Possible monitor problem.

I'm not too sure if this actually is a monitor problem, or if it may be deeper than that. Here's what's happening.
I'll be minding my own business, playing a game, or talking on instant messengers, when suddenly my screen will flash, and the entire computer will lock up for a few moments, then, when I turn the monitor off, and turn it back on again, the computer resumes as normal, as if nothing has ever happened. Certain games won't load properly any more either, the video will stutter, and eventually either freeze the comp completely, or if I managed to hit "Quit" in time, close the application, and continue as though nothing happened. I don't think it's my video card, as it was just recently installed a month ago under expert supervision and I tried updating the drivers to fix this problem, but no go.

Microsoft Windows XP
Professional SP2

AMD Athalon(tm) XP 1700+
1.46 GHz, 512 mb of RAM
nVidia GeForce FX 5200

Those are my computer specs.
If it's relevant, the Monitor is an LG studioworks 775N

 

I know you said you don't think it is your vid card but that's what it sounds like. Have you tried downgrading the driver?

Are you running any program to tweak the card?

 

No, I'm not.

How would I go about downgrading my drivers? reinstalling the default ones?

The reason why I don't think it's my vid card, is because it usually starts acting up when I'm playing a video game, but I run most if not all of my games windowed mode, so they aren't using the video card.

 

ummm I think the games are using your card. Otherwise they wouldn't run at all.

What happens if you play in full screen mode?

The fact that it plays up when gaming suggests the card as the problem.

 

I tried in fullscreen, it worked flawlessly through the opening, and was working fine, untill I loaded my game, and as soon as it started loading the background, and all objects, it froze.

 

I'd be going with the card then.

What the problem is though is another thing.

When did all of this start? When the new card was installed? Before? After?

What driver versions have you tried?

 

The problems started today, during a game I normally play. It just siezed up, and my monitor jolted out of sync, and my screen began flashing a greenish-purplish hue. I quickly turned my monitor off, thinking it was the problem. It just happened out of nowhere for no reason. As for driver versions, I'm not sure what my last driver version was, but the current version is 8.4.2.1

 

This only happens when playing games? The monitor is OK at all other times?

If it only started recently & only when you try to play a game it looks as though the card is cactus.

Time to take it back & get a replacement.

It was OK playing games before today?

 

It's been absolutely perfect before today. I've noticed it's siezed up a couple times on some apps that aren't that graphic intense. I'm gunna try running a memory test, some other people have suggested it may be the problem. I just hope nothing needs replacing... I can't afford it any more

 

Turns out, the problem WAS my video card. I did a mem test last night, and this morning, I rolled back my drivers, and when I did, my comp refused to boot up. Called my Dad (the comp expert ) and he took one look at it, and knew right away it was the video card. Thankfully the one I was using was still under warrenty, so I got a new one without having to pay (thank you lord)