I'm looking to get a new video card for my 1-yr-old Dell Dimension 4600. Right now it has the pre-installed Intel 82865G Graphic Controller. It flickers/freezes occasionally playing GTA III Vice City and Half-Life 2.

Now when I try to play Splinter Cell Chaos Theory it tells me I need at least an ATI Radeon 8500/9000/X or an NVDIA GeForce 3/4/FX/6 to play.

My computer knowledge is about a 3 out of 10. Without spending a mint (say $150 max, $50-100 ideally, used OK), what's the best video card I can get that would work, for the money? (And where to get it?) How can I tell what would be compatible with my system? And how do I actually install the new card - is there anything to uninstall/take out?

Thanks!

According to the Dell Dimension 4600 Service manual's specification sheet you have an available AGP slot that can perform at 8X. This gives you many choices.

HTH
Bryan

go to www.newegg.com

This website lets you do a search by setting AGP 4X/8X and max price.

A few good example for below $100:

Nvidia FX 5200 ($60), ATI 9600 XT/PRO ($85), Gefore 6200 ($70)

A few good example for below $150:

ATI 9800 PRO ($120+), Geforce 6600 GT ($150), Geforce 6600 ($115+)