Smoother playback

[alz2605]

Right here is my PC spec:

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/c01864736.pdf I'm using My Movies, AnyDVD HD and Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre 3 Platinum in Windows Media Center.

This is my first PC and the spec are double Dutch to me but what I do know is that I'm not too happy with the bluray playback both via rips and disc. I find the playback to be a bit jurky especially when the camera pans left or right.

I was planning on upgrading the graphics card to this http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/13639695/S...Components as I wanted HD audio over hdmi. But will this also help with smoothing out the playback issue too? Or do I also need to increase the ram too? Or is there something else altogether I need to do?

[elootos]

Hmmm, well according to the specs it certainly should handle Blu-ray playback.

The G210 however is the entry level model of card from nVidia for that purpose so the graphics card you mention should definitely help things along, especially giving you audio over HDMI.

Your PC has 4Gb of DDR3 RAM which is good, although I imagine not the fastest stuff out there, but certainly enough if it regardless.

I can't see why it should under-perform for you though as you are using the right software.

What are your settings in TotalMedia Theatre? And how is the monitor/TV connected - DVI/HDMI at 60Hz refresh rate?

[northan]

I don't think it will fit.
I'm prob 95% wrong and some one can correct me, but it looks like you have a low profile pci-e slot and the gpu is a full bracket.

Your right about the gpu needing a little more omph as there is only 512mb
but....

Quote:NVIDIA® GeForce™ G210 with PureVideo® HD technology
512 MB dedicated memory, up to 2303 MB total available
graphics memory as allocated by Windows 7®

Have you tried allocating a little more memory to the system to see if it makes a difference?

Also being a low profile case, what is the cooling aspect like now, will you get sufficient flow of air through the case if you put a passive cooled gpu in there?
It says it has a pci-e slot, is that taken up by the original gpu card at the moment, if so does your gpu have a fan on it?

There are lots of choices of gpu, preference to nvidia and ati I don't know, people are saying that ati are the better.

[elootos]

(07-31-2010 03:30 PM)northan Wrote:  I don't think it will fit.
I'm prob 95% wrong and some one can correct me, but it looks like you have a low profile pci-e slot and the gpu is a full bracket.

Good call! that'll teach me to speed reply and not read the info properly!!

[alz2605]

(07-31-2010 05:59 PM)elootos Wrote:  

(07-31-2010 03:30 PM)northan Wrote:  I don't think it will fit.
I'm prob 95% wrong and some one can correct me, but it looks like you have a low profile pci-e slot and the gpu is a full bracket.

Good call! that'll teach me to speed reply and not read the info properly!!

Ok thanks guys. How about this one http://www.dabs.com/products/sapphire-te...-6LSM.html Any other suggestions? I really want the graphics card to handle HD audio over hdmi.

And can you point me in the right direction on how to assign more memory to my current card?

[northan]

Sorry I don't know the particulars of assigning more memory, is there a graphics portal for your gpu, usually found as an icon in the left bottom tray or through control panel, maybe right click on the desktop and open the nvidia settings.

That gpu looks fine and will give you a good kick for some modern games and I think your looking at possibly the best, under £80 half height cards.
Its good to have directx 11 too make it more future proof for a while

Msi make one that is slightly more expensive, but is meant to be better at overclocking if that's your thang.

BTW have a look at ebuyer, it's slightly cheaper!

[alz2605]

Well I've ordered the Sapphire ati 5570. Next question is how easy is it to change a graphics card for someone who has never opened up a pc ever before? I know I need an anti static bracelet and I'm sure it'll be an easy task but still a bit nervous about opening up something I paid a fair bit of money for!

Oh well fingers crossed and hope it all works afterwards!

[northan]

We have all been there one time or another.
It's not so bad to physically change a gpu, the more complicated stuff can be the software.

The right way of doing it is to uninstall all your software associated to your old gpu. Hunt around in the settings. Its not imperative I believe to always do this, I have been known not to bother with this stage and everything works just fine, but it is good practice to make sure there is nothing conflicting.

Secondly switch computer off and unplug from wall, no nasty shocks please It helps to unplug all the back wires, easier to work on.

Unscrew the case side, I'm unsure of your design, it should be the vented side. I find laying it on its side on the carpet the easiest way to access it.

The inside mother board should look like this (scroll down)
The PCI-e 16 slot is the large black one above the two small black slots in the lower left quadrant.

Unscrew or unclip the gpu from the back of the case.
There is a plastic clip on the the slot that locks the gpu in place, this needs pushing away and can be fiddly.
First, grab the edge of the board and lift and slight wobble back and forth on its axis gently to ease the board out.
Don't touch the board directly on the components, solder side or connections on the bottom.

Swap the gpus over putting the old gpu in the bag provided with the new one. Again don't touch anything other than the sides of the board.
Replace board into slot pushing down firmly. You may feel a little knock as it sits flush, if your not sure just eyeball it to make sure the shoulders are flat down and square.

Screw or clip the gpu in place again, put the side back on, plug in all your wires and let it start up.
Follow install instructions given with gpu.

As I said don't touch the board unless it's on the edge and you should be good. The instructions with the gpu are normally quite good.
You tube has some good tutorials on there too

If anything don't follow to plan or looks weired just photo it and post it here for us to look. Remember yours is a slimline case so it may well be cramped in there.

There are prob a few people who are shaking there heads reading this saying "you don't want to do it like that", if so speak up. Have fun

[elootos]

(07-31-2010 08:17 PM)alz2605 Wrote:  And can you point me in the right direction on how to assign more memory to my current card?

Well you've already plumped for a new card, but to assign more memory to the old one would have been in the bios (Del or F2 during boot). In fact once you have you're new card installed you may want to head in there and select the PCI-e as the main card and take down the RAM for the onboard to 0Mb.

(08-03-2010 12:20 AM)northan Wrote:  We have all been there one time or another.
It's not so bad to physically change a gpu, the more complicated stuff can be the software.

The right way of doing it is to uninstall all your software associated to your old gpu. Hunt around in the settings. Its not imperative I believe to always do this, I have been known not to bother with this stage and everything works just fine, but it is good practice to make sure there is nothing conflicting.

You typically uninstall a device and its drivers by first uninstalling the main software (if any) from Control Panel - Uninstall Programs. Then the drivers itself are in the Device Manager (Win + Pause/break) and then right-click on the device and select uninstall.

Any reboots will normally reinstall the device again so do this immediately prior to changing hardware.

You can leave the mains plugged in still to the case as long as the it's off at the wall point; this should then ground the case for the purpose of avoiding static (which touching a radiator will also avoid).

[northan]

doing the foxtrot on the carpet before handling components is not advisable.