Graphics card for a non-gamer

I'm probably going to buy a Dell XPS 420 within the next few months.

I'm a non-gamer and a pretty average computer user... internet, office apps, music, light photo editing, movie watching, etc.

The base choice for the Dell system is the ATI Radeon HD3650 256MB... for $50 more I can have the Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT 256MB, and for another $50 above that I can have the ATI Radeon HD3870 512MB GDDR4.

For what I use my computer for, would getting one of the upgraded choices provide any benefit to me at all?

Dont get the Dell at all.

Build your own and save a ton, and use onboard video.

I don't know how to build a system and I've had good experience with Dell, so I'd rather just spend the extra few hundred and have the system built for me.

Why would you recommend using onboard video? I know onboard can handle what I do just fine, but isn't it better to have a dedicated graphics card to dip into the system memory?

Go with the 3650. Basically the 3650 is the same as the 2600XT, but the 3650 is made on a smaller process and thus needs less power and generates less heat. I can't imagine why they would charge more for a 2600XT over a 3650. If you meant the 3450 though that's a whole other story. Anyway get the 3650. If you ever decide to put a blu-ray drive into your computer it will allow for smooth playback. If you are not going to play any games, then the 3870 will never be put to use by you so it will be wasted money.

@metsfan: To answer your question, you probably do not need a graphics card upgrade for anything you mentioned, with the possible exception of movie watching. Ram is cheap, so it is no real problem if the graphics card uses some of it.
Would you post the components and cost of all the parts you are considering?
No doubt, you can get a list of parts from forum members here to build it yorself. If you are considering anything better than an entry level system, a custom build can be significantly cheaper.
If you build it yourself, you will get a clean system with out "bloatware" and trial programs which can be a pain to get rid of. It only takes a couple of yours to do, assuming you have all the parts on hand.

The satisfaction is priceless.

And you would trust a Logisys PSU?
Get one of the Antec Basiq PSUs instead, or whichever Earthwatts Newegg has on special this week (one of them is always a good deal).
Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail $35 after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371006
Put it in one of the low-end Rosewill cases. They have plenty of room, have a 120mm fan in back and a place for another 120mm in front.
This one is $25: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147074
Get this RAM instead, for $32: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 820211165. It has slightly better timings.
That Foxconn mobo may be okay, but I'm not sure how durable it is. This Asus one is $77 but has free shipping: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131324

Here's a bottom-dollar AMD build:
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] D=11878567
It's only $350 right now, and uses a 790GX mobo, which has better graphics than the 780G.
You'll need to add keyboard, monitor, rodent, and O/S.

@kari: If you have a newegg account, go to their site and login. Then you can see those wish lists.

Good point.
Maybe posters should cut and paste their list instead of linking to them.

I'm not using newegg to make him buy from there. I'm using it to list a reference point for prices. It might not be the best place to make a list to compare, but that list is very usefull to illustrate my point: Dell is expensive for his needs.

Esop!