Computer Stuttering: The Final Draw

[fustercluck]

For a long time i've had this problem where my computer hiccups about every...SECOND. It's very annoying. Mostly the problem is in games. It's not video card related though, at least i really don't think so. So i've asked around many times at many different forums about this and never got any good answer, no one knows what it is. I've also seen other people with this problem. I probably won't ever figure it out, but this is my last try. It sucks to spend mega bucks on a computer and the thing hiccups every second when playing games, as you could imagine. So WHAT is it? I want answers, dammit . Below is in example of the problem in Battlefield 1942, but i also get it in every other game i play, including stuff on NES emulators, and many other things i should be able to run 110% easy. It's very, very aggravating, and i've had the problem for a long time. I will also link to some other threads if you want more info. Have i stumped you all again?

http://adaman.homestead.com/files/vidlag.gif

 

[RadDreamer]

Do you have your chipset drivers installed? Also, what services/programs are running in the background?

 

[egale]

Are you doing any overclocking? Any antivirus software running?

 

[fustercluck]

Dunno about the chipset drivers... just got all the normal stuff running in the background + motherboard monitor, norton antivirus 2004, and maxboost. Nothing's overclocked.

 

[Grimner]

The words "Soundblaster Live" makes me nervous. Have you tried without it?

 

[DefDC]

This might be too severe to start with, but I was suffering similar problems. I believe my vid card is dying. Someone said they were able to fix their problem by UNDERCLOCKING the videocard slightly. It worked for me. I wish I had tried it sooner. I went to the extent of installing WinXP on another drive and loading the games.
Go thru the gamut of checking drivers, (if you upgrade, reinstall DirectX), check your fans and cooling, reseat your cards and ram, (and give it a nice dusting while you're at it), and check for any mobo updates that might give better performance. If all else fails, underclock your card and see if that helps.

I do like that idea of COMPLETELY REMOVING the SB Live and see if you still have the problems. That poor workhorse is getting a little long in to tooth. Mine is currently running in my MP3 server.

 

[bigalt]

I had that for a while, and if i remember right it turned out to be because of the blaster worm-- i know that's kind of old news but have you made sure you're clean?

my computer would just blip for a really short period every so often-- if music was playing, it would skip, and if i was typing i would miss a letter here and there.

 

[Warlord721]

I had the exact same problem. And you know how i solved it? By getting rid of the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse(USB) that i had. That thing caused so many headaches for me it was unbelievable. And the weird thing was that it was fine when I first got it for like 3 months, and then the stuttering started, and no amount of reformatting, reinstalling , whatever, fixed it, so I switched it for a plain ol PS2 mouse i had lying around and Walla! Stuttering completely GONE!!!! And Got a Logitech MX mouse, and life is good again. Microsoft.... Software and Hardware... Geez...

Oh and BTW I got a MS Wireless Optical Mouse lyin' around collecting dust, anyone want to buy it???

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah...i've always thought it might be a problem with SBlive. Guess i'll try taking it out, though it's kind of a pain in the butt.

I had this same exact problem with my GF3ti200, then i upgraded to a 9800 pro a few months ago and still got the problem as much as ever.

Quite sure i don't have the blaster worm, i've had this problem before that was even out.

I've hear that taking out USB stuff has solved this problem for other people... i'll have to look into that.

Also, i found this article here: http://www.geocities.com/phileosophos/tech/pcilatency.html dunno if that guy has the same problem i do though.

 

[Mnementh]

Check that your HDD's have DMA enabled and are not running in PIO mode, this is very similar to a problem I had a few weeks back.

Also check eventviewer to see if there is anything reported in there specifically any atapi errors and the like

Mnementh

 

[ISAslot]

I had a similar problem with a sb live card in a redhat 9 box. The cpu would spike to 100% every second or so, horribly annoying and it sure did slow things down.

Once removed though, all was well.