FPS Drop - Freeze

[Onil]

I have an annoying problem which i can't seem to fix.

It started after installing PR 0.956 and it appears to be totally random. Every once in a while my FPS drop to 2 or 4 and stay that way until i click Esc to go to the main PR Menu where the FPS return to normal and I click Esc again to return to the round.

While the FPS drop, the CPU usage of BF2 also drops from its usual 50/60 to 0 or 2...

I tried reinstalling BF2 and PR but the problem remains. I tried running PR without any other programs loaded and still it does the same. It even does it on local server and with PB A and B processes stopped.

It is not related to any map, location, vehicle or kit as it keeps happening randomly and sometimes very frequently. I always had low FPS on the last versions of PR but it like 40 to 20 minimum on heavy maps and it was dependent on the location on the map. This problem seem to be totally different, it is like if the game freezes while dropping to 2 FPS and nothing will fix it but returning to the main menu and back to the round.

My specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo 6300 1.86Ghz
Asus P5B Deluxe
2 gb RAM
Geforce Nvidia GTS 250
Windows XP

Help would be very appreciated.

[Onil]

I read some other threads regarding CTD's and Freezes and it seems that some of those might be related to DirectX and the game's sound. I am unsure if my case is similar but since i ruled out third part applications, PB and map related issues, I'm running out of ideas.

Please Help

[Onil]

Ok... i have tried everything there is:

Installed new video drivers
Installed new audio drivers
Lowered video settings
Lowered audio settings
Ran the game without any other application open, including the anti virus
Ran the game on windowed mode
Ran local servers with PB off

The problem remains... sometimes more frequent than others and totally random in terms of maps/locations/vehicles/kits. I can be standing still on a map where i have good FPS and still it happens, I get 2 or 4 FPS and CPU usage by BF2 also drops to 4 or 6.

Now the only reason i see for this to happen is something related to sound because when i return to the main PR menu, the in-game sound stops and the menu music starts and automatically my FPS go back to normal and I return to the game with normal FPS. It is like if it resets the in-game sounds.

I forgot to say but I have a PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series.

Please someone try and help as i cannot play at all with this problem.