So my laptop isn't the best. It normally runs FF14 around 40 FPS and around 26% CPU usage.

But... every 5 minutes or so, the CPU usage will spike into the 80s or 90s, accompanied by massive audio cracking/stuttering and dropping down to 2-3 FPS.

The problem? This change doesn't seem to be tied to anything. It doesn't appear to be heat related, as even when my temperature gauges say the computer is at a normal temperature it still occurs (and if it was heat it shouldn't cycle so regularly). It's not gameplay related: I'll go fight a dungeon boss with lots of particles everywhere and have no noticeable impact on performance... but then standing around in the hallway after the fight this cycle occurs. It doesn't seem to be related to processes either, as whether I'm surfing the internet and chatting on skype and looking at steam or whether 14 is the only program open on the computer the same problem occurs.

Restarting FF14 will fix the problem for half an hour or so, but nothing else seems to really change it.