could this be a hdd problem ?

[Destroyer^]

sometimes when i play cs source or any game the game starts getting artifacts like when id turn lots of blue red lines etc would jump out on the screen and my fps wouldnt go above 20fps but the hdd is making aloud racket and checking the gpu its on 40 degrees, i know i need a new hdd but im hoping nothings wrong with my gpu, as ive underclocked it down to 450 mhz/1.1 the gpu is a xfx 6800 gs pci-e and the hdd is a 120gb ata maxtor any ideas?

[herulach]

Im pretty certain 450/1.1 is still a decetn overclock for a 6800GS, its unlikely to be a hard disk problem, maybe something running in th background?

[Destroyer^]

i have wat i always have in the background, ts2,aol,steam,ac97,msn and it happens occationally but when it does the hdd is like a f1 racing car tbh, im replacing the hdd anyway in the next week with a 36gb raptor & 120gb western digital, but i hope its not my gpu cuz its brand new