I am having a similar issue with the Intel NUC D34010WYKH. This is very disappointing because I literally only bought this to serve as an HTPC replacement that allows me to watch specific content: Cable TV including Premium Content (HBO, MAX, etc.) via Windows Media Center using a Silicon Dust HD HomeRun Prime. I had read that Intel has been able to decode these streams via dedicated onboard hardware for sometime so it is very disappointing to learn that either the hardware isn't up to the task, or the drivers aren't.
I have read some issues about a 29/59Hz bug in the Intel drivers that leads to the choppy/jerky/flickering playback behavior being described here. I need to know within the next week or two if this is something Intel can fix, because otherwise I have a paperweight that weighs however much the NUC weighs.
I have posted similar on the Silicon Dust forums but no response. I am surprised more people have not encountered this issue, or there simply aren't a lot of NUC buyers who also use WMC for Premium Cable. I have multiple other PCs that have no issues whatsoever with CableCard TV playback, but some of them are running discrete Nvidia GPUs. I do have an Asus BayTrail T100 that handles playback better than this NUC, which is surprising.
Here is a link to the post I made on SD Forums.
Silicondust • View topic - Intel NUC D34010WYKH, WMC and HBO (FIOS)
Key Points:
1) Only occurs with encrypted Premium channels, like HBO, SHO, MAX, but HBO is the worst. Indicates it may be due to heavier processing load related to DRM/encryption, possibly bitrate.
2) Other high bitrate channels, like ESPN, are very smooth.
3) CPU usage spikes when watching the encrypted channels, from 10% to 25-30%.
4) I have installed all drivers already, there are no driver bangs in devmgr
5) I have added a 2nd HDD and set it as buffer/record location
6) I have changed resolution and refresh rate (read about a 29/59 bug) but this does not help. There is mention it is an issue with the sound over HDMI requiring synch with video, causing the stuttering.
7) I have updated the BIOS but this did not fix the issue.
8) I made numerous changes in the Intel Graphics settings, like changing to Driver vs. Application, but this did not improve the issue.
9) Sometimes content from the same channels that have problems are OK, so it does seem like it is a source content refresh rate issue.
10) I have multiple other PCs on my network that handle these CableCard Streams without issue, including an Asus Bay Trail T100 tablet. I am going to test this with an i7 4770K via onboard video to see if I can replicate on a more powerful machine.
11) It is not a network connection/speed issue because the choppiness/flickering/stuttering still occurs when directly connected to the router via NIC.