Stuttering issues (Index - Steam VR)

Can u check if GPU decoder is loaded?

noname128 Hmm, the monitor settings like gsync/vsync would not effect the headset, and I have SteamVR set to the same options with automatic "smoothing" and 100% super sampling, so not sure it would be that either.

I'd listen to Philip before you take a look at any of the below, but a few more suggestions.

You mentioned that DirectShow seems "forced on". For me, it's just an on/off toggle like all of the other settings in DeoVR, sort of greyed out when off and lit up green (or maybe lit up blue? going from memory here) when on. Are you able to turn it off? Because just like DirectShow can help certain videos play more smoothly, it can sometimes have the opposite effect on other videos.

Have you tried playing videos in any other apps? Maybe try downloading SLR's app (which is virtually identical to DeoVR), or better yet another free VR player like Play'a or something similar. That might at least help narrow it down to potentially being a Steam or settings issue vs a GPU or hardware decoding issue.

noname128 Sadly the last idea I have is to uninstall your HVEC codecs and LAV filters, restart your system, and reinstall both. If that doesn't work, hopefully Philip or the support team can help you out, and imagine there are at least a few different subreddits that you could post on that might be able to help you out.

noname128 If you go to windows task manager with your video playing on the background, is GPU loaded?

noname128 In the app I'll switch off the direct show filter and it will just come back on

I was in the EXACT same situation as you. Using the Index/Steam VR, RTX 2070, I had the LAV filters installed (using the recommended link from the DeoVR/SLR App), and "Direct Show" was always forced on, and any video around 3000p or greater would stutter every few seconds, yet the frame rate reported by SLR App stayed high.

This is what I did to fix my situation:
Uninstalled the recommended LAV filters (do not reinstall)
Installed the "K-Lite Standard" codec pack from https://codecguide.com/download_kl.htm (left all settings default during and after installation, no need to change anything at all.)
Uninstalled "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" from the Windows Store
Uninstalled "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Windows Store
Re-installed only "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Windows Store

After that, I was able to turn off Direct Show and it would stay turned off. And all 3000p+ videos have played smoothly since then (downloaded, not streamed).

I had a similiar problem, my hardware is HP Reverb G1 + i7 4790K + GTX3090. SLR app played all local videos just fine, but streaming videos higher than 2160 resulted in stuttering every few seconds, now I found out that this streaming-stuttering only happens if H264 codec was selected. If you start playing a video, open menu for this video, then in the title bar you can select codec H264 or H265. After selecting H265 streaming is totally smooth, even in highest resolutions like 3840, so make sure to select H265, meanwhile I have uninstalled all codecs like LAV-filter and in Settings, Developer, DirectShow ist deactivated, but I have Microsoft Media Foundation Codecs installed. I think using LAV-filter and DirectShow instead of Microsoft Media Foundation would work too, but the crucial point for me was to select H265 instead of H264!!!

Rakly3 Thank you very much for these specific details, now all makes sense