Noticeable skips in computer...

[Rokrin]

I've noticed within the last two hours that my laptop (Dell Inspiron 6400) has been noticeably skipping. It happens within about 5 minutes of booting up the computer, and the skipping includes my mouse as well as my sound. Basically, about every two seconds, there will be a skip. It's extremely noticeable with the sound in games and Vent, as there's a stutter, where the sound will occur twice.

I have no idea what's causing it though. I'm wondering if something is overheating or what. I've tried restoring my computer but it didn't solve the problem. Ideas?

[Ryu Van Burace]

Is it noticeably warmer than usual? Have you recently updated your anti virus which may have caused them to "update" your real time protection? The more worrying one: does it even out after a couple of hours of being on?

[bobfish]

Overworked processor? How many programs do you run at a time? Including background processes?

[Rokrin]

@Ryu: Antivirus hasn't been updated in ages because I never use it. It's not any warmer than usual, and it doesn't even out. Even as I type this there's a noticeable skip in the letters.

@bobfish: I'm currently running in cleanboot to try and find the problem, so right now there's nothing running except what I choose to run (which is only steam, my tablet drivers, and photoshop right now) other than bare essentials windows processes.

[Marelo]

What are the chances that his monitor AND sound card are dying simultaneously and in concert? Pretty slim, I'd say.

Hm... It's possible that your RAM/processor/hard drive cables/etc. have become improperly seated. From my knowledge, any one of those might cause something like this.