Video tearing with ATI Radeon 4650

[dodgeboy]

I'm having terrible VSync issues with my Radeon 4650 card. It sounds similar (the same?) as the Intel chipset problems that have been common as of late. However, the ATI is not based on an Intel chipset. Regardless, I've read all the threads about the Intel problem, and tried all of the tricks (including the Jester build with the patched DLLs), and nothing seems to affect it.

Details of system:
XBMC 8.10 final (also Jester 16744 with same results)
60hz flat panel Sony KDL-52XBR3 TV via HDMI
Intel E4500 CPU
ATI Radeon 4650 vid card
2GB RAM
Vista SP1 - 32bit
CPU and RAM have huge amounts of breathing room when the problem is occurring.


Details of problem:
Bad video tearing on any 24fps content. The a/v sync stays in check, but the video looks like it's being watched on a machine without the video drivers loaded, or with an incredibly cheap video card. The codec and video format appears to be irrelevant. It is most noticeable on horizontal panning, but can be seen during fade-ins/outs, etc. It significantly affects just about all video viewing.

I am running ATI Drivers 8.561.1.0.0, and have tried several other versions. I've tried messing with the pull-down and deinterlacing settings in ATI Catalyst Control Center, as well as enabling and disabling VSync in XBMC. Nothing seems to have an affect on it at all.

If I play the video with Windows Media Player, it looks perfect (whether windowed or full screen). This issue only occurs in XBMC.

I'm a relatively new adopter of XBMC, so I can't tell you if this problem existed in any of the betas, or prior versions. I've been running 8.10 final for a few weeks, and this is my first taste of XBMC.

Please let me know if you require any other information from me to further help with resolving this problem. It is very frustrating, and I'd really like to use XBMC on my HTPC (the interface is vastly superior to anything else I've tried). However, the tearing issue is a deal breaker at this point...

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide!

Dave

[Hitcher]

You don't mention whether you've tried the various V Sync options in XBMC itself.

With my Radeon (HD2400) I have XBMC set to 'Let driver decide' and on my card 'Always On unless app decides'

[dodgeboy]

You don't mention whether you've tried the various V Sync options in XBMC itself.

With my Radeon (HD2400) I have XBMC set to 'Let driver decide' and on my card 'Always On unless app decides'

I have tried all 3 of the options in XBMC for VSYNC... Where did you find the option to have ATI set to "Always on unless app decides'? I don't recall seeing that option in my ATI settings.

Thanks,
Dave

[Hitcher]

3D > All settings > Wait for vertical refresh >

Then move slider to 'On, unless application specifies'.

[dodgeboy]

That did it! Thank you so much!!

I was just sliding it all the way to the right/left for testing, because I figured on/off would be a more accurate test. I don't know why setting ATI to "On, unless application specifies" and XBMC to "Let driver decide" is different than setting either side to enabled and the other to disabled... But regardless, this took care of my problem!

I really appreciate your helpful (and prompt) response!

Dave

[dodgeboy]

Ever since making this change (and correcting the issue), the app will lockup after 10-15 minutes of continuous video playing. Are you experiencing this with your ATI card?

Dave

[Hitcher]

No lockups here.

[esdubu]

Glad someone else has had this problem! ???

Been reading all the threads about the intel problems but nobody else seemed to having a problem with other graphics cards, i've got an HD4650 as well, followed the advice in this thread and problem solved, no lockups so far. I'm using the latest SVN build from jester, have you tried that to solve your lockups?

edit just reread the OP and realised you have tried the jester builds

[Hitcher]

http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42838

[steelman1991]

3D > All settings > Wait for vertical refresh >

Then move slider to 'On, unless application specifies'.

I have been tinkering with XBMC for months off and on - and could never really enjoy the experience due to the tearing issue - your tip though worked a treat - thanks a lot. Everything is working perfectly now - if only I could stop tinkering :;): This really is an amazing app - much better than the competition.

[eli2k]

3D > All settings > Wait for vertical refresh >

Then move slider to 'On, unless application specifies'.

I'm having a similar problem on Radeon 4550; a bit of tearing during panning scenes. Where is this setting found? I don't see any settings for this in XBMC; is this in ATI Catalyst Center? Thanks.

[hoborg]

Yes, Vsync must be on to remove tearing. It need to be enabled in CCC (or thrue ATI icon in taskbar).