Help - Optimizing Cache

[Asterix]

I always have the problem when I playback AVI file : Flickering problem (Jumps) only during playback, no drops during capture.
I read many posts to optimize and I don't find the right settings.
My actual settings are :
Virtual Memory : Manual 256Mb Min&Max
Put in the beginning of the HD with Norton SpeedDisk.
[VCACHE] 10240 Min & Man + Chunk=1024
Disable Read cache for HD. Typical Server.
If I desactivate virutal memory, the playback is great ! No jumps in the movies !
I tried different configurations unsuccessfully (even with CacheMan):
HD on primary IDE, cache on it, HD Video on FTU66 in stripping (2x HD Maxtor D40+ 30Gb),...
PS: You can find my confguration on my others posts.

HELP... Thanks in advance.
- Asterix

[Sillyname]

Try running virtual memory with just one 128 MB DIMM in your system (Assuming you have 2x128.) If your DIMMs are of different manufacture sometimes you can get quirky results.

This may not work but it's a different approach. And the more things you try, the closer you get to finding your answer.

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Sillyname]

Try another ATA 66 hard drive cable too. The size of the wires on those things give very little room for conductivity error.

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Brian Ellis]

Obelix

I'll just hazard a guess: your swap file is on the C: disk. Put it on the D: disk (preferably as a dedicated partition) and I'd bet my 2 cents that this may be worth that it would be a lot smoother.

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Brian (the terrible) (aka Idéefix)

[This message has been edited by Brian Ellis (edited 01 September 2000).]

[Asterix]

I have only one SDRAM 128Mb.
Actually, I have a Quantum KA+ 13.6 Gb on Primary IDE : C: (Boot) and 2x HD Maxtor D40+ 30Gb on a FTU66 in stripping : only one 50Gb extended partition for video.
I already try to put the swap file on D:. It give same result.
Before this situation, I haven't any HD on motherboard IDE, but I use only the FTU66 with the 2x maxtor (stripping) partitionning in C boot), D: video and E:. I tried to put swap on C,D,E, but always problem during playback. So I need help...
I will try another U66 cable. But I think if the cable was bad, I had trouble during capture ?
I repeat that with Virtual Memory desactivated, I have no problem during playback. Thx
- Asterix

[Sillyname]

The transmission and reception of data on an IDE cable exist on different conductors to facilitate simultaneous read/writes. Just because you have no trouble capturing doesn't mean you should have no problem playing back.

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Sillyname]

The transmission and reception of data on an IDE cable exist on different conductors to facilitate simultaneous read/writes. Just because you have no trouble capturing doesn't mean you should have no problem playing back.

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Asterix]

Oooohhh, I'm so sorry Sillyname, I wish you have the solution, but I change my two cables by new ones, it's the same.
Have you another proposition ?
Doc, what do you think about ?
- Asterix

[Pertti]

Asterix,

How about posting a list of all the components in your system, and how are they configured at the moment ?
Motherboard ?
The placement of add-on cards in the PCI slots ?
The IRQ list ?

During my last clean installation of W98SE I documented all the procedures (see below), maybe there's something that improves your situation.

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Booted with a clean W95B boot disk (empty Autoexec.bat and Config.sys)

Had previously copied the W98SE CD to my second HD, went there and started
the installation with "Setup /p i" (to remove ACPI)

Selected "Custom Setup"

Selected options:
- Quick View
- WordPad
- Audio Compression
- Video Compression
- Volume Control
- Character Map

Changed keyboard to "Finnish"
Left Regional Settings at "English (US)" to keep W98SE from adding yet more
unnecessary and unwanted junk during installation.

Location "None"

Timezone "Helsinki (GMT+2)"

Installed the Intel Inf Update (V2.30.021) for the 815e chipset (which is
btw the only update/driver needed from the motherboard CD)

Went to Power Saving options in Control Panel, and turned everything off
(everything in Bios was already off)

In Network options,
- Added the NetBEUI, and removed TCP/IP for my local network (the machine
has no connection to Internet).
- Chose Primary Network Logon "Windows Logon"
- Added File and printer sharing

In Device Manager:
- checked Disable "Advanced Power Management Support"
- checked "Disable power status polling"
- Disabled the SMBus Controller
- Removed "Auto Insert Notification" for all CD:s
- Enabled DMA transfers for all HD:s

In File System Properties:
- Selected Typical role "Network server"
- Unchecked "Search for floppy..."
- Checked "Disable write-behind caching for all drives"

Recycle Bin Properties:
- Configured all the drives independently for 0% and "Do not move files..."
- Checked "Use one setting..." and selected 0% and "Do not move files..."

In Explorer:
- Shared all the drives
- Unchecked "Automatic Disk Cleanup" of all drives if low on space

Desktop:
- Removed unnecessary shortcuts
- Removed "Quick Launch" from the taskbar
- Checked "Auto Hide" and "Show small icons..."

Display Properties:
- unchecked "Show Icons using all..." and "Animate windows..."
- Selected "Apply the new color settings without restarting"

Registry - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
- Removed LoadPowerProfile from ...\Run
- Removed ScanRegistry from ...\Run
- Removed TaskMonitor from ...\Run
- Removed LoadPowerProfile from ...\RunServices
- Removed SchedulingAgent from ...\RunServices

Installed TweakUI and configured as follows:
- Menu speed "Fastest"
- Unchecked "Menu underlines"
- Unchecked "Mouse hot tracking"
- Light arrow on shortcuts
- unchecked Animated "Click Here"
- unchecked "Tip of the day"
- unchecked prefix "Shortcut..."
- removed all the checks in "IE4 tab"
- unchecked "Splash screen"
- set ScanDisk to "Never"
- checked all but "clear last User at logon" to clear at logon
- unchecked playing of audio and data CD:s

Added the following lines to MSDOS.SYS:
DBLSpace=0
DRVSpace=0

Installed the SBLive drivers
Disabled SB16 Emulation
Selected "No Sounds" scheme in ControlPanel\Sounds

Installed Promise FT100 drivers

Ghosted the new W98SE installation.

[Asterix]

Pertti, here is my PC :
Carte ABIT BX6Rev2 - Soundcard Hoontech Yamaha XG, Mystic G200 8Mb (+RRG) + LanCard DLINK de530 PCI, Hollywood plus Mpeg2 card, Fasttrack U66 + 2x Maxtor D40+ 30Gb in stripping + one Quantum KA+ 13.6Gb C:Boot..
For the moment, I try 2 another MB : Asus P3BF, Abit BE6II, and I reinstall again Win98SE. Another thing I see, when I copy the AVI file to the Quantum, there is not "jumps" in the movie. So, the problem comes from the FT66 during playback ! I use last Driver, last BIOS. I try without Soundcard, Netcard, H+ too, but same problem.
Another question, the Mystic must be AGP2x ? If I check with a utilitie (PCILIst) Mystic is recognized like a AGP 1.
Thx.
- Asterix