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Why do I see artifacts when I'm watching a DVD?

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Platinum Member
Okay I don't know which forum this belongs in but oh well. Okay I don't know what a DVD is supposed to look like on a computer, but is it supposed to have blocks of color and artifacts when watching in full screen? Do we not see these artifacts when watching it on TV because we're so far away from the TV? Could it be that my LCD lags so it creates artifacts? On powerdvd this is what it says

Player Information :
Player Region Code : 1
Current Focus Drive : E:
Title Region Code : 1

Display Information :
Video Mode : Weave
Display Mode : DirectShow
FourCC Code : NV12
Surface Type : Hardware Video Accelerator (DxVA)

Video Attribute :
Video compression mode : MPEG-2
TV system : 525/60 (NTSC)
Aspect Ratio : 4:3
Display Mode : reserved
Source picture resolution : 720x480 (525/60)
Frame Rate : 29.97
Source picture letterboxed : Not letterboxed
Bitrate : 3.92Mbps

Audio Attribute :
Audio Coding mode : Dolby Digital
Sampling Rate : 48kHz
Audio application mode : Not specified
Number of Audio channels : 6
Bitrate : 448 Kbps
Number of Audio streams : 2

Subpicture Attribute :
Number of Subtitles : 2

Hardware Information :
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU running at 2411 MHz
3DNow! Technology : Not Detected
Enhanced 3DNow! Technology : Not Detected
3DNow! Professional Technology : Not Detected
IA MMX Technology : In Use
IA Streaming SIMD Extensions : In Use
IA SSE 2 : In Use
Video Accelerator : ATI Hardware Video Acceleration (in use)
Multispeakers Audio Device : Not Detected
SPDIF Output Device : Not Detected

Do the settings look wrong or is there something wrong?
 
No, you shouldn't be seeing artifacts. A few things:
1. Try different DVDs, make sure it isn't just one in your collection causing the artifacts.
2. Update your video drivers.
3. Try different players. There are some freeware/ shareware ones out there that you can download and try.
4. Make sure you're using the latest DirectX.

Just some suggestions.
 
Well I see occasional artifacts when watching a DVD on my home surround system. Combo DVD/Receiver/Amp, not my PC.
It usually happens several times while watching a movie.
I'll get a couple of quick blocks of color, then they are gone. Only a second or two.
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
No, you shouldn't be seeing artifacts. A few things:
1. Try different DVDs, make sure it isn't just one in your collection causing the artifacts.
2. Update your video drivers.
3. Try different players. There are some freeware/ shareware ones out there that you can download and try.
4. Make sure you're using the latest DirectX.

Just some suggestions.
Click to expand...

Did all that, except #3, I thought PowerDVD was the best player out there?
 
Well, that's kind of subjective. It could be that PowerDVD has some weird compatibility issue with your particular video card/ DVD drive or something. To be thorough, I'd try at least one other player. If that doesn't fix the problem, try calling tech support for your video card.
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Well, that's kind of subjective. It could be that PowerDVD has some weird compatibility issue with your particular video card/ DVD drive or something. To be thorough, I'd try at least one other player. If that doesn't fix the problem, try calling tech support for your video card.
Click to expand...

If I take a screen shot and post it on the web, will it show the artifacts that I see?
 
You might also have a POS DVD drive. I had a Delta drive and it caused the exact problem you are describing. I picked up a Pioneer DVD drive and the problem was solved.
 
> If I take a screen shot and post it on the web, will it show the artifacts that I see?

A regular screenshot won't. Try a utility like HyperSnapDX.
EDIT: Things like DVDs, AVIs, or TV tuner video can't be captured in normal screenshots (i.e., PrtScrn). You need a special utility to do it.
 
Originally posted by: MikeDub83
You might also have a POS DVD drive. I had a Delta drive and it caused the exact problem you are describing. I picked up a Pioneer DVD drive and the problem was solved.
Click to expand...

It's a sony DVD drive(I don't think it's a POS) model DDU1621
 
Originally posted by: Cartman2003
Originally posted by: MikeDub83
You might also have a POS DVD drive. I had a Delta drive and it caused the exact problem you are describing. I picked up a Pioneer DVD drive and the problem was solved.
Click to expand...

It's a sony DVD drive(I don't think it's a POS) model DDU1621
Click to expand...


I just checked your screen shots. My blocks of color were about 100 times worse than that. Probably not a POS drive, besides Sony is a good name.
 
One of the most overlooked problems is a dirty disc/dirty drive. Make sure the DVD disc itself is free from dust and finger print smudges. The DVD drive should be regularly cleaned with a cleaning disc (readily available from Walmart to CompUSA). The majority of artifacts I've had are from dirty discs.

Another is the software player/hardware combo. I've used PowerDVD and WinDVD, and WinDVD has the better picture quality. If you have a slow system and/or a video card that just doesn't cut it for DVD playback, you'll have problems as well. But looking at your hardware, I don't see this as a problem.
 
I'm only guessing here but I suspect that you're using powerdvd 5 as I've seen other folk complain of the same problems.
you will find that powerdvd xp aka version 4 works flawlessly!
 
hard to tell. some dvds are better encoded or have higher bitrate then others. some like starwars the phantom menace look like sh*t with tons of edge enahcenement halos etc. others are superbit with or without labeling and are simply crystal clear. major artifact i see is the full screen aspect ratio😛


try a different dvd, perhaps superbit.

bigger your screen, the more obvious any dvd artifacts are. its not hdtv resolution after all🙂
 
Are you really watching a DVD or are you talking about a DVD to SVCD? If it wasnt encoding right you'll get artifacts.
 
hey, thanks for the replies

Are you using a standard resolution? Forcing Fullscreen of a Widescreen dvd?
Click to expand...

I don't really know what you mean, I play all of my DVD's in fullscreen, I keep the aspect ratio. This is probably a dumb question but does making the screen full cause artifacts? I can't imagine people watching their dvd's in a window 3/4 the size of the screen

I'm only guessing here but I suspect that you're using powerdvd 5 as I've seen other folk complain of the same problems.
Click to expand...

I've tried both, that screenshot is from Powerdvd 4


Are you really watching a DVD or are you talking about a DVD to SVCD? If it wasnt encoding right you'll get artifacts.
Click to expand...

It's an original DVD...
 
Well, if it is a Widescreen DVD, then forcing it to Fullscreen will cause distortions(it gets compressed and stretched). If it is a Widescreen DVD, try watching it in Widescreen and see if the distortions still exist.
 
Originally posted by: sandorski
Well, if it is a Widescreen DVD, then forcing it to Fullscreen will cause distortions(it gets compressed and stretched). If it is a Widescreen DVD, try watching it in Widescreen and see if the distortions still exist.
Click to expand...

the screenshots were from the letterbox(4:3 ratio) dvd
 
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