skeletonbow: Try switching from the default video output to specifying it yourself. Choose either DirectX or OpenGL and then restart the player after saving settings. If it still stutters, try the opposite output and restart again.
ZFR: OK, some progress:
Heavy stuttering when using:
_Direct3D
_DirectX (DirectDraw)
Very light stuttering (but still noticeable, like 1 stutter every few secs) when using:
_OpenGL
_Direct2D
No stutter when using:
_Windows GDI
but... when I open some high resolution videos using Windows GDI I get some colour artefacts on screen. I imagine this is what Windows Media player uses, since it has no stutter on most files, and doesn't open the high resolution videos that produce artefacts when running on VLC.
So... any advice on how to proceed from here?
EDIT:
Not sure I mentioned this before, but using Windows 7, GeForce GTX 970 graphics card.
DirectX diagnostic tool shows no problems.
Yeah, try increasing the size of memory cache/bufferfor video in the advanced settings of VLC, however I can't tell you what it is called exactly as I forget. Basically it reads some off disk, decodes it and plays, then reads more etc. If the buffer runs out faster than the disk replenishes it you'll get jitter. Increase the buffer size uses more RAM but should be smoother. Might need to hit up Google or Youtube for the setting though as it's been a while since I twiddled with that stuff.