Dropped frames like mad from ATI 8500DV with MMC 8.1-- HELP!

[P_Townshend]

Hi all,
I've been trying to capture using this ATI AIW 8500DV, with MMC 8.1 and the amounts of frames dropped is astronomical! I've been using the following specs (complements of Lordsmurf's priceless site)

720 x 480 (AVI)
29.97 fps
UYVY codec


I'm running the ATI 8500DV with a Windows 2000 OS, on a P4 (2.53 Ghz), with 1 Gig of RAM, to a dedicated slave hard drive with 120 Gig. What I'm transferring is some video footage from Betacam SP, so the video footage is in good shape. I just can't figure out why this thing is dropping like crazy.

I am trying to figure out if I've enable the drives for DMA. I'm so sure how to proceed with this.

Can anyone help me here? Lordsmurf, if you are out there, do you have any ideas what could be going wrong to make it drop frames like mad?

Please help me,
Darren

[lordsmurf]

With AVI, and coming from VHS source, I'd stay at 640x480 max. Betacam SP, it's your choice on where you want to go. It may be your CPU choking on 720x480.

It will make editing easier anyway when viewed source is native 4:3 aspect. That's a big reason I like 640x480.

If current codec not working, try uncompressed AVI or MJPEG or HuffYUV.

Try an upgrade to ATI MMC 8.7 ... it seems to be the SINGLE MOST STABLE MMC in the 8.x series.

You can find DMA check process at lordsmurf.com under the "dropped frames" guide ... or in the sticky I stole it from on this site (even though I helped him write it in the first place).

Be sure to troubleshoot that whole guide on your system. IT may be something you've yet to consider.

Good luck.

[P_Townshend]

Hello Lordsmurf,
and thanks for responding. Ok, I did some tests and used your suggestions from your list.

What I did was:
- closed all running tasks in the system tray
- unplugged anything with a USB 2.0 connection (from the computer)
- unplugged from the internet (via my DSL connection)
- changed desktop setting (to 1024x768 and am using 16 bit color, from 32 bit)


When I recorded roughly just over 500 frames, here's the results (again using 8.1 MMC):

at 720x480, using UVYV codec - captured 527, dropped 343
at 640x480, using YUY2 codec - captured 511, dropped 357
at 640x480, using UYVY codec - captured 521, dropped 287

Now tell me that this isn't an astronomical drop frame rate!

As for using your recipe to check for DMA, for some reason its not accurate for my Windows 2000; it follows along right up until the part where I click on IDE->Primary IDE channel -> Advanced settings (on my computer there is no Advanced settings button to chose from).

Any other suggestions here? Thoughts on my tests so far?

Any more help is greatly appreciated,
Darren

[lordsmurf]

Something is very wrong.

Look in the MS KB for DMA info.

[P_Townshend]

Thanks again for your response, Lordsmurf. However, one thing I need clarification on is .... what is the MS KB and where would I find this ??

ran more tests..... at 640x480, using MJPEG I saved 511, lost 953


Is it bad that I have Windows 2000 Professional edition?


Darren