AotI-PC/PS2: Sound makes game stutter?

[Maxson]

I just got AoI and configured the settings to match PSU. Whenever I entered a new area or had to load a new person (for example, when someone entered the room), the game froze while the sound looped; this happened for up to 10 seconds each time.

After trying many things, I found that turning off the sound made the game run just like PSU did, but obviously I want my sound back... I'm using onboard AC'97 audio.

All audio and video drivers are up-to-date.

Any similar experiences/fixes?

[Maxson]

To answer my own question, the following thread worked wonders for my performance- apparently it worked well enough to overcome the loading issues I was having:

http://boards2.sega.com/psu_board/viewtopic.php?t=21715

In fact, I recommend it for anyone struggling with their computer's performance. (Of course, your mileage may vary.)