Problem with video on MacBook Air MC234

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Problem with video on MacBook Air MC234

I have problem with video playing. On my MacBook Air MC234 (2.13 Core2Duo/2Gb DDR3/128 SSD/256Mb NVIDIA GeForce 9400M) Snow Leopard 10.6.2, I can't watch video normal from local drive or internet. When I open some movie I can watch it a few minutes (maximum 10) then all slow down. Activity Monitor show kernel_task take more that 100% CPU, sometimes 150%. Who know what's wrong? How can I fix it?

MacBook Air MC234, Mac OS X (10.6.2), 2.13 Core2Duo/2Gb DDR3/128 SSD/256Mb NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

Posted on Nov 19, 2009 4:34 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 19, 2009 4:57 AM in response to Jill-Lev

Try [resetting your PRAM/NVRAM|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US]. If everything isn't fixed, then follow the [steps here including resetting your SMC if necessary|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411].

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Answer 2

Jill-Lev Author

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Nov 19, 2009 7:17 AM in response to Jill-Lev

I did both. But unfortunately the problem still exist 😟 I think it's become little better, now kernel_task take 103% and QTKitServer-(1178) QuickTime Player ~70% or Safari take ~80% CPU when I watching youtube video. Skype video slow too... Any other suggestions?

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2009 7:28 AM in response to Jill-Lev

There are a variety of possible fixes for general slowness. Below are some possibilities. Ignore any that don't seem right for you. And, of course, ignore any that you already have tried.

1. If you are running iAntivirus, then uninstall it.

2. Try [resetting your PRAM/NVRAM|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US]. If everything isn't fixed, then follow the [steps here including resetting your SMC if necessary|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543].

3. Look in User > Library > StartupItems and in System > Library > StartupItems. Move whatever you find in them to the desktop to see if your problem is resolved. You can move whatever you want back one at a time to test which, if any, is your problem.

4. Use [Preferential Treatment|http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22790] to repair your user preferences.

5. Be careful with this one because you are fiddling with a system file, and, of course, do it at your own risk. An alternative is to use Preferential Treatment to repair system preferences. But, if you want, then Go > System > Library > LaunchDaemons/com.apple.audio.coreaudiod.plist and move the plist to your desktop for possible future restoration.

You'll lose all system sounds in Finder with this possible fix, but restoring the plist and stopping then starting the service seems to put all back in order.

6.
1. Create a new user
2. Test apps to see that they work with no crashing.
3. Drag your data and other needed things (e.g., mail) (not your whole home folder) into their proper places in your new user home folder. Use [this guide|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6185507] to know what to drag.
4. Re-enter your app preferences if you are going to keep using the new user.
5. If you want to use the old user name, then delete the old account; recreate it; and move everything back to the original locations.
6. You will need to fix the permissions, app settings, etc.

7. Go back to 10.6.

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Answer 4

Jill-Lev Author

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Nov 19, 2009 3:57 PM in response to Jill-Lev

I haven't anti-virus soft. I have firewall "Little Snitch". Nothing start with my user. However this problem comes when I open video... Any video, form local drive, internet (youtube or skype). In other applications I not found this problem. Also I use Xcode, Adobe Photoshop CS4 etc. But when I start video, it doesn't care what soft I use... QuickTime, DivX, MPlayer, Adobe Player Plugin for Safari, FireFox, Opera or Skype, same problem. After while kernel_task take 120% - 150% CPU and as usual, application which show me video take 50%, 60% - 80% CPU. Sometimes it's not happened for half an hour, but for sure need open more that one video on youtube that system start slow down. I also tried to remove com.apple.audio.coreaudiod.plist on 10.6.1, then return back, because I not saw any changes. On 10.6 I had the same problem and when I up to date OS X I thought that can help and fix it. Even in one forum I found that's problem with my GeForce 9400M, and 10.6.2 will fix it. I was stopped my research and just wait until 10.6.2, but after I got it this problem stay not fixed. It's make me mad, that even my iPhone with ARM processor can open video without problem 😟 Maybe I need to find somewhere video fix? Any ideas?

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Answer 5

Nov 19, 2009 6:22 PM in response to Jill-Lev

Actually, I too have what I think is a video problem--not quite like your though. I can't play much of anything from the internet without having to wait for loading for a few seconds about every 5 or 10 seconds. I am newly back to Mac again so I started up to my Leopard install, and sure enough--exactly the same thing happens. Every Win machine in my house, 4 set up and running, handles the same videos easily. I'm not too thrilled for my more powerful Mac to perform so abysmally.

I'll be looking for fixes too. Let's post back here if we find anything. I am going to start up to my 10.6 install now and see what happens.

Edit: [This video|http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?blogid=48&entry_id=51828] is the one I have been fooling with. Try it, and see if you get the result, more or less, than I mentioned above. At least the video will make you smile.

