Pretty much every game I have played locks up. The screen artifacts like crazy (lines all over and cant tell what anything is), and the sound loops rapidly. Can happen in any part of the game, menus or actual gameplay... seems completely random. Doesn't matter if i lower settings, it still crashes randomly.
Latest drivers, updates etc

XP 64 bit
Geforce 9800GTX - temp never goes above 70C
Intel e8400 @3.6ghz - temp never goes above 50C
4gb ddr2 memory
I haven't had this problem with any other game
tried reverting to 196.21 drivers, same problems.

A friend has a similar setup, but not 64 bit xp, and a 8600gt instead, and he gets the same lockups.

any solutions are greatly appreciated.

Hello Beefking

Can you post some information about your computer? You can find this information in the Direct X Diagnostic Tool:

Press the Windows Key and R
Type in: dxdiag
Hit Enter or OK

Click on the Save All Information button at the bottom, and create a dxdiag text file, and copy and paste the data from the dxdiag file into your reply.