Disabled SpeedStep and went to AHCI mode.
Disk performance improved in most areas, but not with random write.
Still nowhere near 97000 or 66000 - perhaps because of SATA 3?
SSD Performance comparison: AHCI Rapid Mode, IDE Rapid Mode, IDE
These changes made no improvement to the audio issue.
As I get crackles when I move the time selection or make right-click drag selection, this seems to be a graphics related issue.
Next steps to take that I can think of:
1) Use older win7 NVIDIA drivers
2) Use some kind of a PowerMizer switch for the NVIDIA
3) Investigate DirectX options if there are any
4) Check if different chipset drivers have any effect
5) Investigate page file options - remove, change size, move to another disk.
EDIT:
6) Maybe old Reaper settings need to be revised?
Any other ideas?