New Graphics Card? Which to Buy?

With Christmas approaching, I plan on getting a new video card, but I am aweful at choosing something.

MY current System
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ @ 2.2 GHz
2Gb Corsair Memory
7600Gt
520Watt PSU

I play my games at 1440x900 but I hope to increse that to 1900x1200 in a year or teo with a bigger monitor.

I am really considering the 8800gt, will something else be as good of value with still a very noticeable performance gain over my 7600gt? I hop to spend $250 or less. Any chance of the 800gt dropping in price, how about the 8800GTS?

I play alot of Source Engine Games, but I want to crank up the graphics on games like Oblivion 4, Assassians Creed, and hopefully run high on Crysis under XP Home.

Let me know you'r guys's thoughts, thanks!

I second that

Yeah 3870 or 8800GT (if you can find one under budget). Zipzoom has one 8800GT in stock, a plain jane reference clocked evga for just $380.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=10007175

Right here ($249 + FREE shipping): http://www.amazon.com/PNY-XLR8-880 [...] 868&sr=8-1

This is the lowest price anywhere on the net...as of now (I got an eVGA Superclocked for the same price before they all spiked). However, you will have to wait a while for it to come back in stock...my guess...2 weeks. Maybe call Amazon and ask them when they expect to get a shipment and how many backorders they have. Only issue with PNY is that I do not think they have Lifetime warranty. I am pretty sure it is a 3 year warranty - which is still pretty nice. Next best price is $279 which can be found all over the net (mostly newegg) for lifetime warranty cards like XFX, eVGA, BFG. So, $30+ more for a lifetime warranty...your choice.

Good luck through amazon. I ordered an evga weeks ago and they still aren't shipping yet.