Vista - Gaming Crash : New Build by a beginner

Good day,
This is my first build, and I have next to no idea what I'm doing. A friend recommended and helped me through the process, and here I sit.
This setup runs fantastic EXCEPT when I play games. R6, GRAW, Counter-Strike Source.... all crash on me - usually within the first 5 minutes of play. Here's the message.
*Description
A problem with your video hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Files that help describe the problem
WD-20090105-1956.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt
View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.
Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 117
BCP1: FFFFFA80051AE4E0
BCP2: FFFFFA600341F920
BCP3: 0000000000000000
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1*

Drivers are all updated - and when I reinstalled everything - it helped a little bit, but it still happens. I'm going to try out XP Pro today - but I'd rather not waste any time on this so if anybody has a clue as to what might be happening, please
reply, and remember that you've have to simplify everything because I'm new at this

Thanks

Have you Overclock your PC?

Have you tested your RAM with Memtest or similar to see if one or more of your sticks is the culprit?

Have your check your Video Card (GPU) & CPU for temps? Lots of freeware to use

You say you reinstalled your drivers, did you also uninstall the PhysX drivers that come with your video drivers? if not, this may cause some sort of corruption on your install. Nvidia has a driver sweeper, download it to a safe folder, download their latest 181 drivers to the same folder, uninstall your current drivers, DO NOT restart, uninstall your PhysX drivers as well, now Restart, as soon as you are back at your desktop, use the Nvidia Driver sweeper to get rid of any driver remants on your registry.

Go to the folder where you have your drivers, right click on the file and "Run as Administrator" and follow instructions (pretty much straight forward from here).

Also, make sure your Monitor has x64 drivers, you can verify this by going to Device Manager and Under Monitors, it should list a Generic Non-P&P and your Samsung, if it list 2 Generics P&P, then you are not using a x64 driver for it and this may cause problems as well.

Wow this sounds just like another thread I was just trying to help out on. Oh and is your video card overclocked ?

Random crashes in just about any videogame

Even windows is saying the following:
As a quick guess I would say your video card is bad.
Or maybe it is not seated in the motherboard correctly.

If you can return it bring it to the store. If its not store bought just call up the vendor and get an RMA number, they will cross ship you one if you have a credit card at no charge. If you don't cross ship though you have to wait a lot longer to get your replacement.

I hope this helps you out
-K