I am starting to experience video/graphics problem's. When game playing, the game STARTS up, but after a few minutes the graphics go to a screen with nondescript images and then doesn't move. I can still HEAR the game playing and characters moving along with music. When the screen does change it is to another nondescript image with my cursor now looking like a square. Task manager won't come up. Now my desk top is starting to look pixely in some area's. Everything else seems to be working fine. I tried a different game but same thing happens.
This all started a few days ago. However, a friend helped me rebuild my PC system a couple of years ago. I wondering if my video card is going or if it is some thing else.
Changed mother board to Biostar P4M900-M4 with Intel Pentium 4, and a G-Force 8500GT game card in order to play Oblivion. Forgot to add that I use Windows XP Home Edition 2002.Sounds to me like the graphics card is dying.
You could try reseating the card, and uninstalling/reinstalling the latest graphics drivers (click here to download them.
If need be you could use the onboard graphics on your motherboard while you replace your card - the onboard won't play games well if at all, but it'll let you at least use your PC while you wait for a replacement.
Hope this helps Thanks Crosshair.

Just so I'm clear, the graphics card is the Ge-Force game card right?

If so I know for sure which this is and I will try to reseat and reinstall drivers.

If not, is the Ge-Force 8500T a decent card that I may have killed early somehow, or should I look for an upgrade?Hi Christopher,

That is correct. The Video card is a GeForce 8500GT. (According to your first post) It's hard to tell whether or not the card is bad, but following Crosshair's instructions will get you closer to knowing. With the pixels on the screen, i'm also gonna guess the card is going bad. It looks like your motherboard has 2 PCI slots, and one  PCI Express x 16 slot. You'll want to find a card that is the PCI Express x 16 type. (If you need to upgrade of coarse) Depending on your budget, and power supply, you can find many cards that will be an upgrade to the 8500GT.I appreciate the info T_Blake07. Thanks.Sorry, last question, how do I SWITCH to the mother board grahics, does it happen automatic when I take the game card out? I will probabbly need to do this until I get a new card.Depends on how it's set in the BIOS.

Usually, it's automatic by default. Quote from: Christopher on January 26, 2010, 11:44:07 AM

Sorry, last question, how do I switch to the mother board grahics, does it happen automatic when I take the game card out? I will probabbly need to do this until I get a new card.