Should I Even Bother buying a new card?

hey all, first post here, and i just have a quick question...my computer is about 3 years old, and ive been replacing some parts.. i just got 2gb more of ram and now im thinking of getting a new graphics card, either an 8800gt or ATI 4850... however, i would like to know if my processor could handle a new graphics card, and if there would be any point in getting a new card (my current is an ATI x300 ahah)

my processor is an Intel Pentium 4 3.00GHZ, and uses hyperthreading technology... so basically its a single core, but tricks the comp into thinking its a dual core. soo, do you think i should spend $200 to buy one of the above cards?? thank you so much.

If it's not a name brand PC with proprietary motherboard, then I'd recommend getting a new motherboard, RAM and CPU. Though I prefer AMD myself (for obscure reasons), I'll admit that a good deal now for performance is a Wolfdale dual core Intel or even a Q6600 Intel quad core.

Heck, a B3 Phenom 9750 quad or triple core 8750 on a lowly Gigabyte 780G board would do wonders with a 4850. I cannot see mating even the last gen 3850 to that hyperthreading dinosaur. You know what I have in my old 4th PC? The one with a P4 630 and ATI X200 board? A 3650. That's about all it can handle without being CPU limited.

So, upgrade your CPU, motherboard and RAM first. Then get a new card. You won't see the performance increase otherwise, and even if you can find a Pentium D, it won't do enough good.

4850 is $199.99 and performs better than 8800GT. A new processor, E8400 (3ghz dual core) costs $189.99 and Q6600 (2.4ghz quad core) costs $199.99.

dont bother gettin the new graphics card. as almost everyone here tells you to buy more then just a graphics card. really wait a bit the buy a whole new computers, personally i think thats the best way to go.

just to let you know i got the same P4 3Ghz HT OCed 3.4Ghz and its limiting the system.

Of the 2 the 4850 is a better card hands down. It should just get better as the drivers mature. The first day or so there were some rebates so the cost was $170 . Demand was so high that they dropped the rebates fast so now $200 pretty much everywhere. The 8800GT can be had for $140-$150 after rebates on Newegg. New quality Intel proc dual core running from $130 for the E7200wolfdale to $190 for the E8400. Quad core Q6600 about $210. You can go higher, but those are good bang for the bucks.
Personally i'd get the 4850 first, then start saving for the future upgrade

As Yipsl said, you may need a new power supply for the higher end cards. Get quality and move it along with the card to new system in the future

yeah the only thing i've bought so far was 2gb of ram, which was only $50, considering i only had 512mb before haha. anyways, i'm fine with my setup now, and i can run games fine, except obviously the newer games, such as mass effect and crysis, which my current card cannot run, so this is why i sorta wanna improve my card.. however, because the RAM wasnt much of a money sink, i think ill prolly save my money up and wait till the holidays to go looking for a new setup, and maybe there will be some upgrades by them to the cards..

Id be willing to bet that is ddr memory you just bought and you will need ddr2 for the newer systems. Good thing is ddr2 is dirt cheap and you will easily be able to afford the new memory as compared to the ddr prices.