A few hardware questions...first, the video card:

I just got this new PC, and after playing around with it for a week or so, I've determined I need more graphics capability than I currently have.

The specs:

Windows Vista Home Premium
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
ECS MCP61PM-HM Motherboard (2x PCI slots, one occupied, 1x PCI Express x16 slot, 1x PCI Express x1 slot)
2048 MB (2x 1 GB sticks) PC2-5300 RAM (almost certainly, since CAS latency is 5; board supports up to PC2-6400)
GeForce 6150SE/nForce 430 GPU (128 MB RAM)
HP F70 17" LCD flat panel monitor (15-pin VGA connector, max resolution 1280x1024)
1x S-ATA 320 GB HDD (3 Gb/s)

The budget: $130

Notes: Command and Conquer Generals suffers at any decent resolution. I'd like to be able to play, say, Flight Simulator X without being slideshow'd to death.

The questions: Shopping around, I'm seeing GDDR4 cards in my budget. So, 512 MB GDDR3 or 256 MB GDDR4? Also, I'd like DX10 support, because Vista is behaving so far and I don't want to anger the MS gods.

And about my processor:

My current CPU is an X2 4000+, and I was wondering if I could switch it out for another (say, an X2 4800+ Brisbane, perhaps even a 5400+) without doing anything drastic like getting a whole new motherboard. Would the performance gains between the listed processors be worth the cost, or should I overclock?

And finally, about memory:

I was pondering, also, a third GB stick of RAM: Vista is a bit of a hog, and I notice that games take up a chunk as well. Would I notice any gains in performance worthy of the expenditure, or would that money be better served going into the video card/processor coffers?

I know this is a lot of inquiring, so thanks for your opinions in advance.

I don't know why HP/Compaq would use DDR2-667 RAM instead of DDR2-800? Regardless, you probably don't need more RAM or a new CPU, but for gaming, you'll definitely need a a video card. Hopefully your power supply will be up to the added load.

I'd say go for either an 8600GTS or bump up your budget a bit & go for a Radeon 3850. This article should help:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12...

Odd indeed, but CPU-Z confirms that the RAM is indeed PC2-5300.

I'll check out the 3850.

I'm a real idiot...or just very forgetful.

I'm cleaning around my monitor and I notice another connector: a DVI.

Oddly, I never saw a DVI cable in the box. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm looking at the ATI Radeon HD 2600XT; it's well within my budget and has good numbers. And Tom's seems to like it too.

...and I'm looking for DVI-D cables. Siiiigh.