Just started playing. I am noticing that the audio (dialogue) is skipping every 3-4 seconds, and the gameplay is stuttering too. Any thoughts? I doubt my PC is unable to play a 14 year old game.

Thanks.

that depends. post your shock2.log

: CPU: arch=x86-64 , fam=586 , cpus=8
: SIMD: SSE=3 , 3DNow=0
: OS Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1
: Desktop resolution: 1600 x 900
: Virtual desktop resolution: 1600 x 900
: -----------------------------------------------------------
: CWD: C:\GOG Games\System Shock 2
: -----------------------------------------------------------
: App Version: System Shock 2 Patch Final 2.4
: --------------------- misc config -------------------------
: resname_base .\+.\DataPermanentMods\res+.\Data+.\Data\res
: cd_path .
: load_path .+.\DataPermanentMods+.\Data
: script_module_path .+.\DataPermanentMods+.\Data
: movie_path .\cutscenes+.\DataPermanentMods\cutscenes+.\Data\cutscenes
: mod_path DataPermanentMods+patch_ext
: install_path .+.\DataPermanentMods+.\Data
: game_screen_size 640 480
: game_screen_depth 32
: game_screen_flags 45
: game_full_screen 1
: screen_size 640,480
: screen_depth 16
: game_hardware 1
: single_display_mode 2
: ui_scale_mode 2
: use_d3d_display
: framerate_cap 100.0
: SlowFrame 4
: SlowFrameUI 10
: force_32bit
: force_32bit_textures
: mipmap_mode 2
: lm_mipmap_mode 0
: lm_init_texmem 2
: lm_filter_margin 1
: disable_lightmap_aniso
: tex_edge_padding 2
: alpha_test_as_opaque
: multisampletype 8
: d3d_disp_enable_distortionfx
: sfx_device 4
: sfx_channels 48
: sfx_vol_music -474
: sfx_vol_2d 0
: sfx_vol_3d 0
: sfx_mixer_timeout 200
: game shock
: obj_min -6144
: obj_max 2560
: max_refs 10240
: gui_font fonts\mainfont
: skip_intro
: crop_movies
: new_mantle
: z_far 512
: render_weapon_particles
: legacy_force_match_unrefs 0
: shock_single_bind_set
: shock_quicksave_slot 14
: edit_screen_depth 16
: -----------------------------------------------------------
: Enumerating D3D9 adapters (1)...
: Adapter 0
: device name: \\.\DISPLAY1
: driver :
: descr : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670
: driver ver : 0x0008000E-000A02CC
: vendor id : 0x00001002
: device id : 0x00009488
: subsys id : 0x02FE1028
: device guid: D7B71EE2-D7C8-11CF-5471-F422A1C2
: Modes
: 640 x 480 x 16
: 720 x 480 x 16
: 800 x 600 x 16
: 1024 x 768 x 16
: 1280 x 720 x 16
: 1600 x 900 x 16
: 640 x 480 x 32
: 720 x 480 x 32
: 800 x 600 x 32
: 1024 x 768 x 32
: 1280 x 720 x 32
: 1600 x 900 x 32
: Device Validation
: validated ok, device added (0, E390000)
: Enumeration done
: OpenAL Init...
: : 6.14.357.24
: : 2.2.0.5
: Default device: Generic Software
: Enumerating devices without validation...
: Device: Generic Software
: found 1 unvalidated device(s)
: Opening default OpenAL device "Generic Software"...
: Device 0 (default)
: name : Generic Software
: version : 1.1
: version str: 1.1
: vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
: renderer : Software
: 3D sources : 248
: 2D sources : 8
: EFX : 1
: EAX2 : 1
: EAX3 : 0
: EAX4 : 0
: EAX5 : 0
: occlusion : 1
: XRAM : 0
: Opened device 'Generic Software'
: EAX reverb support enabled
: occlusion support enabled
: D3DProvider: Enumerating adapter 0 modes
: 640 x 480 x 16
: 720 x 480 x 16
: 800 x 600 x 16
: 1024 x 768 x 16
: 1280 x 720 x 16
: 1600 x 900 x 16
: 640 x 480 x 32
: 720 x 480 x 32
: 800 x 600 x 32
: 1024 x 768 x 32
: 1280 x 720 x 32
: 1600 x 900 x 32
: D3DProvider: Enumeration done
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 640x480x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 0 2D)
: CreateDevice: res = D3D_OK ; 640x480 fmt=35 zfmt=75 cnt=1 ms=8 swap=1 fs=1 hz=0 pres=1 flags=2
: OpenAL Init...
: : 6.14.357.24
: : 2.2.0.5
: Default device: Generic Software
: Enumerating devices without validation...
: Device: Generic Software
: found 1 unvalidated device(s)
: Opening default OpenAL device "Generic Software"...
: Device 0 (default)
: name : Generic Software
: version : 1.1
: version str: 1.1
: vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
: renderer : Software
: 3D sources : 248
: 2D sources : 8
: EFX : 1
: EAX2 : 1
: EAX3 : 0
: EAX4 : 0
: EAX5 : 0
: occlusion : 1
: XRAM : 0
: Opened device 'Generic Software'
: EAX reverb support enabled
: occlusion support enabled
: OpenAL Init...
: : 6.14.357.24
: : 2.2.0.5
