I run dual monitors (a VGA at 1280x1024 and a DVI at 1024x768). The problem is that when I watch any video or listen to music, the picture or sound stutters. I have a 256MB ATI Radeon_HD 3450 card in there now and that seems to be the problem. I've downloaded the latest drivers which helped, but not enough. I don't do any gaming, but just general graphics and viewing. What should I look for in a replacement card? Do you have any recommendations for a good value in a card? Under a buck fifty would be nice. My friend said something about a nvidia 7300 GT, but I don't know enough to say it is the right fix or not.

"The problem is that when I watch any video or listen to music, the picture or sound stutters" When you say the music/sound stutters, do you mean when playing CD's or MP3's without video? If so, I doubt the video card is the problem. Can you explain in a little more detail?

The music sort of sounds like it's skipping or repeating for a second or two every 5-10 seconds. I'm playing music in either mp3 or wma format out of my music folder. Also, when playing a video the picture does the same sort of thing as the music does. I'm also playing videos on my hard drive in either mpeg or avi format using either a divx player or the wmp. I kept looking around and it seems like your diagnosis of the video card being okay is correct. It seems to be more of a memory problem. I looked at the running processes and Firefox was a big consumer, so when I shut it down, the problem was greatly reduced. Should I consider getting more RAM memory? Thanks for your reply. Sorry it took so long to get back to it. A lot of health issues going on too that unfortunately get in the way of living life! Thanks again!!