[John Connor]

I'm sure you guys know by now, but if you want proper physics in multiplayer/LAN/Listenserver w/bots...

Simply add this paramter to your listernserver/server.cfg file:

sv_turbophysics 1

This has always been there, but Valve in their "infinite wisdom" has it disabled by default.

Also, there is a huge slander-campagin going on by those who don't really want to learn new tactics* if these proper physics were implemented by saying it causes more load on the server CPU. It does cause more load due to the added physics calculations, but it is negligeable as I've played on servers that have it enabled and it makes the game a whole "new" game because you can use props to your advantage like blocking the little apartment in Italy with an overturned table, for example.

*What I mean by new tactics is exactly what I said: If someone turns a table over and blocks a doorway, for example, no one wants to learn how to deal with this new threat and instead just wants the same boring, "run-around-with-a-gun-with-your-brain-turned-off" game that CS 1.6 is.

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As for what video card to get...

The Source Engine is more CPU dependent than GPU. A good GPU will be better, of course, but the main thing Source performance relies on is a fast(er) CPU.

I have a 9800 Pro and while it is an "outdated" card, it runs CS:S just fine. Of course, I have an AMD64 3200+ as my CPU, so that may be why it runs as well as it does given the "limited" video hardware.