Graphics Card/Onboard Graphics for Media Centre PC

No problem, but yes it is important that all of the ram match. I guess it depends on money, but others will disagree, but I prefer the fastest ram my motherboard will take. I just feel that it gives you a better chance of the best performance. You should see a difference in 4GB. With nothing open look at your installed ram and useable ram. I would guess that windows is using about half of your current ram just to run. That does no leave much for you to use on other applications and games. Just as an example. I have 8GB of DDR3-1866 ram. Windows is using about 1600MB (about 1.5GB) which leaves me about 6.5GB to use. If you have integrated graphics it is much worse.

See if this will wotk.
Corsair Twin2X4096-6400C5 It is about $65 US.I think that is pretty much the same as you are using now, just larger size.

I'll look into some. Just to be clear before I set out on my expedition across the interwebs , it's PCI-E, right?? oh, and how much video RAM is optimal? (given what you said you want it for, sims and rollercoaster tycoon etc., 1GB will probably be fine)

yeah, those are some pretty high system requirements for that game :S
so will you now have 6GB of RAM?
I think I'd better start searching higher for graphics cards with 1.5GB of VRAM, if not 2GB. At least there are more of those with HDMI than there were s-video ones
also, which would you prefer primarily, ATI or nvidia? (eg. if there are two identical-ish spec cards)

Sheepdisease said:

... 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

Sheepdisease said:

Having looked at the system specs for Shogun 2 Total War: Shogun 2: Total War System Requirements - PC Game Shogun 2: Total War requirements

I think I am going to need to replace my Athlon 5050e Dual Core with something like
AMD Athlon II X3 450 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95w 1.5MB L2 Cache (AMD Athlon II X3 450 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95w 1.5MB L2.. | Ebuyer.com), which I believe is compatible with my Motherboard: Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard User Manual

I still need to know which GPU is going to be suitable? I want to play using highest settings.

Recommended system requirements:

• 2nd Generation Intel® Core™i5 processor (or greater), or AMD equivalent
• 2GB RAM (XP), 4GB RAM (Vista / Windows7)
• AMD Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series graphics cards or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible graphics card

I have already purchased and am awaiting delivery of Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5C 4GB 800MHz C5 DDR2 Memory Kit

Since you can't have it both ways, what's the budget? Knowing that in advance would really help the guys nail down the proper card.

I'm not sure what you are trying to do. Are you looking to build a new system? As far as those system requirements, there is not an AMD chip thst is equivalent to a 2nd gen. core i5. I have an i5-2500K and came from a PH ii x6. So I have some experience. In 2 weeks rumor has it that Bulldozer is coming out. Wait and see what it is like. With the requirements you listed, you will need a new board to meet them. And bottom line is a 5770 I think. Or look at the 6000 serise for the future. I don't know your budget, but you can get a 6870 for 200.00 US. There are some 5870 cards that are probably better, but it will cost 300-500 US for those. If you are trying to match those specs or come close, I don't think an Athlon will do it. You will need to at least get into the Phenom ii range. Just my opinion.