Its an interesting decision you've got coming. Other option? Wait for the HD 4750 and see if you can get it with no PCI-E power adapter. That'll give you more performance than the 9800gt.

We're going with the HD4670 it looks like, just waiting for my wife to tell me I can now.

I like ATI HD cards. Audio will come through HDMI port for easy movie watching.

It does not have 512mb of ram.

1GB HD4670 $59 after $20 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399

512MB HD4670 $59 after $10 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820

256 MB would still suffice if you have a small monitor (resolution below 1680 x 1050).

This is exactly why I went with the HD4670 with 256MB. That, and because the 256MB is GDDR4, so it's FAST memory that performs as well as older types of memory in higher amounts.

Now, here's the question. Does running a dual-monitor system change that any? I run two monitors - 1280x1024 and 1024x768. I plan on dedicating a full 256MB system memory to the video anyways, so it'll operate at 512MB with half of that being super fast memory... I don't think the dual monitors will affect it any, especially since they're somewhat low-res.

Does that sound accurate to y'all?

Either way, yeah, I already ordered the other one. That 1GB HD4670 one has me questioning it, but really, I shouldn't go higher than $50 total in the end anyways. I know, it's not much, but my wife runs the budget so I'm not arguing.

Do you use both monitors together for gaming? If not, you'll be ok.

That's what I thought. No, I don't, especially since 90% of the PC games I play are first-person, and to dual-monitor a first-person game would be ridiculous and stupid.

You've gotta do it three-way if you're using multiple monitors.

The second monitor is used for Steam (I place the Steam windows and chat boxes on that monitor), and watching videos (I download a CRAP-TON of movies and TV shows). Putting Steam on it won't work the video card, but the videos occasionally might (especially if they're higher res... but if they're downloaded from a torrent, they're likely VGA resolution, so that shouldn't work the video card either). I sometimes open multiple browser windows and toss one or two onto the other monitor, but again, no real video toll being used, and none of that is going on during gaming anyways. While I'm gaming, that second monitor IS only Steam.

You'll be just fine with it then.

ATI cards are dirt cheap, extremely reliable and very fast. The drivers are generally perfectly stable and updated regularly.

I love ATI.