Game pauses/stutters for 1-3 seconds periodically

[reloaded 7]

I recently re-installed Arma after not playing for a couple of months, and now when I play, I get pauses/stutters that last 1-3 seconds and happen randomly. Sometimes it happens every few seconds, other times every 30 seconds. I used DayZ Commander to update everything as I have in the past. Nothing has changed since the last time I played other than re-downloading and installing everything fresh. The pauses seem to happen mainly when I get near either Zs or players. It seems to be a pretty wide radius. When running around with nothing else around, the game runs perfectly smooth. Also, if I load up the armory or boot camp, the game runs perfectly as well. Windows mentioned to me that the HDD that the game is on is possibly on it's way out (I have RMA'd this drive once before (Samsung Spinpoint F3)). Also, other games on this drive run fine as an FYI. This problem happens on every server I tried, and on both Chernarus and Namalsk.

Here is what I have done so far to no avail:

I have de-fragged the drive, used Steam mover to put Arma on another internal HDD I have, changed graphics options from high to low, run the game in windowed mode, verified the game files, redownloaded the 1.7.3 files from the torrent and manually installed them, reinstalled Battleye, and I'm sure some other stuff I'll edit it. I have also checked my internet and it's running at normal speeds, and other online games run just fine.

Computer specs are: i5 2500k @ 4.2, SLI 560 Tis, ASRock Extreme4 board, the 1TB HDD as well as 2 80gb HDDs, and an M4 SSD for the OS. 760w gold PSU.

I have also tried taking overclocks off, as well as running the game with just a single 560Ti. Nothing has any effect on these pauses/stutters. Any suggestions welcome.

As of last night, I un-installed everything having to do with Arma and DayZ and am re-installing it on one of the other HDDs instead of just using Steam mover so I can isolate that the HDD is/is not the problem. Will post back results later after work.

Thanks.

[decoman 45]

I have this issue ever now and then. FPS drops for a few seconds and then jump back up again. I get the impression that by stop running, the stuttering goes over a little more quickly.

I have no idea what might be the cause. Experience such stuttering on at least the Chernarus and Namalsk map.

Edited November 3, 2012 by Treehugger

[rekrul 91]

I get one freeze within ~5 minutes from joining and I'm pretty sure it's BE.