sounds more like an overheating/hardware problem to me than a software issue. what temps are your CPU, GC, and HDD'(s) running at normal and when you launch thr apps? I had a problem like the one you are having. Everytime I played a graphics intense game, I would freeze up after a few mins. I found out that my GC was running VERY hot (around 130-140) and that was my problem. I moved into a different case put 6 fans in and now I have no problems what so ever!