Help with video card choice

[JHFerry]

I just bought a new MB, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127033&Tpk=ABIT+IX38

and 4GB OCZ reaper Ram, Core 2 duo E8400 (3 GHZ)

I am not a gamer but would like to encode some movies, most of all I am sick of my .mkv HD files stuttering. I have PCI express 2.0 on that board and an HDTV I would like to view on at times. I am a heavy Photoshop user and on Poser doesnt work right with ATI cards on Vista.

Can anyone help me make sense of all these new cards?

 

[cesium666]

if you have a decent dual core cpu there should be absolutely no stuttering at all. hell, i very rarely get stuttering on my laptop playing 1080p x264, and that only has a 1.86ghz c2d.

 

[fellows]

I would think the 9600GT would do nicely.
8600Gt would also be good, depending on how cost effective each choice is.

 

[PCGamerX]

I wouyld definitely go with the 9600GT for the price, plus if you want to do lite gaming you would be ok.