Finally updated my pc

[McNeo]

Let me just say now.

In the current climate of graphics cards, ATi is the far better choice between the two manufacturers.

I'd stretch your budget for a card if you can and haul yourself an ATi HD 4850 (or if you cant, the HD 4770).

I wont babble on about statistics or benchmarks since we'd be here all day.

Well, okay, I will.

Nvidia have struggled to produce anything better than the 8800GTX (9800GTX/9800GTX+ is a copy of the 8800 GTX, and the GTX 290 is an 8800 GTX with more of everything). Those are very high end, expensive cards, which are evidently not in your price range, but the story is more or less the same with lower end cards within Nvidia. 8800GT = 9800GT = GTX250 (except again, the GTX250 has more of everything). There havent been any significant changes to the architecture of any Nvidia GPU's since the 8800 series.

ATi on the other hand have moved away from the stupid HD 3xxx series of cards, on to the far more efficient and higher horsepower 48xx series and more recently, the HD 4770, which is a great medium range card. Much better than the 9600 GT, thats for sure, and about 80 quid. In fact, the HD 4770 is better than the 9800 GT (8800GT copy) so its a very good choice.

So yeah.

Stretch it if you can for an HD 4850.
But if you can't, get an HD 4770.

Nvidia really arent worth a look right now, unless you are very specifically into folding, in which case you should get a 9600 GSO. I doubt that applies to you.