I used
FRAPS to check the FPS and it was getting as high as
800 during the startup movie and sitting squarely at 575 during the startup loading screen.
Oddly regular gameplay was "only" around 75-85... Shutting the game down was at 675 during the black screen.
I built this computer specifically for TS3, and have already replaced the video card once thinking it was faulty when it died within the first 30 days. Maybe it was the game.
Thank you for FPSlimiter. My game is now running merrily at 30 FPS.
All hail the mighty Pescado!