The computer in question, generally runs quite well. However, notably, when playing back audio or video, and sometimes whenever I open a flash intenstive tab in Firefox or IE, the entire system momenteraly laggs, audio playback stutters and crackles, and even mouse movement becomes jittery. This usually lasts between 5-10 seconds. Also, sometimes the flash intensive tabs lock up firefox for 10-30 seconds, rest of the system is completly usable. My CPU specs are as follows: - ASUS P5K64WS - 4GB DDR3-1333 MHz PQi RAM, running at 1066MHz to match FSB - 2.4GHz Quad-core Q6600 (65nm Kentsfield) - single 8800GT (G92, only 1 monitor driven at 1920x1200 off the DVI-D) - NVIDIA driver at 178.13 (Downloading 182.08 as we speak...) - Realtek HD ALC888 with latest drivers (Device Mgr tab says driver version: 6.0.1.5404) - Vista Business Ed. 32bit running SP1 and Automatic updates on. My HDD setup is: - 2x 500GB Seagate Baraccuda's on SATA-2 in RAID-0 configuration on the Intel ICHR-9 - 1x PATA DVD writer - 3x 320GB Seagate Baraccuda's on SATA-2 I have a 550W PSU with good amperage on the +/- 12V rails. I have tried changing RAM, but no luck. I'm considering going back to XP SP3 to see if that "fixes" things. Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated? [Edited by - silvermace on April 2, 2009 4:17:00 PM]

Sounds like a software problem to me. Try disabling drivers until the problem dissapears maybe? Here's somebody with what looks like similar (though even more pronounced) problems than you, with the same 178.13 driver version.

Also, I would question the value of 4GB of RAM with a 32-bit operating system. You'll only be able to "see" 3-3.5GB of it which seems like a waste to me. Still, that's the only option that many OEMs give you, which is annoying...

A/ try disabling the 3d window thingee for vista (whatever that is, Ive never used it) so it looks like XP

B/ if u have mvidia nview on your menubar remove it (Ive seen this really stutter some apps for no logical reason)

I've also had a lot of performance issues with flash on vista, disabling aero glass hasn't helped. My theory is nvidia still has crappy vista support simply because 2 out of 3 of the problems I have with vista are caused by video card driver issues.

Hey guys, thanks for all the great suggestions :)
Rate++ for all you guys.

I think it was the NVIDIA drivers (thanks Codeka!!!)
After updating to the latest ones, the same situations have stopped occuring, I cant make the audio skip at all any more. This is really great, because I've put up with this crap for nearly a year, but now I have to work fulltime on this PC and it was really getting to me.

Thanks