Ok guys,

 

I am trying to use my Unraid server as a media server, but I am having issues with frequent pausing during movie playback of HD Movie files.  However, when I transfer the desired file to the computer I wish to view it on, it takes like 30 minutes to move and doesn't skip when played from the file on the viewing computer.  So the network and machines can more than handle the required bandwidth for streaming the file if it can transfer a 2 hour movie in 30 minutes.

 

Anyone have any idea how I can fix this?  I am currently use media player classic to view the movie files and I am not sure if this is an unraid, windows, or player problem.

Nevermind, I fixed it.  Downloaded VideoLan and the problem went away.  Didn't need VLan for dvds though, just Bluray.

Your solution doesn't make a whole lot of sense and I'm thinking it's more of a spout of luck with no skipping occurring during your recent testing.  Changing players would not fix a problem that you were describing especially since your initial experimenting resolved the problem once you relocated your file to your frontend instead of streaming across the network.  You haven't given any specific information about your systems and most importantly how everything is networked together.  If it isn't using gigabit I can almost guarantee your momentary pauses are coming from there (gigabit compatible pc/servers + gigabit wiring + gigabit switches/routers).  Also is anything else accessing your unraid storage while your watching your media... anything causing drives to spin up while watching?  If you aren't using Joe's cache_dirs script, I highly recommend it to avoid unnecessary spin ups which could potentially lead to stutters, dropped frames or flat out pauses.

 

I also must highly recommend against using VLC as your player of choice (as will many other people who are serious about their media)... it might play a lot of stuff, but it's quality not quantity.  I wholeheartedly recommend using MPC HC as your player along with using either their internal codecs for playback or one of the newer FFDShow Tryouts (based off the same decoders).

Hello Drealit,

 

Frontend:

Intel i5-750

4 GB Ram

SSD HD

Windows 7 Professional

 

Unraid Server:

AMD Sempron (undervolted and underclocked for energy savings)

2 GB Ram

Unraid 4.5.3

 

Network:

Linksys 1000 mbps Lan Router

New Cat6 cable

(verified to be operating at 1000 mbps in previous post couple months ago)

Substained data transfer when moving files - 160 mbps

 

I have repeated testedly VLC on the few HD videos that constantly studder with MPC, and they don't studder anymore.  From my understanding MPC assumes file being played in on the frontend computer and ask for data as needed, but studders when the data doesn't arrive on time.  VLC assumes file is somewhere on Lan, and as such buffers and ask for data before needed.

 

As for quality, I would prefer the best quality as I rip my blurays without any compression to retain 100% of the original quality, so if you have any ideas to get MPC to stop studdering, I would be very appreciative.  I have installed all the needed exteral codecs to get the my ripped blurays to work properly with both MPC and VLC.

Are you running MPC or MPC:Home Cinema Edition?

 

Also, what codecs did you install? Most of all problems are caused by installing additional codecs. On my front-end I use MPC:HCE without needing any additional codecs installed. Have you tried using a client system that hasn't been polluted with external codecs?

Also, what codecs did you install? Most of all problems are caused by installing additional codecs. On my front-end I use MPC:HCE without needing any additional codecs installed. Have you tried using a client system that hasn't been polluted with external codecs?

How does having many codecs installed slow down the playback of a video file?  My understanding is that any given video file is compressed with a given compressor needs to be decompressed with the corresponding decompressor.  Since *Just the appropriate codec* will be used for a given file, how does having other codecs *installed* slow down the playback performance?  -That just doesn't sound consistent to me.

Not all codecs are created the same. I've found the codecs built into MPC:HCE are better than many of the codecs users install externally. Only one codec is used, either the internal one or the external one. Your issue might be in using an external codec instead of a built-in codec.

 

This is basic troubleshooting 101, you're having issues in situation A, so I'm suggesting you try something to isolate the cause not being the codecs.