The game freezes periodically through out the enitre game making it impossible to enjoy. It starts out fine. And by starts out fine I means the first 3-4 turns then it starts to freeze then come back then freeze again.

I will give you an example:

Lets say I am trying to design a new ship. I am clicking on the various tabs in the new ship window when suddenly the tabs or anything that can be intreracted with no longer repsond. I can still move my mouse around but nothing else is responding. Then after about 90 seconds I cant move my mouse either for about another 45 seconds, and then finally it all "catches up" so to speak and all the tabs and every other action that I took while my mouse was still repsonding goes through all at the same time. It reminds me a lot of server lag or graphics lag in online FPS games or online MMORPG games, the only problem with that is. This game isnt online.

Another example:

In the diplomacy screen where you can trade tech money etc. etc. it is the same. I am clicking on various techs to trade when the alien I am speaking to face stops freezes completely (you know there heads move around slightly and what not in those screens) letting me know my computer is crapping out again, and sure enough my mouse can move for about 90 seconds then it stops too, then whatever I clicked on duirung the freeze period all catches up. It happens on every screen 90% of the time.

So, anyone have any idea what it might be? I only have few idea as to what the problem is.

Overheating Graphics Card.
Overheating computer (or both of the above)
Need to re-format my computer?

My computer is 3 years old but it should be able to easily handle this game.

2.4ghz Pentium 4
Windows XP OP
1024 ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5900 Graphics card.

Any help would be appericated. Edit: Problem solved by completely cutting off anti-analising(sp?) Apperently it was straining my 2 year old graphics card.