OK,

nebulus~

I would avoid any card that has to tap into system memory to boost its onboard total...your system memory is inherently going to be MUCH slower
In theory you are quite correct, but please remember that this is a new approach, and that ATi have their version as well. I guess that it is aimed at low to medium end cards, and, as I suggested, is a revision of the old hardware acceleration. It doesn't tap into RAM as such, but will use it if it is there, and available.

What I don't know, is how clever it is? does it tell the system what it has taken? The problem with some instances of the older hardware acceleration was that it did not do that. The OS would then try to use space that was occupied and you would get bad things happen

I still have a couple of the old VooDoo cards, which were a true physical hardware acceleration solution..................additional card, passthrough cable and all

I guess that still leaves you with what should be basic video memory, and I would say that 256Mb has to be the minimum when planning a new, general purpose box, with a degree of future proofing.

If you want a graphics/gaming machine then you really need to buy a proper card, but they are expensive