Random Audio Crackling and Popping on playback in FCP and Pro Tools

Hello All,
In both Pro Tools LE through an original MBox (with latest firmware), via USB and Final Cut Pro using an Edirol USB audio interface, I get random cracks and pops in different places that aren't in the actual audio files. They are not in the waveforms, and they never happen in the same spot twice...just random. There's no telling when they will be heard, but they are very loud and sharp, and I'm afraid of damaging my powered monitors, not to mention my nerves as I'm in the middle of an intense sound design for a film.
I've tried looking up this topic, and I've seen some topics mentioning sync/clock....like it's a problem with sync being generated internally, as opposed to using an external word clock generator. I never had this problem before on my older dual 2.0 PowerMac (PPC), and I really can't spring for a word clock generator right now...anyone else experience this with their Intel Mac Pro? I've looked for new firmware updates et al, but everything on the computer is up to date. This is really driving me nuts right now.
PowerMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   Dual 1.8
Mac Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Dual 3.0

Interesting point about the winter/static. The only thing is that I never had those problems before with the same setup on my older dual 1.8 PPC G5 PowerMac, through several winters.
My current setup is a dual 3.0Ghz Intel Mac Pro with 3Gb of RAM. the RAM is the right kind and it has checked out as a-okay via numerous tests. The video card is the stock NVidea 7300 GT. For Final Cut Pro and general audio playback, I use an Edirol UA-1EX usb interface http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-1EX/index.html (w/ updated drivers and all) hooked up through one USB port. For Pro Tools LE 7.3.1, I use an original Mbox, also updated with the latest firmware and all (got rid of the distorted noise problem with firmware update v22), also hooked up to a USB port. I used this exact same setup on my previous Dual 1.8 PPC G5 PowerMac with no such issues for several years. Both interfaces are routed to a Mixer, and onto my monitors. I don't think it's the mixer that's doing it because it didn't ever crackle/pop with my older G5, and still doesn't, which I still use for other things, but routed through the same sound system. I can understand the use of an external clock generator and such, but for many years, I never had this problem with random crackle/pop on playback with other computers that did not use an external sync/clock device. I would think that a computer as new and 'advanced' as the Intel Mac Pro would offer even better results than previous models. Again, the noises aren't printed onto the actual sound files, they come up randomly, but most often after adding a fade/volume change/effect and playing back.
I have just installed a PCI-Express USB 2.0 card for use with both the Edirol and MBox, just in case it was an issue with the built-in MAC USB ports. I will see if that helps.
Mac Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Dual 3.0
Mac Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   Dual 3.0
Mac Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Dual 3.0
PowerMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   Dual 1.8

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