Well it seems changing to HPET didn't completely fix the issue, but the sound does stop much less frequently.. I'm thinking there must be something CPU related, but stock settings doesn't fix it. Maybe getting a new Mobo would do it.. It's at least a little more tolerable now because I don't have to restart as often. I have had a couple of freeze ups in game as well, but the system hasn't frozen completely so I could ctrl+alt+del out of it and start again..
Anybody have recommendation for a nice stable am3+ mobo to replace my gigabyte ga-970-d3 if I decide to get a new one? Or would upgrading CPU be a good idea?