Help solving DPC spikes

[Copilot]

Well this is still happening. I made a post a few months ago about it.

This is a clean install on windows Xp Pro

All video card drivers are up to date, same with motherboard one.

Here are computer specs.

GPU: evga geforce 7600 GT
CPU: AMD athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0ghz dual core
Motherboard: Asus m2n-mx SE
Ram: 1gb PC2-5300 CL5 240-pin kingston ram

here is the screenshot of the spikes on process explorer, what they do is cause my game to lag for 10ish seconds, basically exactly the same as getting a big lag spike.

The one thing that makes me think its my video card is that if I play Counter strike 1.6 it only does it once every few hours, but sometimes in 1 minutes. On Team fortress 2 which is what I was playing it happens within the first 4 minutes.

http://img213.imageshack.us/im.../9134/dpcspikeset8.jpg

I can replace my video card if that is probably the problem, I have $100 just sitting here, which can buy me an 8600 GT.

 

[DSF]

$100 will do you better than an 8600GT these days. You can get a nice 8600GT for $50 or 60 after rebate, and if you check the Hot Deals forum I think there's an 8800GT going for $100 or 110.

If that really is the problem anyway. I'd do some more investigation to be sure.

 

[Copilot]

I am canadian though so prices are higher.

 

[Copilot]

Ok well I decided to put my old motherboard/cpu/ram in my computer and reformat. The DPC spikes didn't happen and I was using the same video card. So I am going to cross out the video card as being the problem.

I would of kept using the old mobo/cpu/ram but it kept blue screening of death and I couldn't get the sound to work so now my new cpu/mobo/ram are back in.

I want to try and figure it out and fix it, I am going to take my computer in on tuesday but I would rather fix it so i don't have to pay the expensive per hour rates.

 

[MarcVenice]

Erm, how about heat? I gave this some thought and all of a sudden heat popped into my mind. Did you monitor the temps of your CPU ? Does it get sufficient cooling? Take of the sidepanel and perhaps point a household fan on it, and see if the problem persists?

 

[Copilot]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Erm, how about heat? I gave this some thought and all of a sudden heat popped into my mind. Did you monitor the temps of your CPU ? Does it get sufficient cooling? Take of the sidepanel and perhaps point a household fan on it, and see if the problem persists?

You know what, I tried that when it first started happening at about february and I can't remember if it worked or not because I went out and bought 2 80mm fans, they didn't do anything so I thought that wasn't the reason it was happening.

But now I have been playing WoW for around 45 minutes and it hasn't happened yet when I put the big household fan facing right into the case with the side panel off.

So now I wonder, is it because I don't have sufficient cooling or because my PSU isn't powerful enough? The specs on my comp aren't very high so I would think my 450W PSU is fine.

I want to buy a nice new case, something with side panels that have vents and spots for fans.