BBC iPlayer HD jerky on my laptop

MarkBargain

I have downloaded a programme in HD into iPlayer Desktop but when it plays back it is a bit jerky and misses some frames. I understand that older computers can't handle HD, but my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5741-A with an Intel Core i3-350M processor and 3GB of RAM. Surely such a new laptop should be able to play HD video on iPlayer shouldn't it? HD videos on YouTube seem to play fine, so why not iPlayer? Is there anything I can do?

vyseyboy

The first port of call should be to update graphics drivers (download from intel for your particular model) and make sure flash player is up to date (http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/).

If that doesn't sort it, maybe ensure that iplayer / flash player is allowing hardware acceleration (used to be possible by right clicking on the video in iplayer while playing > Settings > find the hardware acceleration tick box)

Also make sure nothing else cpu intensive running at the same time obviously.

Let us know if it works. I've actually had a fair bit of trouble with the most recent flash player update myself (not playing particular youtube videos etc.) but maybe it's totally unrelated.t

MarkBargain

Thanks for the advice.

I went to the Intel website and it said it could not update my Intel HD graphics drivers.

I updated to the very latest version of flash and switched on hardware acceleration (I turned that off before due to some video problems on Lovefilm Player).

Nothing else significant is running, Avast aside.

It is still jerky though in iPlayer Desktop. On the website it looks pretty good though, but I prefer to download rather than stream. I tried uninstalling iPlayer Desktop and then reinstalling it, but that didn't work.

AHAR

Windows 7 Premium?
If you aren't using an Aero Windows theme already, switch to that to see if it helps.

MarkBargain

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium with the standard theme.

AHAR

But is it the Basic or Aero version?
If you press the Windows key and tab together do you get the wizzy 3D flip window cycling effect?

MarkBargain

I've never heard of Aero, except the chocolate bar.

If I press those two keys I do indeed get the effect you describe.

MarkBargain

Is anyone else having problems with iPlayer HD?

closed

try disabling avast shields or any other security software installed

http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/announcements/_dsktp

davester

do you use wifi, you might find your super high speed gets jammed on the wifi end and slows it

Pinkypants

davester wrote: »

do you use wifi, you might find your super high speed gets jammed on the wifi end and slows it

It's already been downloaded.