gcolbert
I've actually had pretty good luck using the IO2 Express on my laptop. 
 
A couple of things that I've found important to making it work:
1) delete ASIO4ALL - Use WDM/KS mode.
2) do not share the USB port used for the IO|2 with any other devices or hubs.
3) Do not use with wireless mouse or keyboard.
4) Turn off WiFi with the physical switch, not just software disable
5) Use laptop with power supply - not battery.  Power settings set to best performance when not using battery.
 
Test with all FX disabled.  Surprisingly, some of the FX may lead you to make bad settings decisions on your buffer size.  They can make latency seem worse than it actually is.
 
Glen

That's pretty good advice in general, not just for the IO2 Express.

Just so everybody knows, I'm using a desktop, not a laptop, though I do use a WiFi adapter, so maybe I'll start unplugging it completely (or maybe boot up without it in when I want to work on music?)
 
And thanks everybody for the advice so far. So I've downloaded LatencyMon, will run it soon. I checked Device Manager, I can easily see which device is my interface, but Windows, as usual, didn't find any new drivers for it own its own. I did update drivers for my mobo's on-board audio, don't know that that even makes a difference since I'm not using it (although it might have updated some drivers).
 
I want to try some WDM drivers, but I'm pretty sure I've tried onboard ones before and they didn't work too well. I searched for a bit online, found a 64bit driver from a site called AudioScience.com, it's a combo WDM/ASIO driver. Not sure if there's an option to not install the ASIO part as I haven't installed yet. Figured I'd see if anyone knew of a particular 64bit WDM driver they could recommend, or where to get one (again Alesis doesn't seem to have anything for it, looked at their site yet again).
 
Lastly, I had also checked for a 64bit MME driver, just case that could work well for me, but couldn't find anything. A lot of driver searches through Google pop up the ASIO4ALL site, so I'm kinda going in circles.

gcolbert
I've actually had pretty good luck using the IO2 Express on my laptop. 
 
A couple of things that I've found important to making it work:
1) delete ASIO4ALL - Use WDM/KS mode.
2) do not share the USB port used for the IO|2 with any other devices or hubs.
3) Do not use with wireless mouse or keyboard.
4) Turn off WiFi with the physical switch, not just software disable
5) Use laptop with power supply - not battery.  Power settings set to best performance when not using battery.
 
Test with all FX disabled.  Surprisingly, some of the FX may lead you to make bad settings decisions on your buffer size.  They can make latency seem worse than it actually is.
 
Glen
 

1. Deleted ASIO4ALL, can you recommend a WDM driver?
2. Device is on its own port
3. It's a desktop, but my mouse and keyboard are wireless, only ones I have.
4. Again, desktop, but I'm using a WiFi adapter, any idea whether it'd be best to unplug or if i should startup with it unplugged so maybe no utilities start with it?
5. Again, batter thing not relevant, but I did switch power mode to 'best performance'.

Zero
 
The IO|2 Express is a windows compliant device and does not need additional drivers when used in WDM/KS mode.  There is no need to load any additional drivers.  In fact, they could cause a lot of problems.   I have used this on my desktop computer (AMD X4) using the windows drivers with latency <11 with no problems.
 
Try removing your WiiFi card and make sure that you are not using any Blue Tooth (wireless) devices like keyboards, mice, and headphones.  You are 'listening' on the outputs of the Alesis IO|2 aren't you?  I monitor using the Alesis outputs to an amplifier and speakers.
 
You may want to check that it is set to 24 bit both in the Windows control panel (under sound) and within Sonar.  Re-run the Wave Profiler if you change anything here.
 
Wireless mice and keyboards are known problems.  Don't have any old ones around to test with?
 
Glen

gcolbert,
 
Thanks, my mouse and keyboard aren't bluetooth, just RF, or whatever the other option is. And no, no older ones around, I can double check, but since they're not bluetooth, which I know needs its own utility, hopefully there won't be much problem. I'll give it a shot in WDM mode now.
 
Yeah monitoring through the iO2, usually with headphones. I'll check in Windows for the 24bit, and I just switched record to 24bit the other day, but I read a lot of places that 'Render' should be 32bit. Is that what you've got, or have you tried both ways on that?

ZeroContrast,
 
Turn off Core Parking.  Not sure why this remains an often overlooked issue as it is very common.   See below link for more information.    Many have had the same problem with dropouts, stuttering, etc.. before turning off core parking.   You may also want to check in your System Bios to see if there are any Power saving utilities enabled, or Intel SpeedStep, if so you may want to turn them off as well.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Windows-7-amp-Core-Parking-a-better-way-to-Turn-It-OFF-m1861804.aspx
 
This user NYSR in the below thread had a new system, poor performance.  Core Parking was his issue....
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Proper-PC-tweaks-m2997308.aspx
 
Fastbiker is correct, ASIO4ALL is better than a crappy manufacturer driver and many people use it without issues, more likely your problem is related to the above....  Good Luck.
 
Regards

While your IO|2 may be plugged into a unique port on your computer, these ports tend to be shared/bussed with internal (on the motherboard) hubs.  It may be worth while looking at the system hardware under USB in the control panel to ensure that it is not sharing with other devices internally (especially your wireless stuff).  Wireless drivers tend to own the CPU cycles while they are waiting for start and stop bits.  Same issue as WiiFi cards.  They can't look for a simple voltage change like a device that is hard wired, so they 'listen' real hard (forcing the CPU to wait).
 
You are hearing stuttering  and drops and not possibly a dirty headphone connection?  I know that I have had sound issues caused by a crappy 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch stereo adapter plug in the headphone jack on the Alesis.
 
Glen

Mark,
Thanks for the links, I'll have a look at Core Parking, I know Alex mentioned SpeedStep (or AMD equivalent, which is what I would need). I looked into it a little, but it seemed kind of tedious to access, but I guess it'll be worth pursuing.
 
Glen,
Yeah it's definitely stutters. If it happens during recording, I go back and the timing is off of the recorded track at that point. When you mention Control Panel, I assume you mean Device Manager specifically right? I've got it pulled up, but no clue how to check if any are shared. Do you know how off the top of your head? If not I can look it up myself.

Hey zero, just to add my two cents, 
 
Try disabling your network card,  in device manager, I have a pretty fast system, but it's even slicker without the network running, even when not used.
 
 
 
 

Zero: new system/install ....did you install the latest AMD chipset driver for the motherboard>?
Please list the make and model of your motherboard !