1080p download and playback bugs in iTunes 10.6 for Windows

Hello! I also have the same problem (and something more).

Most of my videos in iTunes (TV shows and movies) are in 720p. I did however downloaded a few movies in 1080p. While 720p movies play just EXCELLENT, when I'm trying to play 1080p movies I also get the message "The 1080p version of *movie* is too large to play on this computer. The message will be dismissed in 60 seconds". When I click "Ok" the movie plays normally in the player, BUT it so much laggy like the framerate has been dropped at 5-10 FPS. However, when I play the same 1080p movies in Windows Media Player Classic (the encoded one) the movie plays normally, without bugs and with the normal great quality of 1080p. From that, I assume that my PC supports and can play 1080p video.

Searching the internet I found that "To play 1080p HD video, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor, 2GB of RAM, and an Intel GMA X4500HD; ATI Radeon HD 2400; Nvidia GeForce 8300 GS or better is required."

So my specs are these:

Windows 7 32-bit

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Processor 4200+ 2.19 GHz

2 GB RAM

Geforce 8800 GTS 1GB

From what I think, the problem (IF it's really my machine's problem) has to be my processor. Despite the fact that it's only 2.19 GHz, does iTunes fully supports and take advantage of AMD processors? And how is my 2.19 processor able to support 1080p video in WMPC and not in iTunes? 😕

I downloaded the current "free" behind-the-scenes episodes from TV series "Homeland" in both 720p and 1080p. I don't know about any DRMs but WMPC (with K-Lite code pack) plays them without any digital protection problems.

I also tried to play 1080[ in QuickTime and there was also a lot of lag...

P.S.: Actually all Apple's apps for Windows are all super-heavy for the CPU to process, including iTunes ofc. Well, the only app that is not heavy is Apple Software Updater. 😁

Yeah, I'm getting the exact same problem. My PC also well exceeds the requirements. Video also plays after the 60 second countdown.

From what I understand 1080p is only worth something if your using a monitor or tv of 32in or more. Most people don't have monitors that big. And the player window iTunes uses doesn't resize itself like Windows media player does. So when you open a 1080p movie you get and error cause the window will exceed the size of your monitor and you have to resize it yourself. Also, when I opened a 1080p movie, got the error and hit ok, it played the sd version instead and wouldn't let me play the 1080 version anymore. I actually had to go into the movie folder and take out the sd version, delete the folder from iTunes but keep the files then re add the movie. Only then could I play the 1080p. Seems like we just have to put up with the error for now.

I understand what your saying about the resolution and your absolutely right. And i'm most definitely wrong about the monitor size being the problem. I checked. I am running a 1920x1080 monitor (Acer GD253HZ) and a Samsung SyncMaster at 1920X1200. I should've worded things a little different. Just wondering if the problem is the window size. The window that opens to play the move extends past my monitor, on both. I'm missing almost a quarter of the movie on the right and bottom and i have to resize to get it to fit. Which is what the error says, video is too large, literally. Even if i right click on the file and open with quicktime player, it still extends past my monitor, though i don't get the error.

Alright, so, I'm familiar with the default position of a window and yesterday no matter what the settings would not stick. Once I opened the movie, resized it, closed the window and reopened, the window would always open to the full size and not the resize. Well, today the settings are sticking. I just assumed this was part of the problem everybody was having. But I don't think it's a issue with the default position of a window as the movie opens from the top left corner and is extending past the right side of my screen. It's just huge! Anyways it opens correctly now. Error is still there and is just annoying though! I'll be waiting to get another 1080p movie until iTunes fixes the error. Thanks for input though.

Yeah I'm having the same error, only I only have two options. OK or Cancel. Further, when I check the video properties (Get Info) it says that the video quality is HD (1080p) but that the video dimensions are only 1920x800. Which is... weird. Like, black bars maybe? But I don't know. The whole thing is nuts. I have a quad core i5, a radeon HD 5870, and 8 gigs of ram. Don't even talk to me about bandwidth. This computer is a beast. I stream 1080 from youtube all the time. I don't know why iTunes for windows is so consistently the junkiest, smelliest piece of garbage software on this operating system. I mean, I do... but it's like... why even bother, Apple? If your plan is to convince people to buy OSX by showing them how terrible windows is, like, how about just divert all your windows resources into making your OSX apps better?

I'm getting this issue to but I redownload the tv show to 1080p then I get that message I think it's a bug they need to fix

Keep in mind that 1920 by 1080 is the MAXIMUM resolution of 1080p content; only content recorded in 16:9 (1.78:1) ratio will utilize the full 1920 by 1080 resolution. If you have a 1920 by 800 video content, it's most likely that you are talking about a movie, which is usually in cinema ratio of 2.4 to 1 aspect ratio. This is still classified as 1080p video despite the letterboxed format because it has more definition than 720p video.

Back on topic, I have a PC with the same issue. The error says "Video is too large" and then it plays the show in what looks like 1080p but I don't know for sure. I suspect it's an AMD Radeon issues since i have a Radeon card as well (HD 6850) and iTunes simply is not detecting the driver having proper 1080p support. I'm going to use the onboard intel HD graphics and give it a shot.

I also have this problem, and I also have an AMD video card (2x 6990M in CrossfireX).

However, I have a Sandy Bridge machine, meaning I also have an Intel GPU. I will switch over and test iTunes...

Not working for me either. I just downloaded the hd version of Thor. I'm running a Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K

Using an hdmi cable. It no works for me either..l playback starts but in standard resolution!

I play blurays on this machine all the time and they work flawlessly. Now my Mac pro with a quadro 4000 in it plays the 1080p with no issues.

Anyone get this working on their pc? Wondering if I should go out and buy a new video card.

I wouldn't buy a new card. This has to be a problem with itunes in windows. Ati cards get the error, nvidia, I have a gtx 580 and a hd radeon 54XX on my laptop and get the error but only when using itunes to open the movie. Using quicktime to open the movie I get no error. Mac books also don't get the error, just itunes in windows it seems like. What is really funny is that i have a new ipad, it plays my 1080p movie (The Immortals) flawlessly! No error. Go figure. And it looks amazing! : )

I also had the problem with it playing only standard. I had to remove the sd version from the folder in order to play the hd version. Apple needs to hurry and fix this cause I would like to purchase more 1080p movies. I'd rather have digital content then a bunch of discs lying around.