CSS/HL2 freezing at "Recieving server info"

[Gundabad]

CSS freezes fairly regularly at five white load marks into loading maps, which is the "Recieving server info" stage. HL2 freezes at a similar point, about 5 ticks into loading the hdd light goes off. I have tried reinstalling Windows xp, swaping out my ram(which did work for a while), reinstalling hl2/css, diff 4in1s, diff catalyst versions, diff slots for my RAM. All freeze eventually. I was wondering if there was any1 with similar issues so that i can stop worrieing about my hardware and know that it is hl2s fault.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Gundabad]

Anyone?

 

[blossom]

VPU fix?

Could be this:
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51228
Worked for me

 

[Leonardo1]

CSS freezes fairly regularly at five white load marks into loading maps, which is the "Recieving server info" stage. HL2 freezes at a similar point, about 5 ticks into loading the hdd light goes off. I have tried reinstalling Windows xp, swaping out my ram(which did work for a while), reinstalling hl2/css, diff 4in1s, diff catalyst versions, diff slots for my RAM. All freeze eventually. I was wondering if there was any1 with similar issues so that i can stop worrieing about my hardware and know that it is hl2s fault.
Thanks in advance.

You could alway's try another non-valve game? to test your hardware.....