PCI CARD NEEDED (NO CHOICE) PLEASE HELP

The only problem you may run into is that the 5700 card is two generations behind and may not have the features to run HL2. I have an ATi x600 series card which would be about the same age as the one you speak with 256mb of video ram and I have to turn everything down to play it with any consistancy. If the card is PCI only Not PCI-E(express) , then at least see if you can get it with 256mb video ram .

BFG Tech BFGR55256OCP Geforce FX5500 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card - Retail

* Model #: BFGR55256OCP
* Item #: N82E16814143059 $57.99

PNY VCGFX522PPB Geforce FX5200 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card - Retail

* Model #: VCGFX522PPB
* Item #: N82E16814133007 $58.99

SAPPHIRE 100114-BK Radeon 9250 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card - OEM

* Model #: 100114-BK
* Item #: N82E16814102527 $59.00
These are a few upgrade options from where you are at right now, if you don't have PCI-E or the option to upgrade your entire PC. Otherwise it sounds like you are basically buying a new version of your existing card not upgrading. As far as Newegg is concerned the cards are older and the price will continue to go down with the release of new generations of cards. I am in the middle of building a new rig and have bought about 80% of hardware from them.

Get that. It would probably be better than the 5700, especially as its an LE. A 128-bit 6200 isn't too bad, and it's OC'ed.

You can run HL2 on a card as old as a Radeon 7500 (albeit in DX7 mode) - this was on a ThinkPad with a Pentium M 1.3Ghz. And my friend has run it comfortably (800 x 600) on a GeForce 5200 Ultra with a 2.66Ghz CPU. As you will have a newer card and a faster CPU it should run quite well.