Temporary graphics and sound stutter on execution

[Ezekial_Rage]

A few months ago I got Deus Ex: Invisible War for the PC, and we all know how craptastic the FPS were. I went to support almost immediately before leaving the first room in the game and found a thread that would increase FPS, which it did, but then it screwed all my other games up.

When starting any game, I will get graphics and sound stutter for about 3-5 minutes. After that time is up, everything runs smoothly. You can see how this is a nagging problem, especially in first person shooters.

This stutter occurs every second for a brief moment. Just count to 5 and instead of calling out the numbers, say "stutter." Its like my game is doing the robot. And the lock-up duration is very brief, <1 second.

These are the methods I used to increase my FPS in DX:IW out of the support thread http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthr...threadid=29653 :
Downloaded Omega Drivers,
got cacheman program,
disabled winxp services.

I messed around with NVIDIA forceware too, in every program setting all my stuff to performance.

I also see I messed will NVHardpage program @ nvhardpage.com

And activated reforce(refresh rate program).

Outside of games I don't have this problem, and it only lasts that 3-5 minutes IN games. Is this a RAM problem, or what?

Yes, Im aware I need an upgrade, but I lack the finances.

Here's my DxDiag.txt:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/31/2004, 23:18:43
Machine name:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ECS
System Model: K7S5A
BIOS: Version 1.00
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 203MB used, 1044MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0902 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: The file directx.cpl is a debug version, which will run slower than the retail version.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 (Omega KX 1.4523a)
Manufacturer: NVIDIA (Omega KX 1.4523a)
Chip type: GeForce3 Ti 200
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0201&SUBSYS_00000000 &REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor: hp pavilion v70
Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4523 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/28/2003 14:19:00, 3902603 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 9/6/2003 14:55:02, 1341339 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4141-11CF-1B72-0A2002C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0201
SubSys ID: 0x00000000
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SiS 7012 Wave
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1039&DEV_7012&SUBSYS_0A141019& REV_A0
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: sis7012.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.6110 (English)
Driver Attributes: Beta Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 4/8/2003 09:56:36, 820133 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.(1.11.02)
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[jim_v2000]

Re: Temporary graphics and sound stutter on execution

I was having this issue for a LONG time and I stayed up for 4 hours last night until I figured out what it was. If you open your task manager, and sort the list of processes by CPU, you should notice that that "System" process spikes up to around 20% every 5 seconds. That should coincide with the jerks in your graphics. On my machine, it turned out that when I disabled the Print Spool service, the spiking stopped. I checked my printers and my OfficeJet, which wasn't hooked up, was trying to print a document. I assume that it was retrying the failed print every 5 seconds. Once I deleted that document out of the printer queue, the problem was gone. I now have smooth graphics and sound again.

So, if that doesn't fix it, it may be a differnt service causing the issue. What you can try is going into SafeMode. If you notice that the System process is no longer spiking, go back into Normal Windows and turn off all of the Services in Msconfig and reboot. If the System process is still not spiking, go back into MSCONFIG and turn on half of the services and reboot. Check the System process. If it's spiking now, then one of the services that you enabled is causing it. Then what you do from there is enable/disable half of the remaining services, checking each time to see if the System process is still spiking. You should be able to eliminate it down to one service...which at that point you can leave it off or figure out why it is doing that.