fast DVD playback software

**robr** · 04-30-2004, 07:34 AM

I'm looking for something that can decode DVD playback with the least amount of CPU. I have a crappy laptop (P2 300 w/128meg memory) which surprisingly enough did fine with Win98. I "upgraded" to XP and now when DVD action is happening, it gets somewhat jerky. ALMOST livable but annoying. I've tried PowerDVD 5.0 ... almost OK and Nero Showtime which is much worse. Anybody looked into this before? I just need to eke out a few more % performance. I've set the config settings where available to lowest quality playback.

**b_nom** · 04-30-2004, 07:49 AM

If you're using a laptop you might want to check out a hardware DVD decoder, like Margi's DVD-To-Go. It's been discontinued but you can still get it on ebay for like $20, but make sure it's compatible with your

laptop

**robr** · 04-30-2004, 08:23 AM

any idea if it works in XP? i note they have a WDM driver available which indicates it MIGHT.

**b_nom** · 04-30-2004, 08:38 AM

Not sure, I was using it on a PI 133Mhz with Win98 and it rocked, my friend is using it now on his NEC Versa LX with Win2K with no problems, so I'm pretty sure sure it will work on XP

.From Margi's website:

If you are running Windows XP...then download the WDM-based driver.
Please note that while our WDM drivers should work for Windows XP, we do not offer support for troubleshooting under Windows XP.

The only bad thing about that specific card is that you have to use their software, or it won't work

If your laptop isn't "zoomed video enabled" you can still use the card, but you will have to watch the videos using the composite output on the dongle

**robr** · 04-30-2004, 08:43 AM

Well seeing that I also have an NEC Versa LX I shoud be ok

. Hopefully their software is easy enough to get around in with a touch screen.

**b_nom** · 04-30-2004, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by robr

I "upgraded" to XP and now when DVD action is happening, it gets somewhat jerky. ALMOST livable but annoying.

Have you checked if DMA is enabled on your DVD drive? It helps a lot, so enable it and try it again

, it might fix the jerkiness

**robr** · 04-30-2004, 08:53 AM

its set to use DMA if available but apparently it's not since it's in PIO mode.

**robr** · 04-30-2004, 08:56 AM

i wonder if the firmware on the dvd drive is upgradable..... Mat****a SR-8171... off to google.

**b_nom** · 04-30-2004, 02:16 PM

Have you tried searching on http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php they usually have the latest firmware for DVD drives, and some hacked one's for RPC2 drives (so it is not region locked anymore), but I think yours is a RPC1 drive, but still worth a look to see if the y have anythin newer