Random audio/video playback issues

Using Win Media Player 11, I'm having random issues with .mp3 and .mpeg files stuttering or distorting for a few seconds during playback.

Here's what I've checked so far that hasn't solved the issue:

• All drivers are up to date (CONTROL PANEL>SYSTEM>DEVICE MANAGER>UPDATE DRIVERS>AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE)
• Advanced System Care v3.7.2 shows no registry errors; disk has <1% fragmentation (no music files are fragmented).
• DSKCHK shows no issues (since the distortion/stuttering is random, I strongly doubt it is a HDD issue).
• The system monitor gadget shows minimal processor (<25%) and minimal memory (<40%) usage.
• The files are stored on the main internal drive - not streamed over the Internet or from another HomeGroup PC.

System Specs:

• Intel E8400 CPU (no overclocking)
• Gigabyte EP43-UD-L board
• 4GB (2x2GB) Patriot DDR2 6400 memory
• ATI 3850 Video Card, 1GB DDR3
• Win 7 Enterprise 64-bit, all updates automatic & current.
• AVG 2011 Free Edition antivirus
• On board sound (High Definition Audio and Realtek Drivers Installed)
• Seagate 1.5TB 7200 RPM HDD
• Word, Excel or IE8 running at the same time (see CPU and memory stats above).

If the integrated sound card is biting the dust I don't mind installing a decent PCI card; however I don't want to waste the time or money if there are possible tweaks I can try first.

This problem developed during the past week; I have not made any mods or installed any new software (other than Windows Updates and AVG updates).

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

I'll give it a shot tonight and post the results. Thanks.

 

I tested the AVG theory tonight; it does not appear to be the issue.

Strangely (with or without AVG), the audio/video stuttering wasn't as bad tonight. It only happened once every 3-4 minutes versus about once a minute yesterday.

Out of curiousity, I opened and watched the System Resource Monitor for a few minutes. Even with a .mpeg video playing in Windows Media Player, the WMP.exe average CPU use was around 1.4%. In contrast, the ten .exe processes running AVG combined were under 0.5%. The highest processor usage was my Carbonite online backup at about 14%. Even with IE8, Word and Excel open at the same time, CPU usage averaged <40% and about 1 GB of the total 4GB of memory was totally free (not in use or reserved).

Also checked internal temps. CPU is running at 40c, case temp shows 44c.

One more note: I also have AVG 2011 on my Sony VIAO notebook with no a/v stuttering issues.

 

DPC Latency Checker might be your friend here, the page gives some good troubleshooting info and the download.

 

I'll give it a shot. If all else fails, I'll drop thirty bucks on a base model Creative Labs sound card.

Thanks for the tip.

 

I ran DPC this evening. Although the system normally shows passing latency readings, the occasional jumps into the Red Zone correspond exactly with the a/v stuttering points.

Thinking of the few issues I've had since building this PC, my upgrade to an ATI 4800 series video card several months ago may be the sand in the Vasoline. With the original ATI drivers, I experienced total system freeze-ups that Win 7 was able to recover from with an error message flagging the ATI driver(s) as the cause.

I have manually updated the ATI drivers at least three times in the past year. Although the total system freeze-ups went away after the latest update, I'm wondering (especially given the lousy reputation ATI has for 64-bit driver support) if there is an undocumented glitch in the latest 4800 series driver causing the latentcy errors.

Since I don't have on-board video as a backup, I'm a bit skittish about disabling the 4800 drivers and crossing my fingers that Windows' generic video driver will automatically step in as a replacement.

Again, the a/v stuttering is a totally random event. It is not triggered by any specific act such as opening a program, starting a virus scan or printing a document.

The next time I see a killer deal on a GTX 210 or 240, I may pick one up and swap it with the 4800. If it solves the latency issues, I don't mind losing a few tenths of a point in the Windows Experience Index on video performance.

Any thoughts on this?

 

About halfway down the DPC page, there's a large section called "Analysing drop-out problems with DPC Latency Checker", read and follow it carefully, it might pinpoint your problem.

 

Thanks.