lag spikes every few minutes

[when armadillos]

like many others i have from the start been experiencing lag spikes on any server i play on.

my specs are:
xp2400
ti 4200 128mb graphics
1gig 333 ddr ram
plusnet 2mb line

now ive never had problems in ut2004 at full settings. but as others state i freeze for 1 - 2 seconds then speed forward (or die !!!!).

i have been running netgraph during this time and noticed that when i start moving again my ping starts at 200- 300 and within 10 seconds lowers to normal (30 - 50), also i noticed that when i "restart" the KB in from the server (from netgraph) has jumped as well, then lowers along with the ping.

ive tried all the config settings (rate cl_rate etc)
ive tried all the steam connection settings
there are no viruses on my pc
there is no virus software running on my pc
there are no funny processes
my hard drive doesnt access when this happens
there are NO other programs accessing the net when this happens (ive monitored it).
my isp is excellent ( in 1 yr no probs ever)
i get 50 - 60 fps on the video testbench


however i am running zonelarm as a firewall ( but this has always been excellent for any other game)


so has anyone out there any ideas?
this is getting a bit annoying now.................

 

[when armadillos]

hmmmm

bump bump

 

[when armadillos]

fixed

it appears to be zonealarm !!!!!!



bugger totally unprotected

 

[[12K]Uber-Police]

yep its zonalarm I found this out last week, since taking it off my cs source runs nearly 97% smooth, its fantastic. If you have windows xp with service pack 2 then it has a built in firewall which is just as good.