Upgrade Video Card Suggestions - World Of Warcraft, Media Center User

System Specs (As per dxdiag)
Gateway 825GM
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM

Video
Card name: ATI Radeon X300/X550/X1050 Series
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x5B60)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5B60&SUBSYS_06201462&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Using Comcast/Cable internet via Linkysys router.

Mainly looking for a bump up in FPS while playing WoW, but this system also functions as my Media Center in bedroom and streams to Xbox360 in Living room. Current monitor is only 19", but may bump up in size in the near future. Probably nothing greater than 24".

Any suggestions and Links?

Thanks,
Mike

Budget...whats that?

No really, I would like something cheaper. Its been a long time since I priced individual components so I'm not sure what kind of cash I should be looking to drop. I have seen cards from $40-$300. If I can see the value in a higher $$ product then I am willing to spend a little more, but if its a negligible....meh.

As far as PSU/Amperage on the 12v rail, I believe it to be just a 300w PSU. I haven't physically looked inside to double check as of yet.
Not sure of the Amperage. Any easy way to gather that info?

The other problem that may come into play is the BTX case...you know the wind tunnel winding through there.

9800GX2

I would first upgrade the PSU, cause 300W regardless of the 12V rail probably won't cut it. Secondly, what about the motherboard?
Is it a socket 478 P4 or LGA775? Thirdly, AGP or PCI-E?? If its AGP than you will likely need a new motherboard as well. So, I guess your looking at something like $300. For say a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L and a 9600GT.

For the psu, check out OCZ, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, or Enermax.

Motherboard is Socket LGA775.

[B]Generic Link[/b] on computer info in case we need something else I left out:
http://www.shopping.com/xPF-Gatewa [...] -550-825GM

Once again I'm not looking for the ulta high-end upgrade. WoW is not a real graphic intense game. Resolution and everything else is pretty good currently. I'm not really having issues to often, I occasionally get low FPS when many things are happening on-screen.

Maybe my money would be better served in another upgrade. RAM?

8600 GT has minimum system requirements of 300w, so your psu should be fine. At $80 including rebate and a free game is this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127319
2GB on XP is fine
If you go with a 8600GT 512 make sure it's the DDR3 version. There are also some silent (no fan) versions of this GPU in case you want it very quiet.

Here's Tom's list that compares the performance of graphics cards in a general way http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 923-7.html both the 8600GT (DDR3) and the 2600 pro and 2600 XT are very close in performance

Will my system with the 300PSU run the 3650pro ok, as well as the 8600gt and 2600 series?

I'm going to stick with something that has the DDR3...

I would use a 8600GTS SSC or an overclocked card in that range, if you are planning on playing a long time. I played World of Warcraft...gosh...for 20 hours...and my 8600GTS 256mb SSC card was smoking hot. I could fry an egg on that things...literally.