Lag spike issues while playing game(s)

[fishmonger12]

i'm playing ut 2k4, and every 30 seconds to 1 minute i will get a spike of lag, then the game will go back to normal. it only happens when i play online; it happens on every server. it does not happen on my other computer, which uses the same router to get online. I have broadband internet. my ping doesn't change.

i have run antivirus scans and ad-scans and neither of these seem to be the problem. the fact that it doesn't happen on other computers makes me believe that it is system lag. it happens using an ethernet cable to connect or my wireless card.

my specs:

AMD A64 3500+
Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939
Radeon 9800 Pro
1 Gig pc3200 corsair valueram @ 333 mhz (board doesn't run stable at 400 mhz)
36 Gig WD raptor HD
Sound Blaster Live sound card
Linksys Wireless G USB
D-Link wireless router

any help is appreciated

 

[silent tone]

Is UT2k4 patched to the same version on both computers?
Have you tested any other games on the problem computer for lag?
I would suspect spyware or some application or service running is hogging bandwidth periodically. Open msconfig and disable everything and test it out. It is probably not 'system lag' since the game runs fine while offline.

 

[SenorD]

Are you downloading/running other programs at the same time?

Obvious question, but this can really kill you in gaming.

 

[fishmonger12]

i've tried adaware and spybot, both found nothing. Norton antivirus found nothing.

the game is fully updated.

no, i haven't really tested other games. thanks for the tip.

 

[fishmonger12]

k, tried cs for a while, no lag issues.