Video card Help! Please help! Im begging you.

This is my long story, scroll down for the shot story. If your bored or you really want to help me, read the long story.

Well, about a month ago I bought a barebone kit with an AMD x2 3800+ a PoS tower that I had to ducktape together and a "MIS K8T890M-V K8M890M-V" I dont know why it has two model numbers but w/e. That barebones was 150 on tiger direct, then I bought a XFX geforce 7600GT for 130. Some other crap (fans artic ect) came to about 300 bucks. Now the thing is, my parents are cheap asses, the only way I could get a game computer was by bulding it. I was saving TWO years for this damned thing. This is just to tell you I really CANT buy new hardware at almost any cost. Im still trying to save up for a cheap 19 inch CRT screen for 40 bucks on ebay. Anyway, I need a job..

Okay, just so I gave you my life story and you believe me that I cannot possibly buy any new hardware.. Im having a problem. I reformate around every month or two. One day I tried using linux, screwed up my harddrive by accidently exiting a parition. (The "Yes" key is on the opposite side of the menu on ubuntu WTF?) Anyway, I reformatted used linux for about a day, got sick of it (I mostly play games, witch is bad for linux.) and then I tried to install windows. Well it went well till I tried to install win2k SP4.. something went wrong with the stream.sys and I couldnt use it correctly. So I reapaired using the windows 2k disc.

My real problem SHORT STORY: Anyway, with the drivers uninstalled (Using driver cleaner pro) and reinstalled, I cannot change my Antialiasing settings to "Application-controlled" everytime I click apply it gos back to "off" I can change it to 2x 2xq 4x and 8xS. I also cannot change my Anisotropic filtering to anything but application-controlled. When I click "Application-controlled" wont let me click it, it will just blink and go back to being checked.

Well, that wasnt a big problem.. really I didnt notice too much of a diffrence. I didnt think it needed a reformat. Anyway, I was playing CSS (Because I finally can after getting it 2 and a half years ago) and I was getting "Artifacts" I think thats what there called, when like a 2d image or just some random crap streches across the screen for a second. I was getting yellow and white, it wasnt too bad I could still play but it was noticble and annoying. I freaked out, I think thats a bad sign, my drivers and now this? Is my video card going bad?! I cant buy a new one! I just cant! Wtf is happening?

I tried to fix it I had too, this was way to bad now. I decided to install windows 2000 on the partition I accidently made with ubuntu awhile ago. it was 1.5 gig, I installed it all that crap.. and too my surprise the drivers arnt working correctly . What do I do? I havnt played CSS yet, or any other game. (I think I need to reinstall steam to play).

Bottem line, why arnt my drivers working correctly? I download the latest, wtf is happening? Are these semi-artifacts a big sign for later problems? I have a lifetime warranty but Ive heard that they dont count artifacts as a problem or something.. please help I cannot have this computer die! I dont want to wait any more! I just cant buy any more.


I just want to know can I fix this artifact problem? will it get worse? is it normal? and about the drivers, could it be linked the artifact problem? can it be hardware related?


EDIT: Oh yeah, and the powersupply that came with the tower. from the reviews it says its CRAP but it seems to be fine.. but it may be going out now. Also, the only thing I added to this computer was my old DDR 400 memory and my OLD OLD OLD!! IDE 40 gig.

EDIT Again: I need a job, any suggestions for a computer geek like me?

EDIT: My video card is a 7600GT XXX edition from XFX. Also, it runs at 590/1600 but how do I verify that?

 

what are the specs on the PSU? specifically the wattage, 12v+ amps. that's possibly the problem with the artifacting, either that or it's overheating

as far as a job, go visit some local computer shops if that's what you're interested in. it could be tough getting a job doing what you really want if you are young and/or inexperienced, my first job was at a supermarket

 

I was thinking gamestop. But maybe compucare, anyway. My Temp is around 50C, Ill use my dual screen tonight to view my temp during CSS. Anyway, you dont think its the video card going bad? if its possible for the PSU to do that, its probably the PSU. On one of the reviews I guess the first time he booted it up it caught on fire. So.. yeah that kinda tells you the quality of what Im using.

I looked inside and there are a whole bunch of numbers. but I did find 12v+ but again, the quality of this thing is crap. I just hope to god its not my video card.. its strange with my parents. If its the life of the computer.. for only like 40-80 bucks, they will buy it. If its around 100+ they wont even touch it without me doing at least 40 hours of work.

Did something on CSS did a video test and changed my AA and AF to max got 100 fps on the video test. Then did them all the way down, and it seems like CSS can still use the AA and AF.