Something is not quite right with my computer - help solicited

I have a Dell XPS 8900 desktop, stock, 1TB HDD, 16GB RAM, Nvdia GeForce GT 730 graphics card, running Win 7 Pro 64bit.

Yes, I know this isn't a high end graphics-type machine, but I need to do some animation and graphics work and it has been crawling badly.

But it seems to be perhaps something other than just being underpowered for the task. I needed to do some Skype conversations and got a webcam yesterday (Logitech C920) to connect to the computer. I can't get a clean video signal from it above 360p. Anything higher and I get this jittery video that I captured on my phone in the Youtube link below:




Do I need a better graphics card? I would have hoped that the stock card would have been able to handle at least a 760p video conversation. Or is there something else wrong with the hardware?

Thanks!

When I Google Logitech 920, I get other owners stating they can't get 720p or 1080p from the Logitech software....but they say it works in other apps. Others say they've gotten it to work after uninstalling and re-installing. I'd probably un-install, do a full check for all driver updates, then try re-installing the software.

Thanks! I'll try that.

That Logitech webcam came out in 2012. If re-installing doesn't work, you might just try a new webcam. Just make sure it is backwards compatible with your Windows 7, if you plan on staying put with Win7 for the next year or so.

And, while you are at it, time to upgrade that 1 TB HDD. XPS 8900s were Gen 6 Intel chip (which is what I have in my main tower that I built in 2016), which is plenty of power for photogs...BUT that 1TB HDD is a major performance bottle neck in your system! Not sure your system comes with an M2 hard drive slot on the board, but at the very least get a 256GB+ Samsung SSD....and you'll be kicking yourself that you didn't upgrade that bad boy sooner!

Have had great success with XPS systems. Have an old XPS 7300 from 2009 (?), and it still hums along just fine for the kids.

Can't speak for the software itself but I've been using a C920 for years and it's been fine in every other app at 1080p on Windows 8 and 10. I am sure the camera itself is fine as long as your don't have a faulty sample, try it in Skype and see what happens. In fact, they still sell the same damn thing and they're still wildly popular and highly recommended on lists from last year and this year.

Thanks! Switching to an SSD is definitely on my list of things to do. I might pick up a M.2 SSD tomorrow. There are some good prices around July 4.