Graphics card problems

Just bought a GeForce FX 5500 video card, and as we speak, the monitor CONSTANTLY either
1. Freezes up for about 10-18 seconds, and goes black, then appears normal again (Like it's doing a hard refresh)
2. The whole monitor refreshes itself instantly
I messed with the monitor, and nvidia refresh rate, making them the same, But it didn't work. ALSO when I try to play Guild Wars Factions, It will go to the main login screen, and freeze the computer completely, forcing me ot do a hard shut down.

Please help me,
Kam

Do you have v-sync enabled? That's something to check, it should be on. You said you made sure the refresh rate for the card matches the refresh rate for your monitor, did you try lowering the refresh rate of your card and monitor? Whenever I install my video card drivers it cranks up my refresh rate really high and it makes the display jiggle until I turn the refresh rate back down.

If none of the refresh rate settings make a difference, try upgrading your motherboard/chipset drivers to the newest available version. Unless you have a crossfire-based motherboard, then you're probably out of luck since mixing nvidia hardware with ati hardware doesn't turn out well.

You can also try removing your video drivers and then installing the newest drivers from the nvidia website (the stuff on your software cd that comes with the card is probably way old) and you should also get the june version of directx from microsoft's website. Between all of that, it should make your monitor play nice again.

And you may just have a dud video card, if all the other suggestions don't work. There's a saying, sad but true, that everybody makes lemons sometimes...

FX series is fairly old tech, did you buy it new? (Walmart special?) Is it PCI, because there are a trillion better and affordable AGP options out there than an FX card.

Yeah, buying a 5500 these days is a major ripoff, the card is so old. I used to have one, and its an ok card, but you can get so much better these days, even with a budget card.

it's a shame walmart is giving a *bargain* by offering old video cards to customers

you can get a great card for the same price you're paying for that card in a computer or electronic store or an online store.