Choosing the right card for my system

[dsmjrv]

some specs:

AMD be-2400 low watt dual core @2.4ghz
some 790gx mobo
4gb single stick DDR2 800mgz
19" viewsonic 1440x900

im currently running the integrated hd3200 which just isnt cutting it anymore. anyways i want to pick up a 8800gt from a buddy for $50 and im wondering if it would be worth it to spend more and get a better card, maybe something i could crossfire...

my question is, at what point will my slower system see diminishing returns when using faster and faster graphics cards? all the benchmarks of graphics cards i see lately are tested on very high end machines, which mine is not.


secondary question, i want to run HD movies off my rig to a 32" LCD. cards with HDMI outputs have sound integrated into the output, does a DVI type output have the same features?

 

[wa1]

Your PSU? Budget?

 

[dsmjrv]

550w rosewill, dont really have a budget. i just want to know at what point i will be bottlenecking the GPU.... whats the fastest card i can get before the rest of my system wont keep up

 

[JofaMang]

All ATI cards capable of HDMI output, can do so through the usually included DVI to HDMI converter, if they are a DVI only output.

A $50 8800gt could be the best bang for the buck available, but if a warranty and that fresh GPU smell is important, then new would obivously be best. If that is the case, for that CPU I wouldn't look much higher a 4670, 4770, or even a 4850. Any of those choices can by crossfired. 😀