game freeze/lock up help.

[Bonfleck]

I'm currently using onboard sound on an Asus M2n32-sli deluxe, that is using "SoundMax" interface and running out of the optical port to my stereo system. The only driver I can seem to pin down that relates to audio is in my "Device Manager", "System Devices", "Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio". The driver version is 5.10.0.5010 and dated 3/5/2004. Seems to be an old driver but what do I know. Are there other drivers that pertain to audio and where do I find them? As far as video goes, I'm running an Nvidia GeForce 8800GT w/driver version 6.14.11.6902, dated 10/25/2007. I know there is a new version available but I don't appear to be having any video problems other than my card appears to have some inconsistency when using the NVIDIA control panel. (my version doesn't have the display scaling feature that is blatently discussed in the help menu.) I've turned the audio hardware acceleration in the DXDiag to "No acceleration" at which point it becomes emulated and the driver information goes blank. But even after that when playing SH3 I had a lock up after playing for 5 minutes and then 10 minutes into my next try I had my first encounter with the "SH3 has encountered a problem and needs to close black screen" scenario. After that I played and it was stable for better than two hours. I just made sure to save my progess after every encounter of sigfnificance. I've only had this machine for a couple weeks and I haven't installed anything on it other than Norton 360 and SH3. No new codecs or software other that a Java "plug in". Where do I go from here? If there is more information I can provide please let me know. Thanks for all your help. B