Yeah, sounds to me like an OpenGL/Direct3D Hardware Overlay issue.
(or lack of Hardware Overlay capability)

Maya requires a vid card that supports that.

You don't have to get a kik-a$$ vid card to reap the benefits of HW overlays, as my current (dead) machine was using an OLD Oxygen VX1 32 meg card running the latest XP drivers.

Worked fine for me, even doing DV

Good luck!