HD audio stuttering only while watching live tv

[ripple]

I've been racking my brain with this since upgrading to 5.0.4.

Playback of HD content is flawless when watching saved recordings. When I watch the channel live (while recording) I get constant audio stuttering although video is fine. If I go back and watch the saved video that was stuttering later, it plays perfectly.

After trying to isolate this issue I think I've narrowed it down to a cpu usage. What doesn't make sense is why the cpu usage is twice as bad while watching live tv compared to watching a stored hd recording while it's recording hd content.

CPU Usage While Recording an OTA HD channel:

• SageTVService = ~5%
• Idle = 95%

CPU Usage While Watching a stored HD Recording:

• SageTV = ~40%
• Idle = 60%

CPU Usage While Watching a stored HD Recording and recording an OTA HD channel:

• SageTVService = 5%
• SageTV = ~40%
• Idle = 55%

CPU Usage While Watching Live Recording of an OTA HD channel (STUTTERING!):

• SageTVService = 5%
• SageTV = ~40%
• System = ~55%
• Idle = 0%

What I can't figure out is why the System (Windows kernel?) utilization is so high while watching live TV. Anybody have an idea what the system is doing during live tv that it is not doing during playback of another video while recording?

Thanks,
Kevin

Aver A160 HD capture
3xPVR-250
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ATI 9200 video card