I know this is off-topic, and I appologize in advance to who ever I offend in posting this, but you can quietly close the topic and move on to something else. I'm looking into (FINALLY!!!) buying a new computer. I have about 1500 bucks to spend at dell, and I'm customizing a dimension. Now before anybody out there who has problems with dell says anything, yes, I know, I know, I know. But they're better than gateway, and they're WAY better than anything you can buy at most any electronics stores (pre-built systems that is). I would MUCH rather build my own pc from scratch, buying the best of each parts and putting it all together myself. i have the skill, just not the cash. And the pc I'm using right now probably won't live long enough to see me through the slow process of building my own system (saving the cash, buying piece at a time, etc). SOOO with all that being said, Dell is my choice (and its where I have the credit line). So, here's my need-advice-on question: I don't know the difference between nvidia and radeon graphics cards. my current pc uses a 32mb nvidia g-force 2. My options at dell are (very limited): 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Graphics Card, or a 128MB DDR ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Graphics Card, or an integrated card, which I hate integrated anything, so option #3 isn't even an option as far as I'm concerned. There's a significant price difference too. But that doesn't necessarily mean cheaper price = less quality. the nvidia is $40, while the radeon is $170. Is there anybody out there who have used both brands of cards and can give advice on which is better? I've heard bad things about radeon in the past, (like them not wanting to work with some graphics programs and certain 3d video games), and I've only ever heard good things about nvidia, and I've never had probs with nvidia myself. Also, while I'm at it, are flat pannel monitors better than CRT monitors (the standard, big bulky monitors), for graphics, etc. ? I'm asking these questions here because I don't talk to anybody else in any other forums, and I want to make sure the hardware I get will be as good as I can afford, in order to run poser and other graphics programs. And video games! Again, sorry for going OT. I figure people here will know the better cards and monitors, so I can choose the right ones. Moderator, please don't delete 8-) E.D.