I've been noticing similar things for a while. Here's the symptoms:
A. Little freezes from time to time (at regular intervals, it seems). The severity of these depends on - I think -- the frame rate. I had to switch from 32 to 16-bit color to minimize the problem. Those of you with stutter might try boosting resolution or color depth and see if it makes it worse.
B. Longer freezes. When these occur, windows "forgets" about all my USB equipment (Stick, mouse). Often it will freeze, unfreeze then CTD.
C. Increased whining online about frame rates, freezes, warpy bandits and cheaters.