2d desktop stuttering occasionally

[p dandy]

Hi experts,

I have a problem and am wondering if someone knows what is going wrong:

My computer is Vista x64, 4 gb of ram, quad 9770, Asus striker 2 extreme mobo. All drivers updated.

Computer is a powerful so I don't expect it to be stuttering in the 2D desktop mode. You don't notice this when you're just browsing but play a music file. I have ITUNES play a music file. It stutters during some points. It is not always the same points so the file is not corrupted. In fact this happens to a lot files and the same files moved to my laptop plays like a charm. I also played this in winamp and it does the same thing.

Now you might say that it is a sound card or speakers problem. I have two soundcards and headphones; both cards support Vista 64 drivers. The problem is exactly the same when I switch out the hardware/peripheral so it is not a sound card or speakers problem.

One experiment I did was move the cursor in circles as the music is playing. At the random times that the music stutters, I look at the cursor and it also skips around. Therefore, it seems like a 2D desktop frame rate problem and not specific to playing music.

Is this a symptom of a problem you guys recognize?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Aramazd]

Most likely the sound drivers aren't very good, just because there are drivers doesn't mean there good ones.

 

[p dandy]

True, but is it possible for that to stutter not just the sound by the desktop and cursor as well?

 

[Aramazd]

True, but is it possible for that to stutter not just the sound by the desktop and cursor as well?

Yes, a bad driver can affect more than just the hardware it interacts with.

 

[Comraddict]

i would analyze task manager in such situations: see what is loading CPU
if CPU load is on system task such as explorer.exe then it is on drivers (video perhaps)
but I got a feeling it is iTunes fault, that thing crashes on me every other time.

 

[p dandy]

Thanks for the adivce. It was actually the netgear wireless adapter of all things that was causing the framerate drop. Apparently it is a known issue that it doesn't work 100% perfect with Vista x64. I unplugged that thing and my computer and sound are working fine now.