Windows 7 - Graphics Card/Onboard Graphics for Media Centre PC

Hello there, I am looking for a dirt cheap, Windows 7 suitable graphics card for use with a PC designed for multimedia purposes (watching films, listening to music etc). I would like to be able to use the full visual effects Windows 7 has to offer. It must have an S-video output and be compatible with the Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard. I have 1 PCI Express x 1 slot free and 2 x PCI 2.2 slots free.

Please provide some suggestions, doesn't have to be brand new.

Either that, or something like the Gadmei XGA/VGA LCD TV BOX. I want to connect my PC with the motherboard mentioned previously to my CRT TV (Panasonic TX-28PL4 Quintrix). The motherboard has onboard graphics via dvi and vga outputs. The TV has an S-VHS plug on the front, as well as RCA Audio/Video sockets. On the rear, it has 1 spare scart input.

What are your thoughts?

the graphics card listed in my specs may only be 64MB, but it surprisingly runs aero.
If that seems to be not quite what you're looking for, another card I would recommend is the nvidia 8400GS. It may be 512MB, but thats about as high as it's specs go, but you will need a more powerful PSU (300W+). The 8400GS is about £30 and a vga to RCA adapter seems to be about £5 (i recommend you buy the adapter before the card).
The one in my specs just has a VGA port, but the 8400GS has vga, dvi and hdmi (i think the hdmi may need some further cabling in the case, not sure though)

NB (the card listed in my system specs may actually be the GeForce 7200GS, all system information programs tell me that it could be both and there's no sticker on it. all i know for (kinda) certain is that its 64MB )

Hello there, thank you for your response! How does the above graphics card compare to this: Asus GeForce G210 512MB DVI VGA HDMI Out PCI-E Low.. | Ebuyer.com ?

Also, will an adapter to change connector to component/RCA video and a component/RCA video to scart block work?

Will I be able to use it for occasional gaming?

yeah, that card you listed looks to have slightly better specs.
first one should, but not sure about adapter to adapter. i would say yes, but i've heard around that it may not work.
highly likely. the sims 2 plays fine on my 64MB card and runs aero and can play the sims 3 (slowly), so that 512MB card should be able to handle casual gaming with no difficulties.

The card I use at this time is a Nvidia GT-220 1 Gb of memory. It's not a lot of money. I don't game so it works quite well.
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Video Cards & Video Devices,Desktop Graphics / Video Cards,GeForce G/GT series,GeForce GT 220

I'm thinking s-video/tv-out output to s-video input would be best, what do you think?

Any idea which card I should pick?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radeon-EAH4350-PCI...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce-860...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AXLE-GeForce-6600G...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PNY-GeForce-6200-G...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce-860...d=2QXZXD5TGRMP6

And also, why do some appear to be more expensive for less product?

The memory and speed they have and the company that makes them. You might find some made by BFG cheep but they are out of business so their is no warranty. If you stick with names like, Asus, Nvidia, PNY, Gigabyte you should be okay.

and AMD
(does anyone like them? They're great for multiple monitors, but that's about it)

Could you please advise which you would go for? It just seems strange that a 2GB GPU would cost almost the same price as a GPU with 512MB or 1GB.

Well, as I unfortunately learnt with mine, it isn't just the graphics memory that counts. My 512MB 8400GS may have just as much as the 512MB 9600GT, as can be seen here: Differences between 8400gs and 9600gt? - Yahoo! Answers (I wasn't the asked or answerer) (the 'other answers' give further depth as to why the difference)