# Streaming Video Playback Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105 "2009-06-08T16:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/1 "2009-06-08T16:32:17Z")
I’m trying to get an old computer hooked up to my TV, primarily for watching movies from Netflix (their ‘Watch Instantly’ feature) and tv shows on Hulu. Even though Netfilx rates my connection as ‘highest’ (or best - I forget the exact wording) I’m getting a lot of stutter while it’s playing. The audio does not stutter, just the video. This happens with Hulu as well, even when the buffer is full. Does anyone have any thoughts on what could cause this? Some various info and things I’ve tried: -According to [speedtest.net](http://speedtest.net), my download speed is around 6Mbps -When hook my laptop up to the tv, I have no problems with streaming playback using the same connection. -If I play a DVD on the computer it works fine. -As far as I can tell, this does not happen with youtube videos. -It happens when I view video in the browser and when it’s full screen. -The computer is an HP with 512megs of RAM, 60gig hardrive. Thanks in advance for any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/2 "2009-06-08T16:33:48Z")
Processor (and clock speed)? What kind of graphics card does it have? Operating system? ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/3 "2009-06-08T16:43:05Z")
It’s running fully updated XP, has an AMD Athlon XP processor (2.0Ghz), and an Nvidia Gforce 4 MX420 graphic card. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/4 "2009-06-08T22:32:39Z")
I’ve been asking around and most people seem to think this is a RAM issue (as in I need more). Does that sound right? Why yes, this is my one and only bump. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/5 "2009-06-09T15:20:06Z")
512 really isn’t enough RAM to run XP. Going to 1MB will make a noticeable difference. The MX is Nvidia’s low-end line of video cards. Even when it was new that card was underpowered. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/6 "2009-06-09T15:35:48Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > 512 really isn’t enough RAM to run XP. Going to 1MB will make a noticeable difference. It ran just fine for me for years with 512 meg. Certainly well enough to stream video and stuff- I only had to add more for gaming. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/7 "2009-06-09T15:38:01Z")
It would have run better with more. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-video-playback-question/499105/8 "2009-06-09T15:44:31Z")
It does. 🙂 I didn’t _need_ more until KOTOR came along, though.