage and during each 2 second pause one of my 4 cores jumps to 70~% so something in the 32bit version of MPC-HC is causing this.

I installed the x64 version and did not have a single problem at all.

I have re-installed the x85 version and used totally stock settings and can confirm the pausing issue exists on stock settings (all filters enabled) and my own settings (all filters disabled, DivX decoder for video, AC3 filter for audio, Haali for splitting).

So why has this only started happening a few builds back? Something changed that could affect AVI files? I keep track of the changelog and nothing jumped out of the ordinary.

Not a major issue because the x64 version works and thankfully the Windows H264 decoder supports DXVA as well so I'll continue using the x64 build I think.

I'm running Windows 7 x64 Pro and have the following codecs installed:
- DivX 8
- FFDshow (no decoders enabled, just used for VirtualDub/testing)
- Haali Media Splitter
- AC3 Filter

I have the following External Filters set up in MPC-HC:
- AC3 Filter = Prefer
- Haali Splitter = Prefer
- DivX Decoder Filter = Prefer

All Source and Transform Filters are disabled except for the AVI Source filter (so MJPEG videos work).

I am also using EVR custom presenter with Bicubic A 1.0 resizer option and am not using any Vsync options (not needed, sync/tearing is good enough without).

Thanks!

[namaiki]

Try get rid of AC3 filter.

[Khaaan!]

It's not the AC3 Filter.

[namaiki]

If you go back to the old build, does the issue go away?

Try disable Enable Frame Time Correction if it is enabled.

[Khaaan!]

Same problem, I will try Haali Splitter removal as that's the only other thing that's changed along with MPC version updates.

[Khaaan!]

Same issue with Haali uninstalled so it's not that.

Confused now LOL.

Would GFX card drivers cause this kind of issue maybe?

[namaiki]

Get a MPC-HC.exe that is 32-bit and create a blank text file in the same folder called MPC-HC.ini and open that MPC-HC.exe and open a video from within it and test.

[Khaaan!]

So basically using MPC stock settings?

I've already done that above!

[namaiki]

Not basically stock settings. Precisely stock settings. I hope you actually tried that exactly...

If it's not MPC-HC, then it is something else in your system.

[djp123]

same problem here, can't remember what built it started to happen

[namaiki]

same problem here, can't remember what built it started to happen

Post up your system specs. Does the issue only affect avi files? 32-bit only?

Try MPC-HC 32-bit with all default settings. See above for MPC-HC.ini information.

[djp123]

that said, there appears to be stuttering in the x64 version still, just less (in the x32 it will stutter massively)

[djp123]

Where would I disable frame time correction?

Going back to a build I had laying around from August 2009 there is no problem. I think it was fine initially when the v-sync options were added, this stuttering problem is more recent (I think)

I had initially though it was Nvidia drivers, like it was changing clocks over and over using adaptive power but I turned that off.

Will try the same video downstairs in a bit using different hardware.

[namaiki]

It is under 'View-> Renderer-> Presentation.'

It isn't enabled by default though.

[djp123]

Post up your system specs. Does the issue only affect avi files? 32-bit only?

Try MPC-HC 32-bit with all default settings. See above for MPC-HC.ini information.

Same with the default settings. 32 bit and 64 bit but 64 bit doesn't stutter as much.

Specs

e6600
GTX 275, latest drivers
Vista 64

This is on avi, just SD Xvid, will try on a x264 file in a bit

EDIT: x264 seems fine using CoreAVC, fine with the internal using DXVA, fine without DXVA

[namaiki]

Wow.. I must say that I am using Forceware 186.84 though. I haven't tried using the latest drivers. (can't as my laptop is not supported)

[djp123]

EVR Output, seems to be fine
EVR Custom Pres & EVR Sync both will stutter, especially when seeking, it will stutter bad for many seconds (audio plays perfectly but the video will stop and skip many frames). In the video I have it's more or less reproducible, as in it will tend to drop frames around the same point. EDIT: actually if I seek to a certain point in most any videos it will stutter like this permanently until I seek again to a point that doesn't (whether VSYNC is on or off).... but there is stuttering independent of this as well in normal playback

With Vsync unchecked via renderer settings it seems to be fine with EVR Custom Pres (Not EVR Sync), so something wrong with the vsync code I guess?

[djp123]

Wow.. I must say that I am using Forceware 186.84 though. I haven't tried using the latest drivers. (can't as my laptop is not supported)

ok, will try changing drivers

[Khaaan!]

Yes it was using "exactly" stock settings, you may have just misunderstood my usage of the word basically.

[namaiki]

Most certainly. I wouldn't trust people to put the settings back to default by themselves.


I'm not sure if you missed it, but: If you go back to the old build, does the issue go away?

[Razoola]

This sounds to me like the EVR bug with the newer and latest Nvidia drivers. Do you use a Nvidia gfx card and if so which driver are you using?

[Khaaan!]

Hmm latest driver and GTX 260

[tetsuo55]

Does sound like the nvidia driver bug, you should go back to a version from january or something.

[Khaaan!]

That's not really possible, the latest drivers are optimised for the games I play and thus give better performance )BC2, L4D2 etc) - Shame :/

[Razoola]

The temp fix is to make sure media opens in full screen with the EVR sync/cp renderers, this sort of works most of the time. Other than the I would suggest using the haali render until nvidia fix the issue (aparently they are aware of it).

If you wanted to try an earlier driver instead 196.21 does not suffer the problem I can confirm.

[Khaaan!]

Thanks I will try 196.21 - I just hope it doesn't make my bad company 2 FPS lower because it's running pretty sweet at the moment!

[Khaaan!]

OK reinstalled 196.21 and I am happy to say that the issue has completely vanished!

I can't believe more people have not experienced this issue considering the number of nVidia users around and I've never heard of it either even though I'm a PC gamer and techie who keeps his ear to the ground on this sort of thing!

Thanks :)