Need help with video card (?) problem.?

Recently purchased an HP Computer, AMD Athlon 64X2 processor 6000+ 3.00 GHZ; 3 gb RAM; 32- bit OS (Vista); NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 graphics card with 128 mb dedicated memory and 1,200 mb shared memory; and an LG 21.6" widescreen monitor.



On occassion, the computer briefly stalls, then a diagonal pattern shows on the monitor ... and everything freezes ... Only way to recover is turning off, then rebooting. The times this has happened, I was watching the TV (media center computer), and using a graphics program (PSP); OR playing a casual video game with 3d graphics. Which leads me to believe the problem is the video card.



My Questions ... video card problem or something else?



If video card ... it is a defective card, or just one that is insufficient for my uses?



Thanks for any help, input and advice!

.|||First thing first, try updating the drivers at www.nvidia.com. Also update windows. If the problem persist, it maybe more serious than a driver problem and would contact HP regarding it.|||Check if the heatsink for the graphics chipset is seated correctly, sounds like a common heat issue that i've seen happen often, if you don't know which heatisnk is for the graphics chipset, just check them all. check the thermal interface compound on them, too. There should be a thin layer on both the heatsink and the chip. Good luck with your problem.|||HI

Your card is a integrated card that will not put out the power you need to run all the stuff you want.It has 128MB taken from your RAM-the card doesn't have its own RAM.|||The video is probably built into the motherboard. I have a similar HP pc. I put an ATI Radeon HD2600XT 512MB video card in it. It cost me about $100 at Newegg.com, but it works great--will do anything you want unless you are a hardcore gamer. It's pci express with ddr3 ram, best card in its price range--some places its $160.