[steelman1991]

Okay, I made some changes I now I get sync that's on par with my CE devices using my HTPC.

Here's what's different:

1. Replaced ATI HD6450 with HD6570
2. Updated to the Catalyst 12.8 driver
3. Installed XBMC 12.0 Frodo Alpha 2
4. Adding the advancedsettings.xml file below

Code:

<advancedsettings>
   <video>
      <adjustrefreshrate>
         <override>
            <fps>23.976</fps>      
            <refresh>23.976</refresh>
         </override>
         <override>
            <fps>24</fps>      
            <refresh>24</refresh>
         </override>
         <override>
            <fps>29.97</fps>
            <refresh>29.97</refresh>
         </override>
         <override>
            <fps>30</fps>
            <refresh>30</refresh>
         </override>
         <override>
            <fps>59.94</fps>      
            <refresh>59.94</refresh>
         </override>
         <override>
            <fps>60</fps>      
            <refresh>60</refresh>
         </override>
      </adjustrefreshrate>
   </video>
</advancedsettings>

I'm booting directly into XBMC as a shell and using a windows logon script to run CLIstart.exe (Catalyst Control Center). I've enabled all of the sync options in XBMC (sync to display, adjust refresh rate with a 4 second pause). I've wrestled with this for a long time and tried several hardware/software combos. It seems I've finally found one that works. Maybe it's the new Catalyst driver. I also noticed that it doesn't steal focus away from XBMC anymore (at least not yet). There is still some sync lost to propagation through the AVR, but it's the same as everything else that I have connected to it.

is the missed counter increasing when you look at the OSD? for 24p material?

Read so much here recently that I may have misread something somewhere along the line. I'm making an assumption here that nelson is connectiong via HDMI and bitstreaming. If so I was under the impression that 'sync to display' like reclock and similar programmes had no effect on the end product. Therefore rob he would be unlikely to see any missed counter increases - no? You on the other hand do not use HDMI if I remember correctly, therefore a fundamental difference and likely the reason why you see it and he doesn't.