You'll have to adjust the DivX decoding settings of the codec, since it uses lots of CPU power...depending on what decoders you use, you'll have to figure this out yourself.

afaik, VCD/Mpeg1 are very low in cpu overhead. i remember  pentium 150 mhz can play VCD very smoothly.

This is a 2.4 Ghz for crying out loud. may its a bad patch of inspiron 1100 that i got. or its a limitation (design flaw) of insprion 1100?! if its the later case, I think dell should put up a warning that 1100 are not capable of playing VCD/DVD when running on Battery power. Why call this a notebook if i NEED to connect to an AC outlet to get it to play VCDs smoothly? ?

If its a hardware issue, I hate to send it back to have it fix. its time consuming and its stupid.

This is the second time dell has made me an unhappy customer.(The salesperson mixed up my order so I received a 20G hdd instead of the requested 40G. Dell phone sale/support su*k. I hate calling them again.)   

 This is my 1st time buyingfrom dell and it will be my last time for sure if this playback problem is one of the many other "design feature".

 

Message Edited by m3rs4 on 04-12-2004 02:12 AM

Message Edited by m3rs4 on 04-12-2004 02:13 AM

The fix should be fairly simple.  In your power management settings, change from Max Battery to either Portable/Laptop or Always On.

JK

JK is right, set it to portable/laptop

Post back if this helps or not.

Message Edited by PINE on 04-12-2004 03:24 PM

hi JK et all. Thanks and set to "portable / laptop" seems to fix the issue. what is the difference between this and "max batt" setting?

It seems to be the cpu/bus speed issue. When its on "Max BAtt" setting, the cpu speed WINXP reported is 1.39Ghz, Usage @ 100%(see System - Properties, taskman). When its on "portable / laptop", WINXP reports 2.39Ghz @ 30-60%. Its very interesting to find out cpu speed 1.39Gz @100% is not powerful enough to fix the playback problem.

Message Edited by m3rs4 on 04-12-2004 05:52 PM