Recently run into a problem with my graphics card (Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTX). After about 20 minutes in FS9, the screen starts changing colours rapidly, panel sections move about, textures are replaced with random textures (ie AI aircraft textures being displayed as ground textures), text becomes unreadable etc. Even after shutting FS9 down, the flashing and artifacts continues. Even if you restart the computer, you can still see them. You can tell when the graphics drivers are loaded, as the windows logo starts to display artifacts during booting. On occasion, a BSOD appears with nv4_disp locked in an infinite cycle. Searching the internet suggests this is not an isolated problem, and upgrading the drivers to the latest version fixes it. I've done this, but it hasn't stopped the problems.Leaving the computer for a while seems to sort the problem out, but it starts again after a while of heavy load playing games. The graphics card has enough power, as the sounder on the card itself whistles when it's not getting enough. I've updated to the latest drivers, but the problem persists.Whilst I spotted this problem first in FS9, it's not limited to FS. It occurs in other games and in Windows XP itself.Under heavy load, the card's temp increases to around 70C, but it has been managing this heat for the last few years.Is this all a sign that the card is failing somewhere? Top of the range graphics cards are not cheap, and I don't particually want to buy a new one, and find the problem is still there.Are there any tests to determine if it is a graphics card problem, or another bit of hardware (I'm assuming it's hardware as it affects WinXP itself, not just one particular program)?

Is this all a sign that the card is failing somewhere?

This may be a silly question but do you have the auxiliary power connecter hooked up to the 8800GTX?If you do, then could this be card failure? Possibly...but I cannot say for sure. Those are symptoms of card failure, but it could also be motherboard failure, slot failure, power supply issues, etc.Try switching the card to another slot and see if the problem persists. Be sure to hook up the aux connector (I think it's 6-pin but its been a while since I tore into mine).

Are there any tests to determine if it is a graphics card problem, or another bit of hardware (I'm assuming it's hardware as it affects WinXP itself, not just one particular program)?

Most BIOS screens have a page showing the power supply output, per rail. Make sure your 5.5v is really putting out 5.5.Also download one of the many diagnostic programs, such as SpeedFan, that display voltages. The idea is to check to make sure your p/s is doing what it's supposed to.

Thanks for the reply.The card requires 2 x 6 pin PCI-E plugs which are both connected. The power supply unit is relatively new after the old one blew up, so I'll check the voltages.I'll also try moving it to another slot, or using a cheap card just to try and see if it might be a problem else where in the system.Running in safe mode with the standard VGA driver works fine, so I might try a reinstall of WinXP, although a system restore didn't help any.There is another issue where the processor's temperature sometimes increases rapidly to 100C and above, althogh it is seemingly under no load whatsoever. Maybe it's time for that system upgrade that I was thinking about...

There is another issue where the processor's temperature sometimes increases rapidly to 100C and above, althogh it is seemingly under no load whatsoever. Maybe it's time for that system upgrade that I was thinking about...

Well that could be the problem, too. Download a program called RealTemp from here: http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/ and verify those CPU temp spikes. 100 degC is beyond shutdown point for any modern cpu I know of. It could be your monitoring program that is introducing error...RealTemp will be accurate.