: Default device: Generic Software
: Enumerating devices without validation...
: Device: Generic Software
: found 1 unvalidated device(s)
: Opening default OpenAL device "Generic Software"...
: Device 0 (default)
: name : Generic Software
: version : 1.1
: version str: 1.1
: vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
: renderer : Software
: 3D sources : 248
: 2D sources : 8
: EFX : 1
: EAX2 : 1
: EAX3 : 0
: EAX4 : 0
: EAX5 : 0
: occlusion : 1
: XRAM : 0
: Opened device 'Generic Software'
: EAX reverb support enabled
: occlusion support enabled
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 0 2D)
: CreateDevice: res = D3D_OK ; 1600x900 fmt=35 zfmt=75 cnt=1 ms=8 swap=1 fs=1 hz=0 pres=1 flags=2
: OpenAL Init...
: : 6.14.357.24
: : 2.2.0.5
: Default device: Generic Software
: Enumerating devices without validation...
: Device: Generic Software
: found 1 unvalidated device(s)
: Opening default OpenAL device "Generic Software"...
: Device 0 (default)
: name : Generic Software
: version : 1.1
: version str: 1.1
: vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
: renderer : Software
: 3D sources : 248
: 2D sources : 8
: EFX : 1
: EAX2 : 1
: EAX3 : 0
: EAX4 : 0
: EAX5 : 0
: occlusion : 1
: XRAM : 0
: Opened device 'Generic Software'
: EAX reverb support enabled
: occlusion support enabled
: OpenAL Init...
: : 6.14.357.24
: : 2.2.0.5
: Default device: Generic Software
: Enumerating devices without validation...
: Device: Generic Software
: found 1 unvalidated device(s)
: Opening default OpenAL device "Generic Software"...
: Device 0 (default)
: name : Generic Software
: version : 1.1
: version str: 1.1
: vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
: renderer : Software
: 3D sources : 248
: 2D sources : 8
: EFX : 1
: EAX2 : 1
: EAX3 : 0
: EAX4 : 0
: EAX5 : 0
: occlusion : 1
: XRAM : 0
: Opened device 'Generic Software'
: EAX reverb support enabled
: occlusion support enabled
: Loaded script module "allobjs"
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 1600x900x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 1600x900x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 1600x900x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 1600x900x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 1600x900x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1600x900x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 0 2D)
: CreateDevice: res = D3D_OK ; 1280x720 fmt=35 zfmt=75 cnt=1 ms=8 swap=1 fs=1 hz=0 pres=1 flags=2
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 1280x720x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 1280x720x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 1280x720x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 1280x720x32 (7 9 1 3D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 640x480x32 (5 9 1 2D)
: sw framerate cap requested (10000 us)
: D3DProvider StartMode: smode 1280x720x32 ; mode 1280x720x32 (7 9 1 3D)

Are you running this on Win XP, Vista or 7 and what audio hardware do you have? I have that problem regularly with many games on my Win 7 machine with a Realtek sound solution. According to a Google search, it's been a problem with Windows in general since Vista. It doesn't appear to have reliable fix, though in my case, a simple reboot will sometimes make it go away.

EDIT - I type too slow...

check whether you have

d3d_disp_limit_gpu_frames 1 1

in your cam_ext.cfg. also try enabling/disabling openal.

I am running Windows 7 but this hasn't happened with any other game. I am unable to change openal settings in the game (the option is grayed-out). Not sure how to open cam_ext file, - I am not very computer savvy. Well, I'll reboot now and see what happens.

try disabling multisampling, and maybe set the framerate_cap (in cam_ext.cfg) to lets say, 65.

Thanks. Working now after a reinstall. Bad first installation?

Still some static-y audio on my end. Wasn't an issue on my disc copy (as far as I can remember.)

I am on Windows 8 64bit with a Creative XFI Fatalty card using the Creative PAX custom drivers. I also use the Shark007 codec pack. I've done everything in the thread, but the sound is still choppy.

try disabling audio acceleration in the sound menu.

That did it. Down with OpenAL!

Well, it adds EAX support which is very nice to have in a game like Shock 2.