i really have to wonder if i should bother even using the 8800GT at home anymore except for brief
testing periods. Probably a waste of electricity.
I went through the same thing, turned it off when difficulty jumped up around may 25th or so, turned it right the fuck back on when price skyrocketed up so high that I didn't give a shit about electric cost.
Just bought a $150 HD5850 to replace it tonight though, so I don't have any more PCI-E slots in which to place the 8800gt, so it now sits on my desk; its once hot heatsink slowly cooling down, probably never to warm up again.