If you have a pci-e get the GFORCE 7800 GTX (If you have enough get the dual) because that will last a LONG time.

I agree with killer if you got the cash get it but it will cost a limb and a arm but it will last long enough so you can grow em back, To me pyost doesn't seem to be quite a hard-core gamer most gamers know that the battle between ATI and Nvidia is never ending and how he related Nvidia to microsoft I will never know yah sure a year ago 128 were go but a year ago I was a year younger a year ago I didn't have this 64 bit Dual core AMD processor a year ago I didn't have these ATI 1800 connected by crossfire (I know there is a lot of glitches you dont have to point it out) a year ago I had the 6600 what I'm trying to say is Technology is evlolving faster then anything (if you reading this then you most likley already know) sure 128 is the recommended amount of VRAM for Quake but who wants to play everything at NORMAL quality when you can have High Or OMG crazy High? And apart from the times you'll go oh SH*T that scared the crap out of me the other times you'll go THESE ARE AMAZING GRAPHICS plus to me the way I see it you'll need to upgrade every 3-5 years with the speed that todays games are evloving and by that time you'll probebly be playing everything on low quality and low rez and you'll be back here asking which graphics card would be better the 10000 by ATI or the 780000GT by Nvidia? Yah right now 512 might seem like a bit much it's not unneccesary but it's nice to have so that you can play games still at good quality in 2 years. You might think jeeze who does this dork prefer ATI or Nvidia? I dont care I just get the better reviewed one if it works and if it's the best at the time that's good enough for me.
James

But first, I want to ask: I bought a GeForce FX 5700LE a year ago (October, November-ish) and I wonder if $150 was a fair price for it. Right now, I can't play Battlefield 2 very smoothly - very choppy (15~20 FPS) average and thus, it forced me to uninstall it.

Now, I really want to get a new graphics card. I also want to upgrade my CPU. I bought it about 4~5 years ago (Pentium 4) and it's 2.0 GHz. I think it's getting a little outdated right now? Yeah, I thought so. Maybe a new hard drive - I need to reformat this hard drive I have here.

Also, can someone tell me why my combo drive (bought two years ago) doesn't work very well? My computer sometimes hangs (can't move my cursor, do anything, not even taskbar manager thing in Windows XP) while my Samsung combo drive is trying to read the DVD.

I was trying to copy a 3.2 gigabyte file to my desktop and it says 65 minutes remaining. I was like "What the heck".

There are lots of questions here but I hope someone can answer them thoroughly Thanks (and please provide a bit of an explanation)

£0-£100? if im not wrong thats euro right?
for a 148 bucks. u can get a Geforce 6600GT with out a problem. the thing is 128mb on a DDR3( uber fast) for 148 bucks only? come on -.- i mean i cant even agure with that... and i try to find the best of the best stuff when comes to computer parts.

Cyborg, Here are the answers (I numbered the things so I could tell you number by number).

1. A year ago for a 5700 priced at 150 wasn't a good deal. If you want to know abou the latest tech get pc-magizine that will also help you on pricing for various stuff like that.

2. A new graphics card. for $309 at pricewatch you can get an ok Gforce 7800 gtx. For cpu I would switch/upgrade, but with upgrading/switching, your CPU you will mostlikely need a new mobo. I would get a 939 socket mobo and then an AMD Atholon 64 3200.

3.Your computer "hanging" is probaly in result of ram or cpu issues. If it is the combo drives problem, it's probaly because it's a low speed.

If you want pure mind blowing graphics I would stick to this::::::::::::::>>>>>>>>>>>

I purchised Intel Core to Quad Q6600. Then I purchased a Asus Maximus extreme mother board. @ Ocz to gb Pc-3 10666 Dual channel DDr3 memory. Pluged in my Koolance external cooling, with my koolance HD dual hard drive cooler as well.

Western Digital 750gb hard drive with OcZ 1010watt gameXstreamer Powersupply. Dual ATI Radeon HD3870 graphic processors with crossfire. It Cost $2500 Bucks..

But Fuck nothing I mean nothing no Alienware crap nothing compares to the performance and detail this computer manages...... It runs at 3300Mgz (Alienware best 2800)and Alienware costs atleast double the price?? One has to think..