Is my PSU Causing my FPS spike

My graphic card is a 9600GT (BFG) 512MB. Tested it on many games, it works fine for the most part. But on weaker games such as Team Fortress 2, and sometimes on stronger games like fallout 3. I'll notice my FPS spike considerably... Just the most rediculous choppy garbage ever. During Call Of duty 4 as well, I won't be able to play for the first 2 minutes from my FPS spiking from 100+ to 20. I was under the impression it may be my PSU.

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 3070MB RAM
Hard Drive: 320 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
Speakers/Headphones:
Keyboard: USB Root Hub
Mouse: USB Root Hub
Mouse Surface:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Motherboard:
Computer Case:

There's my computer specs, my PSU is a dynex( I know the brand is ***...) 550w power supply. I was wondering what might be causing this, my drivers are all upto date. Help would be appriciated, thanks for your time. Oh, and another thing, Is there a way to check my Card's temp from the NVIDIA control panel or is there a program that would allow me to check?

Anyone...? http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/p [...] 2461&catid ( MY PSU)

Also, is your hard drive going? Maybe need to defrag as well

It could. But the 9600 isnt known as a power hog, and your setup isnt either, so even a low brand psu should work.
Check your cpu usage, if its maxxed out, theres your culprit

cpuid, itll give high and low usage, so after gaming etc, you can check it, or simply use task manager, and leave it on with a slow reading, back out of the game quickly hitting cntrl ault delete, with it already running. If you have a pause do it in game, or even using in game control panel, it wont be so hard a jump on your system

60%? Thats maxxing it out in those games?

No. Not at all. Just trying to save you money.

OK looking here http://www.dynexproducts.com/skins [...] Manual.pdf I see the 500 watt only supplies 18 amps to the 12 volt rails, so, a 550 watt, same maybe 20 amps, ots not enough, at all

Yeah, I've opened it up before, theres no sticker on there for sure. Should I just go over and talk to the tech dudes and ask them at futureshop, or best buy where I got the thing.

It's total BULL. Cause I replaced my PSU 3 months ago when my HD broke down and I had to reg it replaced inorder for my PC to even start. Thats like... Going through 2 PSU's in 4 months, How rediculous? But thanks anyway dude, you were helpful. Learned a few things too.

I dont really order stuff online, but you think you can help me pick a good one out? www.newegg.ca Is what most of my friends used and recommended. My price range is 110 dollars or less. Otherwise I might pick out a crap one again, and this last year has been quite a hassle PC wise for me... thanks again

I say it's your CPU not being able to keep up.

It probably is your cpu. Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz ( Two P4 together)
Try to overclock your cpu to 3.2ghz+ and see if that helps.
What is the temp of your cpu?

How do you OC?

I've closed all apps and ran it before. same outcome, its not just lags, its a base low fps with sets of lags... that make it go even lower. I was messing around with Fallout 3, tried playing it with 0 boosts super low quality. It gave me a base of about 60, but as I moved it would hit the 40's and 30's. - With All graphics down- When I turned it up I would get a base of about 50 and when I move around about 35, and spikes to about 15-10. Same with TF2, a less demanding game.. Turn everything down maybe a base of about 10 FPS higher, but as I move around it gradually has the same outcome no matter how many samples of of antilasing or graphic quality I put on.

Can you try a lessor resolution? Run your games at a lessor res, see if the fps goes way up, but keep the eye candy the same. If the fps goes way up, it means its putting less requirements on the gpu, and the cpu is keeping up.
If, on the other hand, the fps dont go way up, it means that its being held back by your cpu

Actually, at a lower res, the fps should increase, as theres more stress being put on the cpu, and less on the gpu, since having a smaller res means actually less to render, or "draw" if you will, meaning the cpu cant increase the fps, which ulimately means its your cpu holding you back. The box for your card indeed does say that, and as Ive said, it needs 28 amps on both the 12 volt rails. 1 rail goes to mobo generally used, while the other goes to your gpu. Each should have, or give, a maximum of around 17-18 amps per rail, but with both, only allowing for 28 amps together, so 1 may only use 12 amps, while the other is free to use the other 16 amps left.
Your cpu is underpowered as well as your psu. Check with your mobo maker, and see what cpu upgrades are available. I dont know if your mobo is a socket 775 or not, and even if it is, will a C2D be compatible, but its worth checking out.
So, if your mobo allows for a C2D, getting both a cpu and a psu with at least 28 amps on the 12 volt rails would complete your setup, and allow for good balance with the card you have, and your gaming needs

Okay, I found an ATI folder so I uninstalled everything in that. How do i overclock my pentium D? my cpu and gpu remain below 70 degrees at all times. Did a virus/adaware scan found a few nothing that really helped. Havent got to the memtest yet. still no improvement so far

Alright well I downloaded the sweeper, hit ATI-display checked it off hit scan/clean. Quite a lengthy list of ATI drivers and other ati related files. I dont think they were removed though.. It spammed me with errors : " Acess Violation at adress 004D0040 in module 'Driversweeper.exe' of adress - Code of file- There was 2 login options that usually arent there.. the one im normally in and a " Administrator" one, But I'm set as teh admin anyway. Is that what it meant by acess violation? Any thoughts. ( Btw thanks for helpin)

Yeah i did it in safe mode, But i'll try logging in the admin one and give it another shot tell ya what happens when I do that.

Hmmm, so you keep finding the files? In that case you might have to manually delete the folder and the folder its being contained in.

See if you can find out what the program location is and do some manual deletions. (delete anything it lists and anything ATI related)

k, reinstall the Nvidia drivers (official ones).

Then test the game again.

If that still doesn't work, do some disk defragging. If you are willing, run memtest and go eat/sleep/etc

I'm out for today, I'll help you out some more tomorrow if the problem persists.

Just a update : I reinstalled drivers, nothing new still the same, disk defragged, nothing new. and how do I run memtest? and what kind of results am i supposed to be looking for?

not sure to be honest

nothin else I can do?