Video card crashing

[dannitohoot]

I'm using an ATI HD 3850 on my build...

For the first few months, I had no problems and it could handle anything I threw at it. I even started using dual monitor.
About a month and a half ago, I alt+tab 'd out of a game and the display blacked out for a moment and then when it came back on, windows told me that the display adapter had just shut down and then recovered. Later it did it again, but this time it crashed the computer.
I have tried almost everything to lighten the GPU's load including:
Sticking to a single monitor
Lowering the resolution on all applications
Increasing the fan speed (average temp of the card is 75 - 80 C)
Updating the driver

Now GPU will crash when i'm reading e-mail...
I've searched ATI support for help, but I haven't had any luck. If anyone can help I'd much appreciate it. I'm ready to replace the GPU if necessary, but I don't want to waste money on a new one only to find out that it's just going to do the same thing.

Pentium E8400 (2.4 Ghz DualCore), Gigabyte S-series GA-P31-S3G, 4GB DDR2 1066 RAM, ATI HD3850 512Mhz DDR3, 500W power supply.
I am not overclocking.

 

[Lethal]

VIDEO CARD CRASHING!

Please don't SHOUT in thread titles.

 

[lifanus]

My old x1950xt would crash after couple month since I bought it, I couldn't figure out why the heck it would work normal and suddenly develop persistent crashing problem.

One day I opened my case to do a long-needed dust/hair/fur clean up, and guess what? the card's heatsink was covered by a sick layer of hairs and furs!!! It caused the card to overheat and constantly crash and the fan speed before cleanup was like real high.

After the fur/hair was removed and card air-can dusted, it runs like brand new again.

So I would triple check to see if your video card and anything else in your case needs a good air-can dusting...