Bonjour!
Well, real life got in the way and delayed me a bit, but I think I have it all together now...
The new sound card is a Creative X-Fi Extreme Audio. It is normally around $40 - $50, but I got it for $19.99 on sale (and w/ free shipping!) It's not much, to be sure, but it alleviates a little of the strain on my poor CPU, and actually makes a difference in game. I just looked at the frame rates I last posted, and I think that is probably still accurate. The difference is in the frequency and duration of the "slow-downs" I get with lots of scripts running (especially from many NPCs, as discussed). Specifically, I really only see this behavior now when things are really jammed in a tight space (like a room in an Oblivion tower with 10+ dremora in there). Things will still slow down, but the effect is not as severe and my machine seems to recover much more quickly (for example, in the Oblivion tower example above, as I kill them off, things start to improve rapidly... usually I am back to mid 20s to near 30 FPS before I kill off the last few). In short, this was $20 well spent!
I have also dropped a couple of mods and added several more. Most notably, I switched from KCAS to nGCD w/ Progress. I also installed several of Arthmoor's mods (his villages and the New Roads and Bridges). Oh yeah, and I added Super Hotkeys (don't know how I was making it without this one!) The complete load order is posted below.
One more small thing... I stumbled onto http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html (in fact, I think it was someone posting in one of your threads that mentioned it). I have been using it for a while and really like it. However, I let it spoil me a little, and I thought it worth mentioning. Basically, it gives you the option to defrag your game files, which is cool for those bashed patch rebuilds (who wants to wait around for the entire disc to defrag when all you did was change load order and rebuild your patch?) This works well, but it is not a substitute for an actual defrag. I forgot that for a bit and started to notice my HDD chomping away more than "normal". The other day I did a complete defrag, and of course things improved. I just mention it here because little things like that can make a big difference... and for anyone else using GameBooster: don't forget to do a "real" defrag occasionally!
OK, that's all! Sorry for the long-windedness, but hey, you should be getting used to that by now! Haha! Hope all is well, and I'll talk to you soon,
veg
Load Order:
	Spoiler 	
Active Mod Files:
00  Oblivion.esm
01  Cybiades.esm  [Version 2.0]
02  Jog_X_Mod.esm
03  Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm
04  Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm
05  Cobl Main.esm  [Version 1.72]
06  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm  [Version 1.34]
07  Mart's Monster Mod.esm  [Version 3.7b3p3]
08  VASE - core.esm
09  TamrielTravellers.esm  [Version 1.39c]
0A  FCOM_Convergence.esm  [Version 0.9.9MB3]
0B  Armamentarium.esm  [Version 1.35]
0C  Artifacts.esm  [Version 1.1]
0D  Progress.esm  [Version 2.2]
0E  NNWAEMaster.esm
0F  CM Partners.esm
10  HorseCombatMaster.esm
11  Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp  [Version 3.2.4]
12  UOP Vampire Aging & Face Fix.esp  [Version 1.0.0]
13  Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp
14  DLCShiveringIsles.esp  [Version 1.4.0]
++  Shivering OOO.esp
15  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp
16  Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp
17  Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp
18  Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp
++  FCOM_Francescos.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
