My mate told me dont buy a card with less than 512mb ram... dunno why ?
Unless your rendering CAD work, playing games or running some rediculous res 1900 upwards, Youll be wasting your money.
Im running a cheap NVS card Ive nabbed from work while my PSU is being RMAd.
As far as general use goes, web browing, multiple apps, I really wouldnt notice Im missing my 8800GTS.