Windows 7: BSOD possibly related to graphics card

This problem started happening just last night. I was playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and suddenly, graphical glitches started appearing on the screen (rainbow colors, among other weird effects, it's hard to describe), and suddenly it froze and the sound became distorted and looping. My monitor shut off and on a few times and then my computer restarted.

I booted up League of Legends (which has considerably smaller system requirements) and it happened again. I'm ready to chalk it up to my graphics card dying, but I figured I would upload my minidump file to see if there's anything that could be at fault.

My graphics card is a GeForce 9800 GTX, for reference. I'll install the latest drivers if that looks to be the problem, but I haven't done so yet. No graphical problems or major performance problems exist outside of gaming.

This suggests a faulty or overheating graphics card


BSOD caused by nvlddmkm.sys, part of Nvidia drivers

Possible causes: bad RAM/PSU, incorrect RAM timings/voltages, bad Graphics card, overheating, outdated driver

Uninstall the Nvidia driver then use driver sweeper to remove leftover driver files
Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

Reinstall Nvidia drivers in safe mode
NVIDIA DRIVERS 260.99 WHQL

If the above does not work get another card


This was likely caused by the following module: nvlddmkm.sys
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0x8705A510, 0x8F8EFA30, 0x0, 0x2)
Error: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR

Haven't had a chance to get to the computer in question, but while talking with a friend, he mentioned screen tearing tests in which you move windows around really fast on your desktop or something similar to check for graphical glitches. Are there any tests I can run outside of games to check first hand whether or not it's the graphical card completely going on the fritz?

Yes there are - Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

Make sure it isn't overheating too - overheating can cause a fully functional graphics card to show those effects.

From NVIDIAs specs for the 9800GTX -
Kill the test if it gets close to that, then fix the cooling (by cleaning out the dust, or in the worst case scenario re-applying the thermal paste on the cooler or even getting a new cooler).