Graphics help with GTA San Andreas PC

[At Large]

I just got this before they banned the adults only version.

Now spare me your snickering on what I'm trying to run this on. I upgraded about 3 years ago and it's time to upgrade again. I realize that. In the meantime, here's what I'm running:

1.7 ghz Celeron
512 meg Ram
128 meg video card (GeForce 5200)

Now I can run the game at 800 X 600 with some problems. The game occassionally slows down when you hit a lot of traffic. Also, if going really fast on the freeways the game blazes by on a blur of graphics like I was on acid. I'm wondering what I should tweak to make this run better.

Also, I'm thinking about getting a video card with my own hush money fund before I spring this on my wife (we are in the middle of selling a house, almost bidding on a house, plus we need a new car for me. I'm sure she's not going to want to hear this)

I noticed the GeForce 6200 Overclock 256 meg graphics card is about $150. The box proclaims that the on-card processor takes away the strain from your pc processor and therefore will make the games run smooter. Would this be another short-term solution?

Again, spare me your "Buy a pentium" crap. I'm on an extremely limited budget with an extremely unsympathetic wife when it comes to upgrading.

[Rack Fu]

Before buying a new video card, try the latest and greatest Nvidia drivers.

I assume you're using Windows XP: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_77.77.html

[At Large]

Yes. i just did it after trying to run GTASA for the first time in which graphics were going crazy all over the place.

What can I turn off and on to help this. Mipmapping? Anti-aliasing? I know what anti-aliasing does, but what is more intensive for a PC to run?

[Rack Fu]

Turn anti-aliasing off. Your computer and graphics card do not have the horsepower to use it.

[At Large]

I'm thinking of trying to talk my wife into getting a 2.8 ghz pentium 4 with my next month bonus. Will this help more than a new graphics card?