This guide is for people getting stuttery or jerky playback of videos, full screen or not, using Ubunutu 14.x or derivatives ( Linux Mint 17.x etc ) and using an AMD video card

Firstly make sure you are using the propriety drivers:

sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates

and reboot

Install vainfo:

sudo apt-get install vainfo

Now look at the vainfo output, it will probably look like:


# sudo vainfo
error: XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set in the environment.
libva info: VA-API version 0.35.0
libva info: va_getDriverName() returns 0
libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/fglrx_drv_video.so
libva info: va_openDriver() returns -1
vaInitialize failed with error code -1 (unknown libva error),exit


So your missing the link to the acceleration driver. Do:

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libXvBAW.so.1.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/fglrx_drv_video.so

Now your vainfo should look like:


# sudo vainfo
error: XDG_RUNTIME_DIR not set in the environment.
libva info: VA-API version 0.35.0
libva info: va_getDriverName() returns 0
libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/fglrx_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_0_33
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA-API version: 0.35 (libva 1.3.0)
vainfo: Driver version: AMD MMD 1.0
vainfo: Supported profile and entrypoints
VAProfileMPEG2Simple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileMPEG2Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileMPEG4Simple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileMPEG4AdvancedSimple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileMPEG4Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264Baseline : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileH264High : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Simple : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Main : VAEntrypointVLD
VAProfileVC1Advanced : VAEntrypointVLD


Your all set. Video should now play smoothly. IF your still experiencing poor video and you are using Totem player – read on.

I don’t find Totem enough for my needs as a video player so I suggest installing mplayer/smplayer:

sudo apt-get install mplayer smplayer

You can make this your default player for video files from the right click menu of any of your videos.

Some also prefer VLC player.