GTX460 768mb (new drivers, 295.73 i think)
8gb ram
q9300 2.5 quad
HDD

whenever i load into a new cell it drops to like 5 fps for about 3 seconds then shoots back up to 60. anyone else getting this??? noticed this after installing new WHQL drivers

Could be a few things:

1) Make sure the launcher didn't reset your settings and mistakenly ratchet up your settings (it loves to set 8xAA for example any time you touch the presets)
2) Some patches and updates can cause the first cell load to be really hitchy/stuttery after the update. If you can try loading that cell, saving, then loading again to see if its still dropping.
3) Nvidia may have changed their VRAM management algorithms in this driver, if that's the case there may not be too much you can do other than go back to older drivers.

think its the drivers honestly. ill just revert

Are you using the Bethesda HD textures?

no i dont think so. i didnt download anything off steam workshop yet

it looks like its the new nvidia drivers. i dont have the problem (yet) but my fps also dropped by about 20 after going back to 285.62 (or whatever the last WHQL are). a shame

well now im having the same issue on the old drivers. updating to new ones again.

only time i had those types of issues was

overclocking VRAM to far
running marts debloatifier mod (a dip in performance after exiting a town) so script lag
AI processing
using a single harddrive, with skyrim loading texture/mesh/sound ect on the fly it will lag (too high a modded cache value in the ini for your storage subsystem data rate wouldnt help), you could buy 60GB sata 3 SSD and use steam mover (noticed your mainboards sata 2 though)

lowered the shadows and some other effects from ultra to high, havent notice it come back yet. 295.73 drivers. no overlocking