NHL08 problem

[J0K3R]

I know, I know...not exactly cutting edge graphics and enthralling game-play, but still a game I enjoy. :beer:

Here's the thing:
Game ran perfectly before my last upgrade a week ago.
Was running an Asus M3A with the X2 6000+ and a BFG 8600 GT OC with 2 Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400.
Latest Forceware drivers on XP Pro.

Upgraded to the Phenom 9550 and 9800GTX+ with 4Gb Patriot PC2-8500 using the same motherboard.

Reinstalled the same Forceware drivers.

The game now runs CRAPPY.
Unplayable.
1 second gaps in gameplay, even menu selection via keyboard skips and jumps.
What the hell? :bang head
In comparison, Gears of War, COD4, UT3 etc. all run perfectly now.

I even tried a soft OC of the video card (bumped the core to 800, shader to 1985, and mem clock to 1200) NO DIFFERENCE.

Ugh.

Any suggestions??
To be honest, I'm in the middle of a Dynasty run and hate to just quit the game.

Thanks in advance!

[Krypto]

The game ran fine with my 9800GTX's. Did you use a driver cleaner when removing your old drivers?

[jokers_greg]

use driver cleaner first, (btw i can't wait for NHL09, coming out soon :D )

[J0K3R]

Well, here's the thing.
I didn't use driver cleaner, as I was installing the same drivers (ver. number) as I was using for the 8600GT.

I couldn't figure it out. I even dropped all background processes (AV, utorrent, browser, etc....I even disabled the second monitor). Dropped the resolution, nothing was working.

I did some MS updates and ended going ahead with installing SP3 for XP.
Now the game works again.
Full resolution, all background processes running, both monitors....not even a hiccup.
It loads much, much faster now as well.
Go figure.
I was in the middle of a game when AVG auto-scan kicked on. I didn't even know it was running until I was out of the game and saw all the disk activity.

Whatever the problem was, it's gone now.
Weird.