Video Card problem?Follow

Ok I just got a new comp about a week ago and most everything has been fine.

But I have a pretty serious problem with one of the games I like to play, counter-strike source.

Before I used to get around 9 fps and my comp shutdown before I figured out you need to put a special grease on your processor to prevent it from overheating...after that I ran a nice 120-150 fps. As opposed to my 9fps overheating.

Well the main problem happened after, about 2 days, my CSS would freeze and after about 10 seconds my monitor would act exactly like if someone yanked the plug from behind my computer, the monitor AND computer would still be on, but I would have to restart because the picture wouldn't come back. Restarting made the comp work like it should again. Restarting after this error occurs would give me a ATI Control Catalyst Center error, and it would ask me if I want to send a report and I always hit no. Anyway, this is very annoying seeing as tho this comp is brand new and these things just shouldn't happen when they don't happen on my old $30 comp...

Anyway, I've already confirmed it's nothing stupid like my video card is loose or something. All connections are properly secured.

Comp runs perfect, I've left it on all night just to test it out, nada. But when I get on to play CSS in the morning, within oh say, 20-30 minutes it will do this error. Sometimes I'll go for 5 hours and it won't do it once.

I'm using the drivers that came with the video card and I'm using a Radeon HD 2600 PRO.

Also, before someone says my monitor is failing, I've already confirmed that false also.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

edit: Weird, I can't even start css now without a hl2.exe error, then I try to go into my ATI Control Center it says I don't have drivers installed but my Adapter tab clearly reads my card info. I'll just go download new drivers and post back if the error happens again.

edit2: WELL I guess the problem WAS the bad drivers (these drivers CAME with the card fyi..lesson learned...), I actually finished several scrims without crash. Mod can delete this.

Edited, Jan 16th 2008 7:15pm by RippedApart

I was going to edit that, I don't mean I found out, it didn't come with my chip I guess they forgot to put it in at the factory? But I know for sure it did not come with the packaging so I had to go in later and put some in I alrdy had. In other words, while I was building it, since it wasn't there I didn't put it on and put it together w/o it.

The drivers seemed to have been the problem actually, my other drivers that came with the CD failed for some reason, css wouldn't even start until AFTER I uninstalled them and got them off the ATI website.

Edited, Jan 16th 2008 4:55pm by RippedApart