If you had built your own, you could upgrade it in more ways than just RAM or just any one part. Since it wouldn't be by a proprietary OEM, you could keep it up to date.
Generally speaking, a chipset platform in a custom build system has a livespan of 6-8 years of being useful/upgradable, while a proprietary machine which cannot really be upgraded is only up to date for a couple of years at most. Quite frankly, if you think dropping 450$ every 5 years for a competent computer is too much, you need your head examined. Of course, a competent pre-built is going to cost you much more.
OEMs cut corners. Personal system builders don't.
David, if you have a PCI-E x16 slot, pick up a cheap DDR3-based 9500GT
http://www.provantage.com/xfx-pvt95gyaj2~7PINE0J9.htm Killer's system doesn't have the slot required, so its not like he could drop one in. To find out, use CPU-Z, and check the graphics tab. If you have AGP, you're screwed.
It'll run it, but it isn't going to do ultra/set any records while doing it. I imagine your CPU/RAM/HDD would hold you back long before the card would.
And guys, I'd just like to put this in perspective for you.
We're on the 7th generation of game consoles. Keep this in mind.
Lets say your cards, being Geforce 4, are 4th gen Geforce hardware. We surpassed Geforce 9 and are now on Geforce 3xx/4xx now after doing 2xx.
So we're talking your card being about 7 generations behind.
By contrast, 1st gen consoles are things like the Magnavox Odyssey, Nintendo Color TV Game, and Coleco Telstar, those consoles are 6 generations old.
You wouldn't complain about your Magnavox Odyssey not being up to date would you?
Do you see what I'm getting at? Don't blame the tech for advancing, as advancement is better for everyone, and further, don't try to cast blame when you have the lowest end hardware that generation offered. An 8800GT is 3 generations old, but still keeps up just fine, and it wasn't low end hardware to start with, which is why. Something that didn't have any power to begin with is only going to get that much worse over time. A Geforce 4 MX, a Geforce 4200 Ti, these are some of the lowest power cards the Geforce 4 series had to offer, they were barely current when you bought them. Are you only seeing their shortcomings now?