Youtube 1080p extremely choppy in Windows 7

[Sandstorm83]

I recently upgraded my T61 from Vista to Windows 7 x64 and I was trying to watch 1080p videos in youtube fullscreen and they were unwatchable as it would display 1 frame every 4-5 seconds. I had already watched these same videos while in Vista and the playback was smooth.

My T61 has the Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M and I tried different drivers ranging from the official Lenovo ones to the latest directly from Nvidia and the videos were still very choppy. Uninstalling all drivers made the videos watchable but not as good as it was in Vista.

I also tried viewing the same video on my wifes Vaio with a slower Core2Duo processor and Intel X3100 graphics and the playback was flawless.

This was one of the videos in question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XITHbsUUlYI
If anyone has a T61 with the nVidia graphics and runs Windows 7 x64, please tell me how 1080p videos play on Youtube.

[billp117]

Try updating Windows 7 via the Microsoft Update site...sometimes they have the best driver.

BTW...the video runs perfect on my Intel GPU based X200.

[Harryc]

Plays fine here too on an Intel GM45 E based R400, even while driving a 20" 1600x900 external LCD.

[Sandstorm83]

I tried the drivers from Windows update and still no luck.

I had to restore vista last night on a new harddrive and the video plays fine. I'll see what happens when I clean install 7 tonight.

[Sandstorm83]

Even with a clean install of Windows 7 Pro x64, 1080p youtube videos play like slideshows once I install the Nvidia drivers, either from Windows Update or Lenovo System Update.

Has anyone else experienced this problem with their T61s in Windows 7?

[billp117]

Try the 32 bit version of win7.

[TTY]

Have you installed the Intel Chipset Device Software?

From the readme file for the Intel Chipset Device Software:

5. The operating system must be fully installed and running on
the system before running this software.
...
7. It is recommended that the Intel(R) Chipset Device Software
be installed onto the target system prior to the
installation of other drivers.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-73684

[lead_org]

try to use the windows 7 basic theme and see whether that helps or not.

[Sandstorm83]

try to use the windows 7 basic theme and see whether that helps or not.

Surprisingly, this works. Frames went up to 25 FPS and viewable. Thanks for the tip.

Now to find out why Aero theme cripples 1080p playback...