Greetings racers!

I am half-way through my first computer build and am very much interested in getting Need for Speed 2 Underground.

When my son was at home, I enjoyed playing with him on his Play Station 2. My favorite game was Gran Turismo. But alas, he moved out and I'm left gameless.

I have in mind that I would like to try racing on my new PC (when I get it finished) and was wondering if you might have some advice/opinions for me.

How does PC racing compare to PS2 racing (better, worse, about the same)?

Here's what I've built so far:

MSI K8N Neo motherboard
512 MB Crucial RAM
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Processor
7.1 sound is integrated on the motherboard

How am I doing so far?

I do not know a whole lot about graphics cards, so I was wondering if you might have a suggestion of a good one for my new system. I would like to spend less than $100 on it, but would cosider more if I were so-compelled. If you would recommend spending more, please tell me why.

I also looked at a Play Station-like wireless controller at WalMart (I don't remember what brand). Would I expect the same kind of experience with that compared to what I was used to with the PS2?

Does the on-line gaming work over dial-up? DSL is not yet available to us. I plan to sign up THE DAY it becomes an option.

Is on-line racing free with NFS2?

So, please give me some of your thoughts. I'll be waiting.

Thank you.