Very slow DVD playback

[ravimano]

Hi,

I just installed Directdvd 5.2 and a Sony DDU-1636 DVD rom drive, but have very slow DVD playback.
Does anyone know how to solve this?

Tom

[jmet]

Is DMA enabled for your DVD-ROM drive?

Check your DMA settings - How ? do this -> Go to Control Panel> System> Hardware Tab> Device Manager> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers> Right Click Primary IDE channel (and Secondary IDE channel after you finish with Primary)> Properties> Advanced Settings Tab> Transfer Mode or <a href="http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=101616">Click here to learn.</a>

Do the above from both "Primary & Secondary IDE channels".

I (We) need to know whats in both "Transfer Mode" and "Current Transfer Mode". Screen shot below is what I'm talking about.

[ravimano]

I tried this but only got as far as primary IDE but couldn't find the Advanced Settings tab. I'm using Windows 98. My pc meets the system requirements.
What must I do?

[ravimano]

Go where jmet?

[jmet]

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=101616

[ravimano]

I tried this but DMA never stays selected when I go back to the device manager to see if DMA is still checked.
What can be done?

[jmet]

Slow playback on your PC or stand alone DVD player?

[ravimano]

Slow on pc.

[jmet]

ok please stop posting your reply here and also PM'ing me your reply. Just post here please so all of us (helpers) can help you. I do not know it all so it would be helpful to you to let others know too.

<hr>

I think you have something (maybe another program running in the background) that is hogging up your CPU and/or system resources that is causing undesirable playback. Try exiting (shutting down) other programs running besides Directdvd 5.2 .

BTW, what are your computer specs?

[ravimano]

I tried restarting the pc many times before running DirectDVD and not running anything else, but the same problem remains.

My pc's specs are:
P2 300 MHz,
128Mb RAM
Windows 98
40Gb Hard disk
Video card
Audio card.

Here is the link showing the specifications requirements on the manufacturer's website:

http://www.orionstudios.com/DVDRequirements.html

What must be done?

[ravimano]

Just seen your reply to my question about if you are receiving my messages so I'll post them here now on.

[jmet]

Quoted from their website regarding video playback problems:

Some items here are part of the free software TECHDVD (release March 29th-2002)) which is a free companion for DirectDVD- or you will find this inside DirectDVD as of March 28th 2002-



• Make sure that DMA is turned on the DVD drive. In the case of W2K make sure that the secondary and primary IDE controllers have DMA turned on

• Switch resolution and color depth to 800x600x256 colors and see if the jerkiness is resolved. If so put the player in a mode to switch to those colors.

• Turn off 3D and 4-channel audio support and see if performance is improved.

• Check to see if MC is being turned on correctly. If not you may need a player and or display driver to be updated.

[ravimano]

DirectDVD version 5.2 was released after March 29th 2002.

How switch on DMA on if I have no specific driver for the Sony DVD rom drive? What does W2K mean? I tried switching DMA on in the device manager in the control panel, but when go back to see if DMA is switched, the box shows that as unticked/unselected.

I tried changing the resolution to 600x480 but the playback is still very choppy and slow.

The DirectDVD was automatically configured to normal (not 3D, surround, etc) two speaker output when I installed the software.

What does MC mean?

[jmet]

W2K - Windows 2000

Figured you would know what MC meant, its related to that software and I have never used that software.

And is this a commercial DVD you are trying to play?

Have you tried a different DVD playback software? Such as WinDVD or PowerDVD.

[ravimano]

I 'm using windows 98, but the manufacturer's recommended system requirements is Windows 95 at least. Why Windows 2000?

I don't know what MC is.

The DVDs I've tried are commercial (eg ocean's eleven and music dvds from retailers).

I tried to run Powerdvd but found it requires capabilities beyond my pc's specs. According to DirectDVD 5.2 manufacturer's website, my pc's specs meet the requirements.

What should be done?