Trouble choosing vid card for 1st build

[la_citrull]

I am currently in the middle of a personal project to a build my first PC. I have really tried to do all the research myself when it comes to choosing the parts since I know most noob questions have already been answered. So far I have been sucessful until I started looking for a video card.
The problem is that minute differences in names between cards apparently have big differences in prices and performance. I have done my best to research the jargon that go with video cards but to tell you the truth, each card has some many specs, I can't tell which ones I need to look at and which don't matter. I need some help.
Here is my situation. I am have a tight budget. I can't spend more than $500 right now for my parts, but I want to reuse my monitor, keyboard, mouse, CD rom drive and speakers until I can upgrade those in a couple of months.
I want to spend $150-170 for my video card. I am going to use this computer for gaming. My monitor is not the best and I now that a good video card with a mediocre monitor won't show its full capacity but as I said, I plan to upgrade it soon. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[kram 2.0]

Welcome to PC Mech forums

Sapphire Radeon 9600 XT without hesitation.

Hope that helps,
kram

[MaxRat]

computer part are kinda like auto mobiles your either ford or chevy (amd or intel,,,ati or nvidia) basically what ever you start with is usualy what you finish with.....

here most are intel and ati ( for good reason) but for the rest of us it's dare to be different....read the forums and reviews and pick wisely

[Panama Red]

I'm with kram8806. Best bang for the bucks you want to spend.

[la_citrull]

I think the Radeon 9600 XT pretty much hits the nail on the head. Thanks.