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Choppy video, all sources, 2 different PCs (long post)
NOTE: I apologize for the length of this post, but I wanted to include as much detail as I could.
I'm getting choppy video on two different PCs. It's mild and slightly inconsistent, just a mild stuttering as if random frames are missing. I saw it initially with streaming video on an older Dell PC I set up with our main TV. It came through all pay and free channel sources, so I thought the problem was in the Dell, the internet connection, or both. Then I started seeting it on my newer PC, which is much more robust, so I looked to the internet first.
Our internet connection is fast, with speed tests reporting above 200 Mbps reliably, so that's not it, and internet is via ethernet cable for both, so it's not a wifi issue.
I checked both PCs thoroughly, testing the CPUs with Intel's diagnostic tool and watching CPU usage while video is running. I also updated the video driver on each machine. Everything checks out. I had already limited startup apps as much as possible, so that didn't seem to be an issue. Both have Avast free, and both have Windows Defender turned off.
I called TWC's tech support and allowed them to view my PC with their live feed, and when they saw the problem they ran some tests and came to the conclusion that the problem is in the modem, so they're sending a new one.
Unfortunately, since then I've watched some video that didn't come from an internet stream, and the chop is milder, but noticeable. This includes recordings made from the DVR with a standalone recorder, and even DVDs. It's most noticeable on shots where the camera moved or panned slowly, and during slow-moving effects shots, but it can be seen virtually all the time.
Now, I know that film shot at 23.97/24 fps won't look perfect when converted to NTSC @ 29.97/30 fps, but I've never seen this kind of choppy playback before.
I appreciate any suggestions that can be offered. Here are the specs for the two PCs:
DELL INSPIRON 530
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600, 3.33 GHz
RAM: 4gb
Video: AMD Radeon, 1gb RAM
Power Supply: 500 watt
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, on a Crucial MX100 SSD
Monitor: Hitachi plasma via HDMI
B-I-Y on Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K, 3.5 GHz
RAM: 8gb
Video: Intel Graphics 4000 on board, 1gb RAM
Power Supply: 500 watt
OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, build 10586.71, on a Samsung 850 EVO SSD
Monitor: HP Pavilion 22bw via HDMI