Video playblack problem

[JaYBirD0613]

I downloaded a few TV episodes to watch on my computer but they won't play smoothly. There isnt huge jerkyness, but it just isn't smooth.

The only way I can get the files to play smoothly is if I play a video right after I reboot without trying to run any programs. It will play perfectly when I do this. But when I try to watch a second file right after the first, it goes back to being jerky.

What could cause this?

The only two things I can think of are RAM and the video card. I have 1GB of PC3200 ram and a 6600GT that is displaying two 2405FPW LCDs through DVI. Could having two monitors at 1920x1200 resolution be slowing down the video playback?

Btw, the file is ~350MB and 45mins long.

 

[psihog]

I find that most playback problems aren't caused by displays or video card. You should look into codec and media player. Try VLC player first and reinstall the codec ( or pack). Which audio and video codecs is the video?

 

[Severian]

check your cpu utilization in Task Manager while you start the video file, see if something is hogging cpu cycles.

You already did a sweep for spyware and virii, right?

 

[JaYBirD0613]

Now I'm even more confused. I re-installed the Xvid codec and the the problem went away. I tried playing another video and it came back. So I re-installed the xvid codec again and it work.

So now instead of having to reboot everytime, I just need to re-install xvid. What could be causing this?

 

[JaYBirD0613]

Just tried VLC Player and it seems to have fixed it. Any idea why WMP wouldnt work? Was it some how erasing the xvid codec after I watched a video?