MacBook Pro 2011 Flash Stutter Issue

Question

Level 1

5 points

MacBook Pro 2011 Flash Stutter Issue

This is a very specific problem that flares periodically, but consistently enough so that it's very noticeable and bothersome.

When watching flash, the audio occasionally struggles for a mere half a second, creating a distinctive pop or clicking noise. It's very, very quick. The video also will pause on occasion, though much more rarely. These two issues are sometimes, but not always, mutually exclusive.

I have no idea what could be causing this issue as I've had the computer for less than two weeks. On a side note, my VLC has also struggled on occasion, with the audio stuttering and the video artifacting like it never did on my 1.6 GHz 1 GB RAM Toshiba.

I'm not sure if these issues are all related. I can say that I got a similar popping in Ableton when playing four notes at once, if that helps with anything.

Finally, when flipping up and down web pages with the two-finger gesture, the scrolling visibly slows as if the entire frame rate drops as I roll over Flash content. This does not always happen, and I've noticed the problem on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox (including Firefox 4, the RC). I only mention it because it seems to me like something isn't doing what it needs to in terms of audio and video, especially when it comes to Flash.

Macbook Pro 2011 (2.2 Ghz, 4GB RAM), Mac OS X (10.6.6), 1GB vRAM

Posted on Mar 13, 2011 7:24 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 14, 2011 12:30 AM in response to Zenmaster4

my best bet is the flash player itself.
Idk but quite a few videos on youtube in flash stutter on certain settings.

have you changed the YouTube settings on the video youre watching?
it should say somewhere in the lower right of the video itself 240, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p etc change that to see if it may clear up some of the stutter.

Reply

Answer 2

yozhbk

Level 1

8 points

Mar 14, 2011 5:34 AM in response to Zenmaster4

I see the same issues with flash video and also notice with page scrolling. I mostly see this in Firefox which is always using 15-40% CPU Im using FF rc1. But Videos do skip in Chrome as well. I tought this was due to my wireless network connectivity, but starting to doubt that. Im on MBP 13 i5 2.3 8GB Ram 80GB Intel SSD.

Xscore and GeekBench results are high.

Reply

Answer 3

lunar77

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2011 1:32 PM in response to Zenmaster4

try turning off "automatic graphics switching".
See if that helps

Reply

Answer 4

yozhbk

Level 1

8 points

Mar 15, 2011 1:34 PM in response to lunar77

on a MBP 13 ?

Reply

Answer 5

Zenmaster4 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 21, 2011 1:29 PM in response to yozhbk

This is a 15" MacBook Pro. Additionally, the automatic graphics switching, or lack thereof, seems to have no effect on the issue. I am installing 10.6.7 to see if Apple has provided a solution, though I doubt it.

Reply

Answer 6

kelfield

Level 1

0 points

Apr 21, 2011 6:31 PM in response to Zenmaster4

I am having similar issues with my new MBP 15" as well. Just purchases this April. When playing flash, I am using flash's newest version 10.2. Also running 10.6.7 on my Mac. All of a sudden video will completely freeze. Although it does not freeze my browser. But, I have to restart the video from the beginning...only to have it freeze again at some random point. The video will be buffered on Youtube for example but still freeze even though it is buffered. Not sure what to do.

I have installed and reinstalled flash. I have tried on another user profile. I have turned off automatic graphic switching. I ended up doing a fresh install and that didn't work either.

Any suggestions? I am wondering if more are having trouble with flash on their MBP?

Reply

Answer 7

Lance000

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2011 10:27 AM in response to Zenmaster4

I'm also thinking about buying a new macbook pro 15" with SSD, but do not want to until all this is sorted out. I'm curious as to why no one has posted on here since April 21- has this issue been resolved?

I've had an imac 20" for the past 5 years and had more problems with it than I had with my previous Dell computer. I think I have a lemon because pretty much every major component has failed at some point and had to be replaced or reinstalled. The last thing I want is to spend $3,000 on a new macbook pro and to find that my screen is freezing or some programs are freezing or are somehow corrupted. Can't deal with all the headaches again. perhaps it's time to head back to PC?

The worst part is that Apple never seems to acknowledge these issues are widespread until everyone else knows they're widespread...and even then it is like pulling teeth.

Reply

Answer 8

May 1, 2011 12:27 AM in response to Zenmaster4

can you link some videos on youtube that stutter? got an iphone that can take video of it too. id like to try it out on a macbook pro 15" 2011 myself.

Reply

Answer 9

May 8, 2011 12:33 PM in response to Zenmaster4

I just bought this

13-inch: 2.3 GHz

2.3GHz dual-core
Intel Core i5
4GB 1333MHz
320GB 5400-rpm¹
Intel HD Graphics 3000

I have the same issue. Also when using an external sound card (I tested with Edirol FA-66)

When flash is around strange noises appear.

System and flash player is fully update.

Tested on FF and Safary.

Reply

Answer 10

Zenmaster4 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2011 3:12 PM in response to Zenmaster4

I still have this issue -- that being said, I try to avoid Flash content as much as I can. Anybody with any information please, please, please speak up. Or better yet, Apple -- please solve this.

Reply

Answer 11

Jun 5, 2011 4:52 AM in response to Zenmaster4

I am having this exact issue, it seems to get worse with every minute constantly running a flash application, and the skipping or stuttering is not isolated to the flash program itself, it makes the entire computer stutter.

As I type this I have a flash game running in a different tab. As the sound from that game stutters, the letters I am typing also lag, and the music in my itunes skips as well.

This problem is absolutely maddening and unacceptable IMO. I wish Apple would just buy Adobe and get it over with so they could streamline Flash and their products.

15 inch Macbook Pro

2.3 GHz Quad-Core i7

4GB 1333 MHz

750 GB 5400 -rpm

Intel HD Graphics 3000

Unacceptable.

Reply

Answer 12

the tall

Level 1

12 points

Jun 5, 2011 6:02 AM in response to ZachBuffet

Don't think this is just a Flash problem, I have the new MBP and it does this on Flip4Mac, and VLC...

Reply

Answer 13

Jun 5, 2011 8:23 AM in response to Zenmaster4

Do you all have the latest version of Flash Player? In my experience it will not auto-update on a Mac - you'll have to download updates yourself from adobe.com. There have been some fundamental improvements in the last few Mac versions, including hardware acceleration support.

Another issue I've found is when you have several browser windows or tabs open in the background. On most of these sites, you'll see Flash ads that needlessly hog your CPU / GPU as long as the window or tab is open. For this reason, I highly recommend installing ClickToFlash and adding sites that actually require Flash (such as YouTube) to the whitelist.

Reply

Answer 14

Jun 11, 2011 3:56 PM in response to Zenmaster4

Can you atleast post links to the video you are having issues with? Do you have an HDD or an SSD in the MBP?

Reply

Answer 15

Zenmaster4 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 20, 2011 12:37 AM in response to Max Stanley

Have you ever closed a tab in whatever browser you're using? Has the audio/video stalled as you did so? This is the issue that I'm having. Except without any inciting incident. It does it on its own, on a quad-core Mac, on a still-functional hard drive and CPU. I do various activies that would otherwise struggle in their own way (such as intensive 3D rendereing) but handle just fine. Thus this seems no a CPU issue but something related to the GPU.

I will try to get a video uploaded, but it's such a randomly flaring issue (as I stumble upon flash videos in such a random pattern) that it'll take time to plan ahead.

Reply