Lags while playing AVI(XVID) (no frozen frames)

[Feone]

Hey,

I have an annoying problem playing AVI Files on my computer (i7, 4GB, ATI5730, Windows 7 64 bit, Lenovo IdeaPad-system).
When I play AVI files, after some time the video and the audio freeze while the length runs on. Sometimes pushing pause and start fix this issue, but in other cases the video player (I tried all players MPC HC, VLC, WMP, etc.) continues freezing video and audio. I found topics about so-called "frozen frames" but I checked my video files and I'm 100% sure that they are ok. The problem appears at intervals of 2 to 5 minutes.

I don't know what you need to know so here are a few information out of one affected AVI file:

Format : AVI

Video
ID : 0
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Advanced Simple@L5
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 24mn 44s
Bit rate : 1 177 Kbps
Width : 704 pixels
Height : 396 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.176
Stream size : 208 MiB (90%)
Writing library : XviD 1.2.1 (UTC 2008-12-04)

Audio
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Mode : Joint stereo
Mode extension : MS Stereo
Codec ID : 55
Codec ID/Hint : MP3
Duration : 24mn 44s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 22.7 MiB (10%)
Alignment : Split accross interleaves
Interleave, duration : 42 ms (1.00 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 500 ms
Writing library : LAME3.98r
Encoding settings : -m j -V 4 -q 2 -lowpass 17 -b 128

As I said I tried a lot of players with a lot of different filters so what could be the reason of the problem? (All of my hardware drivers are up-to-date, Windows 7 has the newest updates, too.)
Could the problem caused by a background program or task?

I hope that someone can help me.

__
PS: Sorry for making mistakes English is not my native language.

[davexnet]

Open the task manager and review the CPU usage during play. Does it spike during the freeze?
What process is using the CPU ?

[Feone]

No it does not show any spikes. The CPU usage sank from 3-6% to 1-3% during the freeze.
I don't know what you mean with "What process is using the CPU ?". Do you mean a process visible in the Task Manager?

[NICEBUD]

First off have you tryed to play the AVI`s on a differnet pc to check to see if the files are corupt or not ?

Do you have badly written antivirus/firewall (NORTON) software that trys to do an auto scan while your watching the AVI`s.
Sometimes it helps to turn them off ONLY IF YOUR OFF LINE.Also go offline to see if it makes any difference.
Also check to see if any other software is running that you dont need to run while your watching the videos.

This is just a along shot but do you have good ventilation around you machine ?
I say this because if the GPU gets to hot , it will cut its processing power down slowly to save it from melting.
You dont say if you have a pc or laptop or etc....
If you have a desktop pc check the fans on the graphics card are working properly,also check the case fans that the pc is in.
If you have laptop and you want to watch the AVI`s lying down on a bed or whatever ,put a big book or a lump of flat wood underneath the laptop so the air can flow though it a bit more easily.
The best place is on a flat surface with one of those laptop cooling stands.

Might work you never know ?

[Feone]

The files are ok. No problem playing them on my old system.
The problem appears even if I'm offline with turned off Avira AntiVir.
No other software is running in the background.

My system is a Lenovo IdeaPad Notebook. A heating problem could be possible. Is there a tool to check components temprature?

[mh2360]

Do the freezes appear at random, or do they happen at the same time at specific scenes in the video, such as explosions or other high motion scenes?

[Feone]

@mh2360: random, but I think that die freezes are connected with a high GPU temperature. I did not find a tool to check the temperature but when I shut down the system for a little time the freezes do not appear for around 1+ hour. I think that this is an evidence for an overheated GPU?

[NICEBUD]

Feone
saw this on my travels on the web:-




http://www.pc-how-to.com/laptops/hot_laptop.htm

You could also send email to the company that sold it to you and ask them for help.Because if its brand new it should be under warranty.

As for trying to get an temp reading of the GPU.In the ATI control(Catalyst) panel if you click on performance tab,it should give a temp reading and you should be able to turn the fan speed up higher as the pc gets hotter.
If the performance tab is missing then download the latest Catalyst control from AMD/ATI.

[Feone]

Thank you all!! I now use an old notebook cooler and the freezes are gone completley.

MfG
Feone