Annoying and odd computer stutter..

[HAWK]

I got a computer only 2.5 years old which has: 2.4ghz intel CPU, 512mb
pc2700 ddr ram, 9800 pro radeon video, 40gb hd, cdrw and dvdrw. Recently
its been getting this odd behavior where in 3d games it runs for 3-4
minutes fine, then it stutters/freezes for 2-3 seconds and then runs
fine again. This loop continues on for the same time intervals almost.
This happens in every 3d game. I dont notice it in windows while
watching videos or 2d games.

What i've done without any success is:
-Exchanged video card with an older one
-Defragged countless times with third party programs even
-Cleaned registry and used diskcleaner software
-Ran all type of disk scand and surface scans
-Ran memory tests like memtest86
-Ran MS antispyware, Adware, Spybot
-Put in a new more powerful 420w power supply
-Updated all device drivers, windows
-Unplugged all usb devices
-Disabled or closed all programs and processes i can when playing a game
-Check temperatures look fine

I don't know what could be causing this or what else can I do? Reinstall
windows would be my last step?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I got a computer only 2.5 years old which has: 2.4ghz intel CPU,
512mb pc2700 ddr ram, 9800 pro radeon video, 40gb hd, cdrw and
dvdrw. Recently its been getting this odd behavior where in 3d
games it runs for 3-4 minutes fine, then it stutters/freezes for
2-3 seconds and then runs fine again. This loop continues on for
the same time intervals almost. This happens in every 3d game. I
dont notice it in windows while watching videos or 2d games.

What i've done without any success is:
-Exchanged video card with an older one
-Defragged countless times with third party programs even
-Cleaned registry and used diskcleaner software
-Ran all type of disk scand and surface scans
-Ran memory tests like memtest86
-Ran MS antispyware, Adware, Spybot
-Put in a new more powerful 420w power supply
-Updated all device drivers, windows
-Unplugged all usb devices
-Disabled or closed all programs and processes i can when playing a
game
-Check temperatures look fine

I don't know what could be causing this or what else can I do?
Reinstall windows would be my last step?

You seem on top of things - so I am going to make this suggestion..

- Make an image of your system as it is to external media using something
like Symantec/Norton Ghost and/or Acronis TrueImage.
- Reinstall and update Windows XP onto your system (Be safe - do not connect
to the Internet with the system until you have verified the firewall is
enabled - and then visit only http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ until you
have completely updated everything.. Do not get hardware drivers from
there - get those from the hardware manufacturers.)
- Now that you have a clean (and only) install of Windows XP - install and
update one of the games that demonstrates the issue. Play it.

If the issue rears its ugly head - your problem is not your Windows
Installation from before. Restore the image. Troubleshooting from there
will be where we need to go from.

If the issue does not appear.. Well - you cannot say you didn't try to
cleanup before going to drastic measures. But I would still tread
carefully. You could have installed something before that never left
completely (or you didn't find) or you might be using a better version of
some driver you didn't even think about before redoing the system. Think on
that carefully afterwards and before installing everything you use in a
rushed fashion.