Strange Occasional Stuttering Problem

[Krispavera]

I've been experiencing quite an aggravating issue with my PC as of late. While playing any game (and I mean anything, be it Doom, Red Alert 2, Quake 3, or Crysis), using many applications (Doom Builder 2, etc.), and while simply using Windows itself, I'll experience occasional (but frequent enough to drive me insane) stutters. What happens is everything will be working with a high framerate for a good 30 - 45 seconds, and suddenly the video (and sometimes audio) stutters for about a second or two, sometimes even more.

The issue isn't quite detrimental to gameplay, though it does disorient me a little, but it's incredibly annoying and I cannot for the life of me figure out what the problem is. Also I should mention that it seems this problem doesn't start until what seems like a good 12 hours after a cold boot.

So far I have tried the following:
Run memtest with no errors

Run chkdsk multiple times without errors, and I ran the error scan in HD Tune also without errors

Updated to the latest video drivers (I even uninstalled them and used driver sweeper, just to be extra certain) to no avail

I've swapped out various video cards

I've sprayed out the inside of my case multiple times, there isn't a speck of dust left in there, and temperatures are beautiful

PC Probe reports that my PSU is acting normally

I've run multiple virus scans with no results, and malwarebytes hasn't found anything either.

Specs:
Windows 7 RC Build 7100 (My full version arrives tomorrow)
Intel Core 2 Duo e6600 2.4Ghz
ASUS P5Q Motherboard
4GB DDR2 RAM
Radeon 5850 HD Video Card
Samsung SyncMaster 204BW Monitor
Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 320-GB Hard Drive
Thermaltake 700w PSU

HijackThis log:

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskhost.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\HydraVision\HydraDM.exe
C:\Users\Walker Wright\AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.bin
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CCC.exe
C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe
C:\Program Files\foobar2000\COMServer2Helper.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
R3 - URLSearchHook: AVG Security Toolbar BHO - {A3BC75A2-1F87-4686-AA43-5347D756017C} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\Toolbar\IEToolbar.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - *{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar BHO - {A3BC75A2-1F87-4686-AA43-5347D756017C} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\Toolbar\IEToolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\Toolbar\IEToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICustomerCare] "C:\Program Files\ATI\ATICustomerCare\ATICustomerCare.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Steam] "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [HydraVisionDesktopManager] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\HydraVision\HydraDM.exe"
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = Walker Wright\AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.1.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AMD External Events Utility - AMD - C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Nero BackItUp Scheduler 4.0 - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Nero BackItUp 4\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe

I don't usually ask for help on forums about this kind of stuff, so if I left anything out please tell me. I'm about pulling my hair out over this so hopefully someone can guide me to the answer here. Also sorry if this isn't the proper forum for it.

 

[torrentg]

Get rid of:

1) O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime

2) O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICustomerCare] "C:\Program Files\ATI\ATICustomerCare\ATICustomerCare.exe

3) O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')

4) O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"



-----------------------------



5) Type Services.msc in start menu search box. Set AMD External Events Utility to disabled. Stop it too.

6) Google on how to effectively remove Bonjour service.

7) Run Malwarebytes full scan. Paste logs of any findings here.

8) If those don't alleviate symptoms, uninstall Steam.

 

[Krispavera]

Ran malwarebytes full scan, here's the log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.39
Database version: 2462
Windows 6.1.7100

10/29/2009 11:51:15 PM
mbam-log-2009-10-29 (23-51-09).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 202225
Time elapsed: 54 minute(s), 6 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\install.exe (Trojan.Agent) -> No action taken.


Nothing significant it seems, I've gotten that C:\install.exe before though. I figured it was a false alarm.

 

[torrentg]

Defragment your HDDs for best performance. Do so offline with O&O Defrag, creating a job to run upon next reboot using scheduler function in it for even better results.

 

[Krispavera]

I'll run a defrag tonight, but my harddrive is automatically defragmented every wednesday night afaik. O&O reports my drive as 4.6% fragmented.