So I'm looking to build a new computer at the end of April or beginning of May and would like a suggestion on video cards.  I don't plan on gaming that much so I'm not really concerned about that and so I'm primarily looking for something that will run Aero when I decide to upgrade to Vista.  I currently have a 20" LCD @ 1600x1200 and am looking at adding a 2nd widescreen monitor running at 1900x1200 to watch HDTV, movies, and videos (all at full screen of course) on my computer while I work or surf the 'net.
 
I don't really have a budget right now for the card and my budget for the build is TBD (but not over $800-$1000...the cheaper the better).  I'd like the video card that will work best for my needs but I'd also like it to be as cheap as possible.  I've thought about getting into gaming and so I've thought about getting a cheap gaming card to see if computer games is something I'd like to get into and, if it is, upgrading to a more powerful card.
 
Should I go with a card that has 256MB RAM or 512MB?
 
I'd like to get a NVidia branded card because I want a TV Card as well and I'm looking at Hauppauge T.V. cards because it seems they're cheaper and have more features than ATI T.V. cards.
 
I don't know if this will matter in the selection but I've thought I might want to upgrade to an HD DVD player on my computer as well (depending on the cost) and so I'd like to be able to play HD DVDs as well.
 
Thanks in advance for ya'lls help.

I would suggest a video card that has at least 512MB of the fastest ram available at the time of your order.
When looking for an HDTV card, one that does not rely on MicroSofts Dot Net would be in my opinion, a plus. I have a Pinnacle HDTV HD PCI card that works well in Vista. I have yet to connect it to my new cable HDTV set top box, but off the air works well.
With the HD DVD Format wars over, I would wait for about a year for the prices of Blue Ray drives to come down before I would jump into the HD DVD pool.  

If not gaming minimum card I would suggest for that resolution is nvidia 8600GT/GTS or ATI HD2600XT/HD3650.

The 512MB flavor though. The GTS might be a good candidate for a non gamer need.  
 

Thanks for your help.  I guess my dilemma is a 8600GT with 512MB is around $100 (w/ GDDR3), give or take $10 and a 9600GT is $150-$160 or so (after MIRs, etc for the cheapest ones) and so I'm almost tempted to just spend the extra $50 and get a decent gaming card but then if I'm spending $150 why not spend $180 and get the 8800GT?
 
At 1600x1200 and 1920x1200 how good is the 9600GT for gaming?  The only real gaming I've ever done is on the XBox 360 and Halo.  So I'm definitely a fan of FPS games but other than that I haven't really gamed enough to know what other types of games I'd like to play.
 
Obviously with the "eye candy" turned on you'll need a better video card but what happens when it's turned off?  Does game play really become that much better with it turned on?  Is there a site I can go to that would allow me to look at a screen shot of game "x" at a given resolution with and without the "eye candy"?
 
Thanks again for your help.

Lots of questions, a few answers. At 19x12 Id go with the 8800GT, at lower the 9600. Both perform well. The turn off issue hasnt really become a reality yet, and it isnt for in game use, its used for non gaming like surfing the net etc, and its for power reduction. I cant remember the link, but maybe someone else can, it shows what a screen shot of a game looks like with 4xAF vs 8xAF. Hopefully someone will have it

the 8600Gt is not a gaming card.  So if you plan to game at all, at least get a 9600GT. the 8800GT/GTS would be better though. The 8800GS is placed under the 9600GT if you were wondering.