Hardware or Software?

Ok maybe I can get a little input here. I am trying to figure out a problem i've been having associated with 3D gaming. First off here is my system.

P4 2.7 GHZ
512 MB Ram
GForce 5600 Graphics card.

It has occured with the following games.

Morrowind, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, and a couple other 3D games. It mainly begins either on start-up of the program or shut down. I go to execute the game and the screen will turn black. No reactivity from the keyboard as far as caps and number lock, kind of assures me of a crash which results in me having to restart the computer and attempt again. Some occasions it will do it and some won't. I get the same black screen, frozen keyboard lights when i shut the games down. I have only had this problem with 3D games and not applications.

I have updated the drivers of my graphics card etc.

Does this sound like a failing graphics card? Messed up video setting? Any opinions/suggestions would be appreciated.

This either sounds like an overheating problem, or IMO more likely it is a software problem. You might want to try reinstalling Windows, and testing it from a clean isntall to check whether it is software. :)

Good suggestion, I failed to mention it, but I installed a second XP OS on my second hard drive clean install. Installed Morrowind and same black screen problem. So i know somethings up. :)

Test your RAM with [google]Memtest86+[/google]. Find out what temps your CPU has. A program like [google]Everest Home Edition[/google] can tell you that, as can [google]Speedfan[/google].

Lastly, what power supply do you have? Manufacturer and model.

Ok I kept messing with it last night and discovered something. This discovery was made by testing it with the Morrowind game. My desktop was set at 1280 x 1024. When I tried to run the game which only allowed me to go 1024 x 780 I would get random black screens on the front end and back end of the game.

I would have to set my desktop resolution to the game's max resolution to be able to start it up and exit without a black screen crash. If It was 1280 x 1024 it would have the random black screen lock ups.

Another thing I noticed. While experimenting with my resolution, I at one point dropped it to 800 x 600. I go to set it back to 1280 x 1024 and I get the famous black screen crash.

I opened my case and watched my video card run. The little fan on the bottom of my Gforce 5600 was stopped. I removed the card blew it out real good as it was gunked up and replaced it. When it started the computer up it started working again.

I had the same problems stated above after i cleaned the video card and added another extra case fan underneath it. I have no idea how long the fan was not working or how long that card may have been over heating. Is it possible its permantly damaged and these problems are the result?

Thanks for the links btw, I love the Everest program and speedfan is pretty sweet too.

Power supply was a 350 watt RaidMax btw I forgot to mention.