Game freezes then crashes when on anygraphics seetings higher than low

[BlueSky69]

I am running Red Alert 3 on windows XP, Intel Core2 Quad Q6600@ 2.40Ghz with 3.25 gigs of ram. I have a NVidia GeForce 8800GT graphics card.
I can start any type of game (mostly play campaign) and in about five minutes or so the screen will freeze, sound will keep playing for a little then gets choppy stopping and starting again. Keyboard is unresponsive. This happens for a long time with the computer eventually crashing, sometimes I get a blue screen, sometimes only the game crashes and sends me back to the desktop. This happens if I set the graphics to anything higher than the low setting. Seems like my computer should be able to run at high or at least medium srttings. When I hit the default button on the settings screen it automatically chooses ultra high settings. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here is my DirectX diagnostics:
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System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/2/2011, 19:31:53
Machine name: EFFIT
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
System Model: MS-7345
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 3328MB RAM
Page File: 509MB used, 4706MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_200E107D&REV_A2
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0012.8026 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/3/2011 04:49:00, 4210816 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/3/2011 04:49:00, 12542592 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4551-11CF-976C-020003C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0611
SubSys ID: 0x200E107D
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [EC00]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_002C1102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1187 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 8/16/2006 20:17:09, 500480 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 1, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 128, 128
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 128, 128
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[RedAlert2008]

Update your sound drivers, i know it seems unlikely but it can be the cause of this.

[BlueSky69]

Ok, I just tried that as well as updating everything else I can think of. Still get the same thing. Game freezes then a couple minutes later I get BSOD. Thanks anyway. I had my fingers crossed.

[RedAlert2008]

When you get the bluescreen can you try and get the first paragraph or something for us, it will help to diagnose the problem.

[BlueSky69]

Thanks for the help. The BSOD doesn't happen every time. Lately the game will freeze for a few minutes and then computer will simply restart. When I do get the bluescreen it goes by too fast to read completely but it did say something about NV4 display driver. I've been trying to diagnose my graphics card to see if thats the problem but a lot of the info I'm finding is over my head. I used Furmark to test the card and this also made my computer freeze and restart. At this point I'm just trying to isolate what component in my computer is the problem, RAM, CPU, or video card. I ran the windiag memory test to see if the ram was bad and it didn't find any errors. Is there an easy way to test the graphics card without taking it out of my computer completely?

[RedAlert2008]

Seems to be the GPU driver from what you describe, you could try rolling back the drivers a couple of patches and see if it fixes the issue.

Also the best bet is to try another GPU in the computer, if you have an older one or similar laying about give it a whirl.