Dying/overheating graphics card??

I have a Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT, its idle temp is around 65-68C. When I start playing a game it shoots up to 71C within a minute of playing, continuing to play it shoots up to 80-84C. But its always run hot like this even when I got the computer.

I downloaded the desktop gadget "GPU Meter", it gives me all the correct information but in the Fan Speed its always saying 0rpm. I'm not sure if its just not picking up on the fan or if the fan is not running, it tells me the usage is a constant 30% and it goes up while playing games.

But playing any game full screen causes my computer to freeze up completely, the sound is clipping, and weird pixeled lines appear right when it freezes.


This is a picture of what it does while playing a full screen game, the computer is frozen, I can't exit I have to shut it off my holding the power button. During this the sound is clipping (stuck on whatever the sound was when it froze).


Is my graphics card dying? Over heating? Fan isn't working? I've noticed my computer isn't as loud as it normally is while playing this game.

I have the latest drivers, but recently had computer problems. My disc drive died, and now my graphics card to? I do remember before all these issues my screen would go pixeled in some areas and it would jump all over, but it seemed like a loose cord on the back of the monitor because when I'd move it a bit everything would go back to normal.

So why is it it only happens during full screen play? If I play windowed it doesn't happen.

Cooked graphics ram? Does that happen over time? Or what could have triggered it?

The fan on the card is working.....so i guess theres no saving it at this point?