You cannot replace the graphics card on a laptop without spending more than it's worth. It is usually integrated into the motherboard. Your best bet would be to buy a new computer. You can buy new for so much less $$$ now. Have you run the extended diagnostics and full hard drive diagnostics to determine the problem? It could be something simple. 7 years is a great long life for a laptop.

It may or may not be a video card problem - to ascertain, attach an external monitor.  If it shows the same problem, it may be the video card.  If it does not, it's a display problem that can be relatively inexpensively repaired.  The backlight or inverter needs repair in that case - perhaps $100-150 with an LCD repair expert.

If it IS the video card - which means the external monitor shuts off with the internal - try reseating the card first.  If the problem persists, the cards for this system are under $100 and may be worth replacing - the C-chassis Dells were solid, reliable notebooks - in many ways they were superior in engineering to the D- and E-series (and other models) that followed.  If the system is otherwise fast enough, $100 or $150 in repair may make sense.

Thanks for the replies. I have attached the laptop up to my tv and the same problem with the freezing screen/blackouts is occuring on that display too, so I'm guessing that would confirm a problem with the graphics card. I've not had a chance to open it up and attempt to reseat the card yet but I'll give that a go and hopefully it might be the solution.

If it doesn't solve the problem though in terms of a replacement card is it definitely possible to do that on an 8200? Having upgraded pretty much everything else like memory & the dvd drive myself in the past the machine is definitely still fast enough for my requirements so it would be a bit of a shame if I have to give up on it and buy a new one. I found a list of compatible graphics card on a "inspiron 8200 FAQ's" website set up by a fellow owner but as it's a fairly old system I have no idea whether any of them are still available anywhere. If anyone else knows otherwise any help would be much appreciated.