I've got a problem, and i can't figure out the solution

[Tyreal]

Heres the problem:
Everytime i run a graphic intensive program, liek a game, or benchmark, it locks up after a while.
I was playing COD2 for about 30-45 minutes and it locked up, screen went black, and then it came back, ATI's control center said that my VPU crashed and was no longer taking instructions, the control center restarted it and now its good to go.
In 3dmark it will jsut lock up.

I have a 500W Antec Smart Power
2 hard drives, one cd drive, powering 3 fans.
Rig specs are in sig.
I am @ 265 X 9 = 2385 @ stock voltage. Mem has a divider of 166 MHZ

I have run prime 95 for more than an hour and it hasn't locked up at all.

help please.

[gvblake22]

Do 3D apps lock up at stock speeds?
Are you sure your GPU temps are in check?
Have you tried any other versions of 3DMark or any other games? Same results?

[Tyreal]

I haven't tried any other games, i am tried 3dmark 05, 01, and COD2.

I'm going to try and reinstall the drivers.

Videocard is completely stock.

[Tyreal]

The videocard is defective. That is the only conclusion i can determine.

I ran the system bare bones. One hard drive, no cd drive, no fans (except cpu fan), and no other peripherals.

The card must be screwed up somehow. I am going to try and warranty it on monday since they are closed on sunday.

I reinstalled driver, reset heatsink and redid the motherboard. Checked powersupply in another system and it worked just great.

Maybe tommorrow i can borrow someones PCI-E video card.

[gvblake22]

Finding another PCI-Express video card to try would be your best bet. I don't think the X1600 is to blame for the problems. If it will run games for 30 minutes or so, my suspicion is that there is some setting somewhere (either hardware or software) that is messing something up.

[Tyreal]

WTF!!!! I was able to play call of duty 2 for more than an hour!

[Tyreal]

Ok. Son1990, a member of OCF, helped me about it and i talked with him about my problem. He thinks its an overheating problem. What do you think?

Im gonna try and put a zalman cooler on it tommorrow. The heatsink does get pretty hot.

[gvblake22]

Well, I mentioned that earlier. Is there any way you can check the temperatures on the GPU either through software or hardware monitors?

[Tyreal]

unfortunately not :(

ATI's Control Center does have an ATI Over drive tab that shows a temperature but it seems to be inactive. It just stays at 20c, even when i run a bench or run ATI Tool artifact scanner.

[gvblake22]

http://www.jab-tech.com/Temp-Monitors-c-196.html

And yes, they ship to Canada ;)