You'll need to tell us more, especially about the size of the filter and pump. My "shot-in-the-dark" W.A.G (wild a-- guess) is that your pump is very powerful and your filter is too small. Soooooooooo, it clogs up quickly with algae and back-pressure builds up. I'm FURTHER guessing your DE filter was 'way too small for your pump as well, because there's no way a properly sized and maintained DE filter should have given you that much trouble.

All three types of filters (DE, Cartridge, Sand), if properly sized to pool and pump will give superb performance when properly maintained. I've had both sand and cartridge and my dad had a DE, and sizing and maintaining is necessary for all three.

But.....there could well be something completely different going on....that's why it's a W.A.G.