Windows Media Player Performance and Quality

  • Article

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1

The Windows Media® Player Performance and Quality assessment starts Windows Media Player and plays multiple media clips one after another. The focus of this assessment is on the quality and performance of steady-state playback in Windows Media Player, which mimics the workload of a user watching a movie. The results produced by this assessment can help you assess media playing capabilities and performance and quality issues. This assessment does not evaluate any seeking or pausing functionality. For more information about the results that are produced by this assessment, see Results for the Windows Media Player Performance and Quality Assessment.

The following graphic illustrates the assessment process.

In this topic:

  • System Requirements

  • Settings

System Requirements

Warning

The first-run help tips in Windows 8.1 can negatively affect assessment results. To disable these, run the following command from an elevated command prompt, and reboot the computer:
reg.exe add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EdgeUI" /v DisableHelpSticker /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f

Warning

Run this assessment only while the desktop is full screen. Do not run this assessment if you have another Windows Store app opened side-by-side with the desktop.

Warning

When running this assessment on Windows 8.1, make sure the Collect Analysis Trace setting is unchecked when assessing expected battery life. When checked, this option will produce an incorrect estimation.
Enable analysis trace collection only when you need additional information to investigate other energy-related problems.

You can run this assessment on the following operating systems:

  • Windows 7

  • Windows 8

Supported architectures include x86-based and x64-based systems.

Settings

By default, this assessment uses the recommended settings. Microsoft defines these settings so that you can compare the results across multiple computer configurations or over time on the same computer. When you review the results, the run information includes metadata that indicates whether the assessment used the recommended settings.

The following table describes the assessment settings, recommended values, and alternative values for each setting.

Setting Description

Use recommended settings

Specifies whether the assessment uses the recommended settings. By default, this check box is selected. To change the settings for this assessment, you must first clear this check box.

Content path

Specifies the source folder for the media files. By default, the folder is located at ..\Content\Streaming Media Assessment. You can use the media files in the default location or specify a different folder. If you supply your own media files, the assessment supports the use of a network folder.

Test pass type

Specifies a power option for the assessment. Select one of the following options from the drop-down list. By default, the power option on a laptop is Tests on AC and DC.

  • Tests on AC and DC

  • Tests on AC only

  • Tests on DC only

See Also

Concepts

Assessments
Results for the Windows Media Player Performance and Quality Assessment
Media Transcoding Performance

Other Resources

Windows Assessment Toolkit Technical Reference
Windows Assessments Console Step-by-Step Guide