Windows 7: GTX 260 artifacts and freezes during games

I've been running my GT220 on an Asus M4N68T-M V2 and an M2N68-AM SE2, I'm pretty sure both are only PCI 1.0, and playing games with no problems. I would expect low FPS not artifacts if the slower bus was a problem. Try re seating the card and make sure the cooling fan is running OK. My first GT220 had a noisy fan that didn't run at full speed and I had issues like you are having. Lockups and artifacts. I actually went though two replacements before I got one that worked OK. The fan didn't run at all on the second one. Third times a charm I guess, I'm still using it, its probably close to 2 years old now. I'm getting itchy to replace it with something better though.

I've received another one. I used the recent drivers and it doesn't cause any problems. I suppose it was the card.

Its been my experience that once you start getting artifacts the card is already damaged and it only goes down hill after that. It usually gets worse not better no matter what you do. Driver problems usually end up being a BSOD or lockups. Hopefully its smooth sailing now that you have a new card.