Test your system to see if it is ready to run ErgVideo!

ErgVideo operates under Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. See Special Vista instructions here.

While some clients are successful in running under Windows 2000, we are NOT supporting it. Please do not install on 2000, and do not call the support line if you insist on doing so.

Here's how to know you are ready to run ErgVideo. This test loads your system with a very similar workload to that which exists when running the ErgVideo system. Download this .avi in Mpeg4. (13MB). You'll need an MS-MPEG-4v2 codec. We recommend ffdshow, found here.

To download: right-click on the image...and Save as. Save the file locally to your drive. Navigate to the file and double click. It should open in Windows Media Player.

1. Download the sample video file on this page to your hard drive. It is full resolution, MPEG-4v2 encoded, the same as any ErgVideo.
2. You should install the ffdshow codec for very best performance. It is excellent and even allows for picture adjustment and special effects.
3. Start the video with Windows Media Player, and press pause. Slide the play progress slider to the very start of the video.
4. Start your CompCS or Multirider CompuTrainer application in Erg mode, loading any .erg file supplied with it.
5. Connect your CompuTrainer per the usual CompuTrainer instructions.
6. Start the .erg session with the F1 key, and be sure the timer is rolling. You do not have to be riding.
7. Now bring the Windows Media Player Window into the foreground (Alt-tab until the WMP icon is highlighted).
8. Press "Play" icon on WMP. The video you see should be un-stuttered and uninterrupted. ErgVideos are a little bouncy due to the helmet cams, but the video should not stutter (halt and skip).
9. NEW: The latest WMP tends to not stutter or drop frames, but sometimes plays back just a little slower than realtime. This video is 32 seconds long and a graphic shows that counts 0-31. This graphic should change in synch with a wristwatch/stopwatch started exactly when when you press play. If the total stopwatch measured duration exceeeds 32 seconds, your PC is too slow.
10. While the WMP and CompCS apps are running, do Control-Alt-Delete and look at the Task Manager.
11. Under "Performance" you will see CPU Usage. If the Usage is substantially below 90%, you are good to go, for sure. 60 is typical for P4 systems with two logical CPUs and good video cards, and the ffdshow codec. CompuTrainer itself takes 50% on dual core processors, and 100% on single core, for no good reason.

If you see stuttering video or 100% CPU usage, there are a few things you can do to tune performance:

1. Wipe out any adware or malware running.
2. Do not scale the video to the window size. Right click on the video and be sure Video size = 100% and "Fit video to window on resize" is not checked.
3. Right-click "My Computer and click...properties...advanced...Visual Effects and select "adjust for best performance". You windows may change appearance, but you are relieving your video card from some meaningless tasks. Now go to Advanced and be sure "Programs" are highlighted in both cases. Now click OK.
4. Right-click your desktop and select Properties... Settings... Advanced... troubleshoot and be sure Hardware acceleration is "Full".
5. You could now go to your own video card settings, but this is where things get specific to your card.
6. Here is an awesome webpage to tune your XP machine PC 911. Very worthwhile.

If you see 100% CPU utilization with all the above optimizations, please consider upgrading your system before purchasing ErgVideo. An interrupt from another process, like an automatic virus protection update, could disrupt your ride. 100% CPU corresponds to single logical CPU variants of P3 and P4 processors. It can still work, but definitely never try supporting more than a single rider on these systems.

Example: The worst system ErgVideo is known to run on are 1.5GHz P3, 512MB Ram, Intel integrated graphics. It operates for a single user CompCS mode. Don't run a studio with a weak PC.