My graphics mess up/comp freeze while playing games

[vessal]

Hey this is my first time using Computer Hope and I was hoping someone could help me.

It is like this, when I'm playing games like WoW, Warcraft 3, Oblivion, or Conan my graphics will mess up maybe showing an icon so big it covers the screen or making the colors and letters shift like it was on acid. Other times my computer will completely freeze up forcing me to completely reboot my computer.

I am hoping someone will be able to help me out. I will put my comp specs below in-case that helps.

Ge-force 8600 gts

Disk space 300GB 39GB free

Windows XP

8g of memory (got a stick from a friend that I put in there so its just a 32 bit)

let me know if anyone can think of something

[Broni]

I'm curious about this:

8g of memory (got a stick from a friend that I put in there so its just a 32 bit)

Why? XP doesn't need more than 1GB of RAM to run fine. Is it right type of RAM. 32-bit system can't use more than 4GB of RAM anyway.
You're getting low on HD space, as well. Windows needs 15% of free space to operate correctly. In your case, it's 45GB, and you have 39GB free.

[mysterysparks]

try unistalling some of the other games, also see if you can unstall some other programes like out of date ones. i used to have the same problem when i had a couple of games installed, but i had lots of hard drive space as well,

just try it, see what happens

[vessal]

k i tried it and my comp is still freezeing up anything else?

[Broni]

You didn't answer my question about RAM.

[vessal]

oh sorry i just had some extra cash so i bout some more it wont effect it will it? and its DDR2 yes its the right one

[Broni]

So, what's the RAM situation?
How many sticks, how many GB on each?

[vessal]

oh sorry I was mistaken its only 6gb and its two 1gb sticks and two 2gbs sticks

[vessal]

is that the info you were wanting?   can I have to much RAM?

[Broni]

can I have to much RAM?

This is good question. Leave 1, or 2GB in, and see what happens.
How much space do you have on HD now?
Did you try to reinstall video driver?

[vessal]

I have about 20gb free now.
I also tried reinstalling my drivers and that didn't work, so my friend just let me barrow his graphics card to see if mine was bad or if it was my computer I will test it out tonight and tomarrow to see if the probs happen again

[Soviet_Genius]

It might be overheating, clean out fans and heatsinks. DON'T USE A VACUUM.

[mroilfield]

In three days you managed to add 19 gigs to your hard drive. Did you read Broni's post about freeing up space?

I'm curious about this:

8g of memory (got a stick from a friend that I put in there so its just a 32 bit)

Why? XP doesn't need more than 1GB of RAM to run fine. Is it right type of RAM. 32-bit system can't use more than 4GB of RAM anyway.
You're getting low on HD space, as well. Windows needs 15% of free space to operate correctly. In your case, it's 45GB, and you have 39GB free.

[Chris.08i]

Make sure you are using the correct driver version for your graphic card.
If you want maximum FPS in games, use the latest drivers that have been released.

I have an 8600M GT, running on driver version 175.97 from Dell, and I can play Unreal Tournament 3 on maximum settings fine.

-Chris