Usually I have no problem with AHII and I get 60fps even near burning refineries. I have my system set for 1280x1024, unlimited frame rates, 512 texture size, preload, preload, preload, hardware vertex processing, optimize objects, optimize terrain. Recently when I load the game up and first run into enemies I will see fram rate drop to 1-3fps which is hard to fly with. I also auto-download skins in the background.
My system is an ASUS A8N 32 SLI Deluxe (PCI Express). I have cut back from an X2 processor to an Athlon 64 3700+ (I heard X2 is not supported). My memory is Corsair TwinX2048-3500LL 2GB KIT (1GB x 2) 437MHZ Matched Pair CL2. My Video cards are eVGA GeForce 6800 GS CO SE 256MB DDR3 PCIe (I tried cutting back to a single card but it makes no difference even when removed from the system). My sound card is a SB Live 5.1. My controllers are CH Fighterstick USB, CH Pro Throttle USB, and CH Pro Pedals USB. My OS is Windows XP X64. My HD is a SATAII 300 optimized with O&O Professional Defrag (background defrag disabled).
I also have the problem of screenshots causing a system freeze and loss of connection with host.
Can you suggest anything?