Hello. My PC, since yesterday, started stuttering every second or two. It is extremely annoying and makes playing audio or video an impossibility. It started when I was watching a (admittedly very scratched) DVD, but now seems to be a problem all of its own. I have tried the following to locate and remove the problem:
AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy
Avast virus scan
CCleanup
Removing dust from my computer, checking fans
Removing the soundcard and mouse
Closing all processes and programs
Running in safe mode
Reverting to an old restore point
Updating graphics card drivers
I've come to the conclusion the problem is linked to the CPU, as whenever the computer is running the CPU Usage in Task Manager is at least 13%. It never goes below this, even with nothing running whatsoever. The only time it did, after my last restart, the stuttering dissapeared. However, it returned again shortly afterwards and the usage went back up to a minimum of 15%. I've also ran SpeedDisk and it's not my hard drives.
There seems to be a phantom proccess using my CPU, or maybe the fans aren't running or it's faulty. I don't really know where to go from here, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Windows XP Home
MSI K8N Sli-FI (MS-7185)
AMD 64 3700+ @ 2.2ghz
2x512mb PC3200 RAM
2xATA HDD
MSI Geforce 6800GS 256mb PCI Express
Soundblaster Audigy ZS
Thermaltake 480W PSU
AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy
Avast virus scan
CCleanup
Removing dust from my computer, checking fans
Removing the soundcard and mouse
Closing all processes and programs
Running in safe mode
Reverting to an old restore point
Updating graphics card drivers
I've come to the conclusion the problem is linked to the CPU, as whenever the computer is running the CPU Usage in Task Manager is at least 13%. It never goes below this, even with nothing running whatsoever. The only time it did, after my last restart, the stuttering dissapeared. However, it returned again shortly afterwards and the usage went back up to a minimum of 15%. I've also ran SpeedDisk and it's not my hard drives.
There seems to be a phantom proccess using my CPU, or maybe the fans aren't running or it's faulty. I don't really know where to go from here, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Windows XP Home
MSI K8N Sli-FI (MS-7185)
AMD 64 3700+ @ 2.2ghz
2x512mb PC3200 RAM
2xATA HDD
MSI Geforce 6800GS 256mb PCI Express
Soundblaster Audigy ZS
Thermaltake 480W PSU