Is my PC too slow to run DVDs?

[cfauvel]

I just bought a Toshiba DVD writer (Toshiba SDR5272 / 8x4x12x DVD±RW / 32x10x40x CD-RW / Dual / Nero Software / DVD Burner)
and installed it in a no-name PC, [Pentium III 667 (slot1) /133 bus with 416mb ram]

I'm using Nero's 6.0 suite of tools that came with the burner, to find that when I play a DVD movie the sound and video is jerky (mostly the sound).

Is my PC too slow to play dvds? or is there a setting on the burner that could be scaled down via software to play these movies?

It is not a big deal, since I'd rather use the DVD burner to back up data, but it irks me a bit....any thoughts?

[dave computer]

what do you have for a video card do you have?

[cfauvel]

I'm running a Nvidia GForce2 with 32mb ram (Prophet II is what I think it was called)

[ShannonLi]

i think its good enough

[RJ]

It is way more than what a DVD needs. Your PC components are not the problem.

Check that DMA is enabled.

RJ

[cfauvel]

explain the DMA stuff please, and how to fix/set/modify it.


is that Dynamic Memory Allocation? isn't DMA settings what we use to have to set back in the days of choosing an IRQ for our addon cards?

Any way, please give some pointers on what device I should be worrying about the DMA (video card, DVD burner, Sound Card...which BTW is an old ISA type SoundBlaster...could that be the problem)

Thanks people!!

[dave computer]

You can enable dma in the bios

[Marke522]

You might also want to see how many other applications are running while you are playing your movies.

What software are you using to watch the movies? Inter Actual? DivX? Whatever is it make sure it is up to date.

[cfauvel]

I am using Nero's 6.0 Media Player that came with the burner and HAVE updated both the burner tools and Media Player too.


as far as running other apps while the movie is going, none...the system is using 100% of the cpu to just run the movie...and don't try pausing it and starting it again too many times or it will hang.

the MB is a Soyo 6vba133 older MB with VIA chipset, can't remember the BIOS maker off hand. I do remember enableing the shadowing everything in the CMOS...should I disable all of the shadowing?

It must be some silly setting somewhere right?, a Piii 667, with 416mb ram, AGP Nvidia Gforce2 w/ 32mb ram should be able to play a dvd movie...no?

[Marke522]

Should be able to play without any trouble at all, check the driver for your video card, make sure it is correct.

My father in law has an AMD K62 @ 633 , has 512 ram, uses onboard GPU and watches movies all the time.

Try maybe using a different program to watch the movie, maybe Nero takes to much memory. When you put a DVD in the ROM drive it should be able to install a player for you. See if the one that is on the disk work better than Nero.

[RJ]

DMA is Direct Memora Access. Using DMA, the data transfer from and to IDE devices won't stress the CPU.

You enable DMA by going into device manager, click on the IDE channel where the optical is connected to, and select properties. There you can see if the current transfer mode is indeed a DMA mode. If not, set it to "DMA, if available" and reboot.

RJ

[daveyp225]

My family was watching dvd's on a brand new pII 400mhz compaq (21" CRT) with absolutly no problems at all. In fact when it is restored to its original state, it performas as good as my 1.2ghz athlon4 laptop. The computer is still used often.. Your computer should have no probs..

Dave

[cfauvel]

and they are set to use UltraDMA,

But my issues have now been moved to the Storage Section, since I've noticed that doing anything related to a DVD locks the computer up.

reading, writing and drivespeed test on a DVD media locks up the PC

reading and writing on CD media is OK.

had roxio previously with my HP cd writer, and now have NERO 6.0 for my DVD writer....successfully wrote to CD media on the DVD writer, but no go on DVD.

was trying to use a DVD+RW to backup my data using NERO BackITup....no luck

[cfauvel]

Ok I found the latest Firmware update for the drive off of their european website (rather than their US website), 1031 rev.

Following the instructions with crossed fingers, that solve the issue of the NERO activities locking up the pc when doing something with a DVD.

My guess it had nothing to do with the software, but was more likely the drive and the media. But since I don't have another DD burning software I couldn't test that theory.

The media used was Memorex DVD+rw, which searching on the internet comes up alot as a problem media with this drive.

as far as the playing of a DVD Movie the sound is still jerky, the video looks good. I don't know if I mentioned this, but I'm running a ISA based SoundBlaster 16 sound card...(cost $200 in the early 90s), I'm wondering if the ISA bus is too slow for DVD playback, I remember that these old cards had jumpers to set the IRQ and DMA ??...I'll check the DMA setting for the card tonight.

[fuzzai]

I had the sound choppy on my PC while playing a dvd before. aslong as i played the dvd right after a reboot i was fine.

Updated the Sound Drivers, and it seemed to have fixed the problem.

Have you looked to see if there's new drivers avail?

[RayH]

You might need hardware acceleration.