Strange graphics problem, please help

[pretz]

Okay, thanks for reading this far, pease excuse my ignorance with this kind of thing.

I have:

3.8ghz
512 ram
ATI Radeon 9550 256mb

I have a very odd problem with windows locking up entirely while I am either playing a game or watching a movie so I have to reboot my computer at the power source. I have the latest drivers installed, I've even tried installing older drivers!

I've had it suggested to me that the problem is caused by overheating, but I'm not so sure about this as whether the game/movie is intensive on my computer or not the same issue occurs. I also find that dragging things while watching a movie accelerates the locking up?

Thanks in advance.

 

[xenosoul]

Might wanna check your video card fan to see that it working properly.

 

[pretz]

How do I do that? What am I looking for? ;/

 

[Leonidas]

see if it spins when powered on... and try taking the side off your case an dputting a large fan against it to get some real air movement and see if it helps

 

[pretz]

Okay, I've checked the fan, it spins

The computer doesn't get particularly hot when it locks up anyway

Any other suggestions pleasee?

 

[Leonidas]

have you tried another graphics card? and also try turning down hardware acceleration a little bit and see if that helps..