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Answer 6

Jill-Lev Author

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Nov 20, 2009 12:27 AM in response to Jill-Lev

donv (The Ghost), tell me more about your problem. Do you have such effect only with internet video? When your system become slow, open Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor. Sort all processes by %CPU and tell me which top process take CPU and how much it takes. In my case kernel_task took CPU, that's why all slow. Try reinstall Adobe Flash Player: uninstall -> http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/uninstallflash_playerosx.dmg and then install back -> http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/installflash_player_osxub.dmg. About MS Windows, still not tried. I will install windows vie Boot Camp on my MacBook Air, today or tomorrow and then write about results. But I have feeling that windows will work without problems. I think in my case something wrong with Snow Leopard. Need fix something that it's start work normal.

I checked your video. I tried watch it a few times... First it was ok, then start slow down.

Thank you 🙂 I hope we will have good collaboration and then find solution of our share problem.

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Answer 7

Nov 20, 2009 6:43 AM in response to Jill-Lev

Hi Jill:

I still am on the job. I have a busy morning, but will continue working on it. I have noticed the problem only on internet video. And, I have watched many clips from my movie camera with no problem. Today, I watched the move again, but I did not restart so it played smoothly. From %CPU, my Firefox % went from 12% or so to 73% or so.

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Answer 8

Nov 20, 2009 12:41 PM in response to Jill-Lev

I watched the Video after a shut down. All was good, except the FF % was highish. I watched after "working" for a while, and it was slow again. I played with some of my home videos. All way good. I watched part of a DVD. All was good. I am going to look into updating flash.

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Answer 9

Nov 20, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Jill-Lev

Uninstalled old/installed new flash. Glad to have it; had been meaning to get to it anyway. Thanks. But, no improvement. The one time the movie played correctly, I could (apparently) see the buffering in progress. But, when it doesn't play correctly, I see no buffering.

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Answer 10

Nov 20, 2009 1:26 PM in response to donv_the_ghost

I tried Safari. Things were worse with the movie.

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Answer 11

Jill-Lev Author

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Nov 21, 2009 2:48 AM in response to Jill-Lev

When it's slow, is it only video, or all computer start slow down? If only video, try open website with video, press pause button in flash player and wait little until player loading data. Also try to check your internet speed http://www.speedtest.net/ If it's not fast that can explain why your internet video so slow.

--

My problem still not solved... Now I found that work with External NTFS-USB Drive vie MacFUSE NTFS-3G sometimes make kernel_task take 140% CPU... Now I thinking about reinstall Snow Leopard. But I don't like such idea... Does someone know maybe I can use some system test that find what's wrong?

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Answer 12

Nov 21, 2009 7:38 AM in response to Jill-Lev

Jill-Lev wrote:
When it's slow, is it only video, or all computer start slow down? If only video, try open website with video, press pause button in flash player and wait little until player loading data. Also try to check your internet speed http://www.speedtest.net/ If it's not fast that can explain why your internet video so slow.

It's only the video that is slow. I'll try the pause idea for sure. I use speedtest, and my internet speed is OK.

My problem still not solved... Now I found that work with External NTFS-USB Drive vie MacFUSE NTFS-3G sometimes make kernel_task take 140% CPU... Now I thinking about reinstall Snow Leopard. But I don't like such idea... Does someone know maybe I can use some system test that find what's wrong?

I don't know of such a test. But, I'll keep my eyes open for a solution for you.

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Answer 13

Jill-Lev Author

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Nov 21, 2009 12:08 PM in response to Jill-Lev

For sure I install Windows Seven x64 vie Boot Camp. No problems there, all work prefect. I tried 5 youtube movies in the same time, nothing take processor so much like in Snow Leopard. But Windows Seven *****... I really want use my MacBook Air with native OS. I think tomorrow I will reinstall Snow Leopard, and I hope it can help... Still waiting for some ideas 🙂

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Answer 14

Nov 22, 2009 7:00 AM in response to Jill-Lev

All totally strange. This morn I tried Win7 again. It had a few problems with the video. But, I started up to my Leo install, and, to my surprise the Video played correctly--with the buffering bar being displayed as proper. Then, I tried my Sno install, and all was good there. I haven't done anything more than in my prior posts. You probably have tried many of these things (a few I mentioned above I think), but you might want to try this route before trying an erase and install--if that is what you have in mind.

1. Repair permissions and disk, the first from your desktop and the second using your install DVD.
2. Try [resetting your PRAM/NVRAM|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US]. If everything isn't fixed, then follow the [steps here including resetting your SMC if necessary|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411].
3. Reinstall (or install for the first time) the .6.1 and .6.2 updates by [downloading and installing the combo updater|http://support.apple.com/kb/DL959].
4. Reinstall 10.6 using you Sno install DVD by installing Sno over Sno using the upgrade method. Test your system after returning to 10.6. If is good there, then you may not want to install the updates, .6.1 and .6.2. But, if you do, then use the combo updater again.

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Answer 15

Nov 22, 2009 5:41 PM in response to donv_the_ghost

donv (The Ghost) wrote:
All totally strange. This morn I tried Win7 again. It had a few problems with the video. But, I started up to my Leo install, and, to my surprise the Video played correctly--with the buffering bar being displayed as proper. Then, I tried my Sno install, and all was good there. I haven't done anything more than in my >prior posts.

It's broken again. 🙂

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