Today i make a new test.
Vegas4, PAL project, PAL DV AVI on the timeline (the file is on separate 7200rpm drive), no scopes, no opacity change...

My goal is 25fps on external PAL monitor.

The native dv avi file play smoothly of course,
But when i apply a simple LEVELS FX (because the shot was dark),
the video is 13 fps in preview(auto) setting, and 10 fps in preview(full)
setting on external monitor.
And!...
The task manager says: my athlon processor is never above 80%!
in both case.

So i'm afraid this is not a processor issue? Maybe my new core2duo config also cannot make 25 fps with simple levels fx? (or dissolve..)

(I have the firewire port on Audigy card, but i don't think this is the problem.)

Is your hard drive in PIO mode, or ATA? (Sorry, I don't know the instructions for checking this off the top of my head.)

Of course in ATA 100.

I believe he meant PIO or DMA mode? You need DMA mode.

Well, me too :) Ultra DMA mode is used.
I use PC since "80286 days", so i know everything is right in hardware side..

Hi. Today i make a new test with this config:

Biostar mainboard i965
E6300 Core2duo
1GB DDR2-800
160GB Maxtor Sata2
7300GS vga PCIe
PCI Firewire card

Clear XP SP2 install, with mainboard driver, sound driver, vga driver.

Vegas4.0d, PAL DV project, no scopes, no opacity change, etc.. everything in normal. I capture 2x1 min. video from camcorder.

When i make a dissolve between these 2 clips, on External monitor fps still NOT 25, just about 18-20 fps, and the video is not smooth.
The processor usage is about 50-55%, so i realize this is NOT a processor, and NOR a RAM issue! It's Vegas code!

I still love vegas, just :((((

Maybe Vegas 7 use the full processor speed, dual core or SSE2?
And i can see real 25fps on external monitor?
Can anyone confirm this?

I answer my question:
vegas7d trial can also produce only 20-21 fps
on external monitor in crossfade between two clips :(

Sony, please write a better code!