PCI Video Card options? Necessary?

[Chronic321]

I built a computer for my 7 year old cousin and dad with the following specs:

AMD Athlon 1500+
256MB PC133 RAM
Via KE-133 Chipset (Integrated Video, Sound, Lan)
60 GB Hard Drive
Antec Case with 300 watt PS
Got CD-rom, modem, etc.. from older computer

Total Cost: $260

This computer was planned to be used for word processing and internet browsing with some light gaming. My cousin is really into Command and Conquer and I was wondering if a video card upgrade would be necessary for Command and Conquer Genrals. Currently, the motherboard allocates 8mb of memory for Video and the transfer rate is AGP 4x. Since he has a 15in monitor I doubt he needs that month bandwidth as he plays at low resolutions. Thus the question is this:

Would a high end PCI Video Card (Geforce 4mx, Geforce 2mx, ATi 7500, or even the ATi 9000) be worth it? Will the PCI bus be the ultimate bottleneck or will the more recent and moreful chipsets along with 32/64mb of dedicated RAM be fine for his light weight gaming?

 

[FishTankX]

I'd say that a basic PCI 3d card, like a Geforce2MX, should do the job nicely. It'll be much better than the integrated graphics on the motherboard. And I don't trust Via's 3d logic.

 

[Chronic321]

bump

 

[CubicZirconia]

I was wondering if a video card upgrade would be necessary for Command and Conquer Genrals

Most likely. The system requirements tenatively list a 16 mb video card as necessary. However, according to Westwood, the minumum video card requirement will likely be bumped up to a geforce 2 32 mb card.