Rlyss

Hi everyone, I've got the world's most annoying computer problem.

My system's a Dell Inspiron 5160 (laptop) with Windows XP Pro (SP2), 3.06GHz Pentium 4, and all the updates, 512MB RAM, 60GB hard disk and a GeForce FX Go5200. I know the video card isn't the best but it's a laptop so what can you do?

My CPU spikes to almost 100% every 20 seconds, like clockwork, and remains that way for 20 seconds, then it's back to normal for another 20 seconds, then it happens all over again. This happens when I play Need For Speed, Red Alert 2, Counter Strike Source and when I'm watching a movie with Windows Media Player. It doesn't seem to happen when I'm online or using Office.

I've checked for spyware, adware and viruses, and I don't think it's a network problem since it happens when I'm not connected to the network (via an ethernet card). I've got no programs updating themselves in the background, I've got disk indexing turned off and Windows has assigned 768MB to the paging file. My hard disk is also only 20% full, AND I've only just formatted and re-installed XP tonight to try and get rid of the problem but it's still there.

I've tried this with hyperthreading enabled and disabled, and it still spikes and leaves the computer unuseable for those 20 seconds. I've also seen CS:Source played on an identical laptop and there are no problems. I've got the latest drivers for the video and sound cards.

When it happens and I check the Task Manager the System process seems to be using a lot of the CPU, but since the computer's so jerky it's hard to catch the culprit in time, and by the time I can get a good look the System Idle Process is back to its usual 99%. I've checked all the process names in Google and nothing listed seems to be out of the ordinary.

Does anybody have any ideas why this is happening? It's a great machine, only two weeks old, this is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure I've given enough detail there about what I've already tried but if anyone's got any ideas I'll try anything. Cheers.