iTunes using integrated graphics card - video is very choppy

Apologies if this has been hashed to hell (assist by just pointing me in the right direction instead of ripping me a new one, please...thanks!) I'm still trying to find an answer but it's more elusive than when I normally conduct research.

The problem? I'm trying to watch Iron Man 3 (HD version) within iTunes. This is the first time I've ever used the rig to watch movies via iTunes, so I never noticed this issue until now. Video playback becomes very choppy after a few minutes of watching. I checked within the Nvidia control panel and the app is locked to use the integrated GPU.

My rig's specs are within my signature (and I'm using Win 8 Pro, if that matters).

I'm using the latest stable Nvidia drivers (320.49). When looking at software configuration of iTunes within the Nvidia Control Panel, I see that item #2 (where you select the preferred GPU is locked to "Integrated graphics"...usually this is a drop-down menu selection where you can select the integrated or dedicated GPU. Fn+F7 doesn't work...all I get is a prompt that "your graphics solution is automatically configured for optimal performance". That doesn't sound right, because if iTunes is bogging in video playback and is locked to using the integrated GPU, the solution isn't optimally configured. Some type of manual intervention is needed, IMO.

I'll continue my search, but if anyone has run into this issue before and knows of a solution, please share your knowledge. Thanks!

 

and I found this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam.../711117-intel-hd-graphics-im-going-cry-2.html

It explains that HD video playback can be rendered by the iGPU without performance issues. What I don't understand is, why is my HD video playback so horrible, then? The fans aren't running and I've killed all performance-sapping processes. One thing I did do was, I configured the iGPU to max performance. I definitely noticed a performance increase, less lag, but it hasn't completely vanished. I also hear something like static within the movie sound.

Wondering if the performance aspect changes if I push the HD footage to a second monitor (like my iMac 27"...use it as a monitor)...

 

Here's another link, describing the issue to the "T". I sorta feel better now, since it's apparent that this is more of an iTunes issue, even though none of those listed solutions helped.

I'll continue to dig for a resolution.

 

Have you tried another video player? If so, what were the results? Are you plugged-in or running on battery? Have you tried rolling back your driver?

 

Have you tried setting it up like this?