Actually, when I think about it, the Radeon 9800 PRO isn't so cheap, lol. $400. But if you can afford it, it'll absolutely kill off your games and you'll be ripping.
Don't worry about the RAM, 512 DDR 2700 really isn't that bad. Processor isn't bad either. With games these days, alot of the load is on the GPU, so a good video/graphics card is very very important. I don't think your 9000 is a SE, probably just a normal one.. you can always go to the hardware specs of your PC to see if it says SE.
For the ATi cards, for each number (e.g Radeon 9600), you have
usually 4 'classes'.. SE, normal, PRO, XT. SE being the worst. Similar to the Nvidia Geforces, you have the MXs (crap ones) and the Titaniums (good ones). The PRO and XT really are pretty good, so if you can afford one above the Radeon 9700.. you'll be sweet.
Your Radeon 9000 should be fine for alot of games, but the main thing I'm worried about when it comes to newer action/3D games is it's lack of rendering abilities, such as good pixel, stencil shaders etc. That's one reason why people tend to for example, prefer Geforce 3 Titaniums over Geforce 4 MXs. The MXs totally lack in the pixel shading department (from my knowledge..) infact, the ability is totally absent from the video core if I'am correct.
So even if your 9000 is able to run modern FPS to good frame rates, it's an impossibility to experience the game to it's full in terms of rendering, texturing, shadowing etc.. simply because your card completely lacks the ability.
Just referring to what others suggested:
War of Warcraft is a spin off role playing game based on the world of Warcraft. No real time strategy this time, from my knowledge.. instead just a big adventure game where you play as one particular character.
My personal opinion on the game isn't too high.. but that's probably because the graphics kind of put me off, and I'm not a big RPGer.
Counter Strike Condition Zero.. I don't know much about this.. is it just another expansion pack for CS?
Some good FPSers out or coming out in the next year which will absolutely knock your socks off in my opinion is:
Doom 3 (release sometime late July to August)
Half Life 2 (release sometime July, I think)
F.E.A.R (download the 320 MB movie demo off Gamespot if you can, this game is fucking amazing) (release next year or later)
Far Cry
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal 3
Probably others I've forgotten...
I'm building myself a killer $4,500 system in the next few weeks.. this year is too good a one for FPS lovers to miss.
Anyway, here are some Far Cry pictures running on the best ATi card on the market, the recently released Radeon X800XT.
Breathtaking, is it not?