I think my codecs are messed up

[drfsupercenter]

After reformatting, I installed all the usual codecs, DivX, XviD, ffdshow, MPEG-2 stuff, AC3 etc.

However, pretty much every DVD I watch on my computer looks very pixelated, like a poorly encoded AVI. Often in animated shows, around people's mouths there is a ring where it's especially bad.

Any idea why this might be?

BTW, it's all players... Nero, VLC, MPC, WMP etc.

[anonymez]

it's not codec related. got latest graphics card drivers & directx?

and here we were all thinking your PC problems would vanish after your clean install!

[drfsupercenter]

I downloaded the latest drivers off nvidia.com... odd.

Not sure about DirectX, I just have the version that came with the games I've installed.

[anonymez]

go start-->run, type dxdiag, hit enter to see which version. should be 9.0c

[drfsupercenter]

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

[Chewy]

I downloaded the latest drivers off nvidia.com

that may be the problem with older lamer cards

[anonymez]

still thinking it could be drivers, tinkered with any settings? uninstall & reinstall, maybe the version before it. as a sidenote, recommend omega drivers http://www.omegadrivers.net

[drfsupercenter]

Omega drivers for my video card?

And the card is not THAT old, it's an NVIDIA GeForce MX 4000, it was one of the only options because I don't have an AGP port on my motherboard (there were the solder markings for one but nothing there... stupid Dell and their laziness)

But I don't think it's a problem with the card itself because before the reformat it looked fine.

[anonymez]

And the card is not THAT old, it's an NVIDIA GeForce MX 4000

trust me, that's old

downgrade drivers, whether regular or omega is up to you

[drfsupercenter]

What's omega do... is it better or something? And how do I downgrade?

[anonymez]

they're optimized, small tweaks to give better overall performance (more benefit with ati cards though, no sluggish ccc to deal with). uninstall through add/remove programs, or better yet use driver cleaner. then install previous version

[drfsupercenter]

What's driver cleaner?

[anonymez]

google it

[drfsupercenter]

http://www.mvktech.net/index.php?option=com_remository&func=fileinfo&filecatid=1036

This is what comes up for nVidia, but GeForce MX 4000's not on there... the numbers are all higher. Does it matter?

[Chewy]

http://www.tweakguides.com/NVFORCE_4.html

take some time and read it

http://www.3dchipset.com/drivers/nvidia/official/nt5/index.php