10-27-2010, 09:58 AM

Hi there,

I am running a MacBook Pro 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I have over 20 GB free hard drive space. When I watch videos, I use a second external monitor, a Dell 30" LCD via HDMI.

I have been told my a 'genius' that there should be no problem on my laptop's end with playing streaming video. I know LCDs don't have refresh rates.

Here's the problem: When I stream video online, be it a live webcam, Netflix Watch Instantly (with the new Silverlight installed) or whatever, it is totally fine with no clipping on my internal 15" display, but when I play them on the 30", especially full screen, it clips like crazy and is unwatchable. My broadband connection is solid and fast (2.15 mb/s down; 1.87 mb/s up). Low quality videos like YouTube video do work fine though.

What I find weird is that no matter what, if I am playing a DVD through DVD Player or a video file through VLC, even full screen on the 30", there is NO PROBLEM!

Why would this be happening, and is there anything I can do to fix it?

Thanks.

10-27-2010, 02:13 PM

It may be that the Dell's video response time is not fast enough to keep up. (The video response time has nothing to do with refresh, BTW.)

Also, have you tried using the DVI input to the Dell rather than HDMI to see if that makes a difference?