Video Lagging

[ComputerNewbie]

I'm almost certain that I'm not in the right place for a hardware question, but I'll ask anyway. Everytime I watch videos on Windows Media Player, YouTube, etc., the video is almost always lagging. The video tends to get jerky and the sound gets out of sync. I don't know if I should get some new hardware or if my settings on my computer are giving me this problem.

FYI: I'm running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Intel Pentium III, 863 MHz, and 256 MB of RAM. Let me know if you want me to provide you with any other information.


One more thing: I know it's been awhile since I've been in the forums seeking help, but is it just me or does this site look and feel quite different? Did I miss something?

[Mathster]

until we get things back to normal, this is the place...

[Mathster]

You might be a bit low on ram. I personally run at least 256 mb ram on windows xp.
What video card do you have?
Are you watching video save on your computer, from a LAN, or streaming download?
How many icons do you have next to your clock on your task bar?

[Gizmokid2005]

No offense and please don't take any as this is just advice:

But the RAM is alright, having 256MB - but the fact that you have a slower PIII might also be the cause of it....I know in the last windows updates WMP has been running slower than normal even on my computer...so it may not just be an issue with you, but the slower processor may have something to do with it...

[ComputerNewbie]

Mathster:

I don't know what video card I have. Is there any way I can find out without opening up my computer?

Also, my videos lag in all cases (videos saved on my computer, streaming videos, etc.). MP3 files will lag on WMP, but not in RealPlayer for some reason.

I currently have 5 icons next to my clock on my task bar.

*****
Gizmokid2005:

No offense taken. I know you're all here to help. So, do you recommend me doubling my RAM? How much would the videos improve even with 512 RAM, but still with only a PIII?

*****
I have two other computers in my house with pretty much the same specs, and the videos on those computers flow pretty smoothly. All the computers are connected to a Netgear Router. Internet speed is not a problem with my DSL. I hope this helps.

[Gizmokid2005]

Hmmm....To figure out what video card you have:

(right-click) My Computer >> Properties >> hardware (tab) >> Device Manager >> *expand* Display Adapter. It should say under display adapter what video card you have.

Is this computer completely up to date with all drivers?? Just be sure of that.

You also might want to make sure everything is up-to-date with Virus Scans and spyware/adware scans. Also try a disk defrag, and then do a scan disk.

[ComputerNewbie]

Under "display adapter," there is "NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT (Microsoft Corporation)"

As far as the Virus Scans and spyware/adware scans are concerned, I run through all the steps from the Stickies inside the forums at least once every few months and my computer is pretty clean. I've also recently done the disk defrag.

However, I don't know what a "driver" is and I don't know how to update it.

[Gizmokid2005]

hmmm...sounds like you just have the MS version of your drivers....I would go to nvidia's page and see if they have drivers for it....I'm not 100% sure, butif I'm wrong someone will chime in. Give me a few minutes and I'll put up a link to the driver's if there are any.

[cauzomb]

sounds like the nvidia tnt vanta, Nvidia Detonator drivers will cover that card or any variation of vanta chip, it might help to update the video card drivers and DirectX start HERE select graphics drivers, then GeForce/tnt2 then your OS. Check with windows update for DirectX 9.0b, don't get 9.0c it's not good.

[ComputerNewbie]

I followed your instructions cauzomb, but I get this error message when I tried to install the driver update "The NVIDIA Setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit."

So I did a Google search for my driver and came upon this site:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/40684

I clicked on "Download Now" and it took me to the nvidia site to get the update. I figured this was legit. Anyways, when I tried to install this update, I get the same error message as above. What's going on?