need some help! please

[PURE{MEOW}]

I recently reformated my computer. I downloaded some games combat arms blackhawk down, when I go to start them they are fine in menu. but when i go to play the game single and multi the screen goes glitchy and I freeze up? I know I have the right vid card and a comp good enough to play these games I also installed direct x thinking that might be the problem but didnt help any otehr suggestions. I know I know I need a better comp I have one I just need a hard drive for it. It is a little better dell. that I got from work free. but the hard drive is shot in it.

PURE

[WildKatZ*{MEOW}*]

u can pick up a HD pretty cheap pure, depending on what size u want. for the VC try reDLing drivers and reinstall. see if that helps.

[PURE{MEOW}]

thanks wild yeah I am looking at sata hard drives right now I just want to go cheap cause next year I am building a comp. so I will probably just find one local real cheap like a 80 gig or something until I find out what I am going to go with for comp!

[Kitty*{MEOW}*]

also check your ram sticks individually if u have more than one. Take one out and test in game see if problem occurs, if yes the take that stick out and try the other. if it still does it then its not a ram issue, if it works with one stick and not the other then replace the bad stick.

[THEKATZ*{MEOW}*]

If all that was done is format and re-install of you system.  The culprit is more than likely a driver issue.
A few steps to follow here.

1)  Make sure your windows gets updated fully to SP2 (before any other 3rd party drivers are installed preferably - SP3 is not necessary unless you are connecting to a Vista network)

2) Once Windows has been updated to the current SP2 bring your other peripherals up to date as well as your motherboard and chipset. You should have a disk for that motherboard.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

That's what I was going to say, chipset drivers.  They are easily forgotten.

[Felix*{MEOW}*]

If the card works fine just brousing around and stuff and you only get problems gaming. make sure your card isn't over heating if it has a cooling fan and reseat the card too..

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Also, if overheating is determined to be the source of the problem, the thermal pads/paste on that 5 series card are probably dust by now.  I had a 7 series card that I gamed on for 2.5 years and the pads on it were disintegrating.

What do you mean by "it goes all glitchy"?  Textures flashing, "snow" on the screen, tearing, artifacting?  Any of these are a sign of a card being pushed too far, overheating, or about to go.

[PURE{MEOW}]

Thanks for all the solutions I will start going through and elimainating them. I know my vid card is pretty old probably 5 to 6 years old. I will check the ram first that sounds like a good possibility. THX! AGAIN!