19  FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
**  LoadingScreens.esp
++  Symphony of Violence.esp
1A  WindowLightingSystem.esp
1B  Adonnays Ranger Coats.esp
1C  Ayleid Loot EXtension.esp
1D  Ayleid Loot EXtension - OOO Dungeons.esp
1E  ClocksOfCyrodiil.esp
++  Item interchange - Extraction.esp  [Version 0.76]
1F  RAEVWD Cities.esp  [Version 1.7]
20  RAEVWD New Sheoth.esp  [Version 1.5]
++  RealWalk.esp
21  Enhanced Economy.esp  [Version 3.4.3]
22  Map Marker Overhaul.esp  [Version 3.4]
23  Map Marker Overhaul - SI additions.esp  [Version 3.0.2]
24  sr_super_hotkeys.esp
25  DLCHorseArmor.esp
**  DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.5]
26  DLCOrrery.esp
**  DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.3]
27  DLCMehrunesRazor.esp
28  DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.4]
++  MaleBodyReplacerV4.esp
29  Adonnays Elven Weaponry.esp
++  ArtifactsFemaleArmor.esp
2A  BlackLuster.esp
++  playable golden saint and dark seducer armour.esp
2B  Slof's Boners! v5.esp
2C  Thieves Arsenal.esp
2D  XiaNewAmuletsV1.esp
**  Armamentium female.esp
2E  KDCircletsOOOOptimized - NPC Equip.esp  [Version 1.2]
++  FCOM_KDCircletsOOOOptimizedNPCEquip.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
2F  Slof's Oblivion Robe Trader.esp
30  Cobl Glue.esp  [Version 1.72]
31  Cobl Si.esp  [Version 1.63]
**  OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp  [Version 1.72]
++  FCOM_Cobl.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
32  Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp
33  FCOM_BobsArmory.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
34  Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp
++  FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
35  Oblivion WarCry EV.esp
36  FCOM_WarCry.esp  [Version 0.9.9MB3]
37  Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp  [Version 1.34]
++  OOO_XiaNewAmulets Addon.esp  [Version 0.5]
++  OMOBS.esp  [Version 1.0]
++  OMOBS_SI.esp  [Version 1.0]
38  OMOBS Optional Combat Settings.esp  [Version 1.0]
39  ArmamentariumArtifacts.esp  [Version 1.35]
3A  FCOM_Convergence.esp  [Version 0.9.9Mb3]
3B  FCOM_RealSwords.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
3C  Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
++  FCOM_SaferRoads.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_LessRats.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
3D  Mart's Monster Mod - Safer Quest Locations.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
3E  Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
3F  Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
40  Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
41  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse WaterLife.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
++  VASE - Cyrodiil for MMM.esp
++  VASE - Vanilla SI.esp
++  Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot OOO.esp  [Version 3.7b3p3]
++  TamrielTravellerAdvscript.esp  [Version 1.40Alpha]
42  TamrielTravellers4OOO.esp  [Version 1.39c]
43  TamrielTravellersItemsCobl.esp  [Version 1.39c]
44  ShiveringIsleTravellers.esp  [Version 1.39c]
++  ShiveringIsleTravellersFriendlyFactions4MMM.esp  [Version 1.39c]
++  FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_HungersUnitySI.esp  [Version 0.9.9]
++  FCOM_Archery.esp
++  FCOM_Archery_Armamentarium.esp
++  FCOM_Archery_Artifacts.esp
++  FCOM_Archery_RealSwords.esp
++  FCOM_Archery_MMM_H&C.esp
++  ArmamentariumLL4OOO.esp  [Version 2.01]
++  ArmamentariumLLMagicOOO.esp  [Version 1.35]
++  Fransfemale.esp
**  LoadingScreens-OOO.esp
45  Geomancy & Gem Dust OOO.esp
46  OOO-WaterFish.esp  [Version 1.34]
++  EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer4FCOM.esp
