My screen turns into rainbows when I run medium to high end games - Hardware & Software

[B]Pics:[/B] [IMG]http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/3485/1001683m.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/8250/1001681n.jpg[/IMG] [B]Key Specs:[/B] [U]OS:[/U] XP [U]CPU:[/U] AMD Athlon 64 Dual Core Processor 4800+ 2.94 GHz [U]RAM:[/U] 2GB [U]Gfx Card:[/U] 8800GT [U]Monitor:[/U] 1440x900 [B]Here's what's wrong and I've tried troubleshooting:[/B] -When the screen rainbows, I cannot press anything and the only option is to reset my PC -Every time I run games that are taxing on my system (Insurgency mod, Alien Swarm, Project Reality mod), my computer's screen turns into the above without warning; depending on the game and how taxing it is (games that require higher specs tend to speed up the process), it takes about 5~30 seconds before it rainbows -GoldSRC games and 2D games (Touhou, Hentai games, etc) don't cause this; leading to the conclusion that low-spec games don't rainbow. So far I've played Zombie Panic (Source) and it doesn't cause rainbow as well -I've swapped out the the graphics card (8800GT) with my mom's card (also an 8800GT), still does this -Did the same as above with memory (2GB), still does it -After the screen rainbows, it either resets the computer automatically or it stays with the weird-ass screen -I suspect it's the CPU dying; I've had it for 4 years -CPU and graphics card have custom heat sinks -No idea what the temperature for my CPU is because I haven't installed any temperature reading programs -I don't overclock [editline]goddammit[/editline] -fucking optimistic ratings

Either A, both graphics cards are dying, which is a slim shot, or B, your graphics drivers could be fucked up, or C, virus of some sort. What I suggest is to use driversweeper ([url]http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/[/url]) in safe mode to delete your current drivers, and then download updated 8800GT drivers (found here [url]http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us[/url]) and then let us know. Additionally, run a virus scan with what you usually use, and maybe give [url=http://www.malwarebytes.org/]Malwarebytes[/url] a shot too. Let me know how it turns out

[QUOTE=gerbile5;24578248]Either A, both graphics cards are dying, which is a slim shot, or B, your graphics drivers could be fucked up, or C, virus of some sort. What I suggest is to use driversweeper ([URL]http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/[/URL]) in safe mode to delete your current drivers, and then download updated 8800GT drivers (found here [URL]http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us[/URL]) and then let us know. Additionally, run a virus scan with what you usually use, and maybe give [URL="http://www.malwarebytes.org/"]Malwarebytes[/URL] a shot too. Let me know how it turns out[/QUOTE] I have about 3 anti-spyware/virus running including malwarebytes and I've tried the driver update already any other better ideas? [editline]Read the OP[/editline] I said that I tried swapping the 8800GT from another computer, yes? My mum doesn't play games so I'm assuming that the 8800GT is fine [B]UPDATE:[/B] I just ran Insurgency but at the main menu, I pressed Shift+Tab to open the Steam community menu and then it did the thing above; The only thing I had up was the "find servers" menu

And Insurgency works fine on her computer?

[QUOTE=gerbile5;24578248]Either A, both graphics cards are dying, which is a slim shot, or B, your graphics drivers could be fucked up, or C, virus of some sort. What I suggest is to use driversweeper ([url]http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/[/url]) in safe mode to delete your current drivers, and then download updated 8800GT drivers (found here [url]http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us[/url]) and then let us know. Additionally, run a virus scan with what you usually use, and maybe give [url=http://www.malwarebytes.org/]Malwarebytes[/url] a shot too. Let me know how it turns out[/QUOTE] What he said. If it's not a fucked driver than try how your mom's card works in her computer, or even better, test yours in her computer as well. If both cards turn out to be fine, then do some stability testing. Run [URL="http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/"]Prime95[/URL] torture test for a few hours, and also run a test with [URL="http://www.memtest.org/"]memtest86+[/URL].

Maybe the PSU is too underpowered, or is dying. Has it always been like this?

[QUOTE=Kill001;24579648]I have about 3 anti-spyware/virus running including malwarebytes and I've tried the driver update already any other better ideas? [/QUOTE] Did you use the driver sweeper program and do it in safe mode though? When I first got my graphics card, I installed my drivers and everything appeared to be fine, but then when I played games I got kinds of artifacting. After days of wondering what was going on, and multiple times updating, I looked around on the forum and people suggested using the driversweeper program in safemode, and it ended up working. and as stated, try your card in her computer.

I had a similiar problem, but it ended up in my computer crashing due to a broken driver install. Maybe it's time for a reformat?

rainbows everywhere in this bitch

Overheating. Period.

[QUOTE=gerbile5;24587939]Did you use the driver sweeper program and do it in safe mode though? When I first got my graphics card, I installed my drivers and everything appeared to be fine, but then when I played games I got kinds of artifacting. After days of wondering what was going on, and multiple times updating, I looked around on the forum and people suggested using the driversweeper program in safemode, and it ended up working. and as stated, try your card in her computer.[/QUOTE] I'll try that but I seriously doubt it's the driver or the graphics card Also, yesterday, I was playing Insurgency and the computer did the rainbow thing again but this time, when I reset the computer, it freezes up at the BIOS and I had to unplug everything and plug it back in before it worked my computer was running fine about 2 months ago, and I went on vacation for a month and when I came back, it was like this