47  Ivellon.esp  [Version 1.8]
48  Artifacts.esp  [Version 1.1]
++  Artifacts - ArmaCompleteAddon.esp  [Version 1.0]
49  HeartOftheDead.esp  [Version 6.2]
4A  GlenvarCastle.esp
4B  LostSwordOfTheAylied.esp
4C  LostSwordOfTheAylied - OBSE Add-On.esp
4D  MountainTower.esp  [Version 6.0]
4E  NNWAREAyleidDungeons_Series1EV.esp  [Version 2.2]
4F  NNWARE06-RhyeliaEmeroEV.esp
50  NNWAEDungeons-Series2EV.esp
51  The Ayleid Steps.esp  [Version 3.3.2]
52  TheForgottenShields.esp
53  NRB4+ForgottonShields Patch.esp
54  thievery.esp
55  thievery - EE patch.esp  [Version 1.0]
56  Tona's_ModsStore.esp
57  VaultsofCyrodiil.esp
58  Apachii_Goddess_Store.esp
59  Apachii_Heroes_Store.esp
5A  DLCfrostcrag.esp
5B  FrostcragRebornCobl.esp
5C  Cybiades.esp  [Version 2.1]
5D  CybiadesDungeon.esp  [Version 2.1]
5E  TOTF.esp
5F  The Lost Spires.esp
60  Lost Paladins of the Divines.esp
61  MannimarcoRevisited.esp
**  MannimarcoRevisitedOOO.esp  [Version 0.1]
62  road+bridges.esp  [Version 4.5.5]
63  Feldscar.esp  [Version 1.0.1]
64  Vergayun.esp  [Version 1.0.4]
65  Faregyl.esp  [Version 1.0.10]
66  bartholm.esp
67  JADDockTunnel.esp
68  JQ-Fighters_Guild_United.esp
++  FCOM_FighterGUnited.esp
69  Harvest [Flora].esp  [Version 3.0.0]
++  Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp  [Version 3.0.0]
6A  Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp  [Version 3.0.0]
6B  AutoBookPlacer.esp
6C  Bag of Holding.esp  [Version 1.5.0]
6D  DecoratorAssistant with OBSE v1.1.esp
6E  DropLitTorchOBSE.esp  [Version 2.4]
6F  EVE_ShiveringIslesEasterEggs.esp
++  GotNoClass.esp
70  P1DkeyChain.esp  [Version 5.00]
71  Salmo the Baker, Cobl.esp  [Version 3.08]
++  Short Grass V3.esp
72  Toggleable Quantity Prompt.esp  [Version 3.1.1]
73  Enhanced Economy - House prices.esp  [Version 1.0]
74  Quest Award Leveller.esp  [Version 2.0.1]
++  Quest Award Leveller - Mehrunes Razor.esp  [Version 2.1.0]
75  StarX Vanilla Vampires Revised.esp
76  StarX VVR_OOO Patch.esp
77  SupremeMagicka.esp  [Version 0.90]
78  SM_ShiveringIsles.esp  [Version 0.86]
++  SM_OOO.esp  [Version 0.89]
++  SM_MMM.esp  [Version 0.89]
++  SM_COBL.esp  [Version 0.86]
79  SM_EnchantStaff.esp  [Version 0.80]
++  SM_UnlockSpells.esp  [Version 0.70]
++  SM_Scrolls.esp  [Version 0.84]
++  SM_SigilStone.esp  [Version 0.83]
7A  MidasSpells.esp
7B  Multiple Enchantments.esp
7C  SM Combat Hide.esp  [Version 1.2]
7D  Deadlier Sneaking 1.1.esp
7E  Deadly Reflex Bow Sway.esp
7F  nGCD.esp
++  nGCD Birthsigns.esp
80  nGCD Oghma Infinium.esp
81  ProgressMBSP.esp  [Version 2.0]
82  ProgressSBSP.esp  [Version 1.0]
83  ProgressArmorer.esp  [Version 1.0]
++  Immediate Character Generation.esp
84  Grandmaster of Alchemy.esp
85  Mayu's Animation Overhaul.esp
86  CTAddPose_osr1.esp
87  CTAddPose_osr2.esp
88  CTAddPose_osr3.esp
89  actors_in_charge.esp
++  Item interchange - Placement for FCOM.esp  [Version 0.76]
++  Item interchange - Placement for Frostcrag Reborn.esp  [Version 0.76]
++  Item interchange - Option, Ingredients in Bulk.esp  [Version 0.78]
8A  CM Partners.esp
8B  CM Partners Special NPCs.esp
8C  CM Partners NPC.esp
8D  CM Partners More NPCs.esp
8E  CM Partners Marker NPCs.esp
8F  CM Partners Extra NPCs.esp
90  Cobl Races.esp  [Version 1.52]
**  Cobl Races TNR.esp  [Version 1.53]
**  Cobl Races TNR SI.esp  [Version 1.53]
91  SkinMannequinCOBL-nosleep.esp
++  TamrielTravellers Cosmetics Cobl or RBP.esp
++  EVE_KhajiitFix.esp
92  TheOubliette.esp
93  Get Wet - just droplets.esp
**  NRB4 Standard Road Record.esp
94  Cobl Silent Equip Misc.esp  [Version 01]
95  DeadlyReflex 5 - Combat Moves.esp
++  SM_DeadlyReflex.esp  [Version 0.86]
96  Bashed Patch, 0.esp
97  SWalk.esp
98  FormID Finder4.esp
99  Streamline 3.1.esp
 Edit: spelling/wording