Actually I've just found a link to how to tweak the script so that you can enjoy DX10 graphics (provided you have a DX10 ready card) using XP with SP2. I'll have to go back to where I saw it, but the kids are literally just about to barge in from school, with friends in tow, so it's time I retired for a cat nap in preparation for tonights gaming fest and forum hopping. i'll post the link later I promis,.

As for your question, I run two NVida 8600GTS 256Mb cards in SLI on my main computer, but have just purchased one NVidia 8800GTS 640Mb card, which I haven't bothered to install yet (been too busy hospital hopping this week), but once I do the SLI set up will go onto my second games computer. (Thankfully when I built it in March I bought an SLI ready MoBo just in case) (says Phew!)

The two 8600GS cards together do allow me to play on hight settings using XP, but I have to keep anti-aliasing off, which is a pity as it does sharpen everything significantly, especially if you set it to x16. Unfortunately setting it on that caused serious lag when I was in a fire fight with several Koreans (my cpu is an Athlon 6000+ dual core {2 x 3GHz}) I'm hoping the 8800 card will allow me to play with everything maxed out.

I've yet to try the fix that will allow you to use the DX10 emulation.

When I do I'll post here to let you know the result. (probably next week as weekends are kid's days on the computer apart from my morning game review)
For a $100 card I doubt you can, but for $240 to $250 you should be able to buy two NVidia 8600GS 256Mb cards that will enable a reasonable frame rate.

The links BuBBy has provided are useful.

I'll be back. (the boys are here, lol)

DirectX 10 vs. 9 in the Crysis Demo
http://webpages.charter.net/bliss/

Crysis - DirectX 9 vs DirectX 10
http://gamespot.com/features/6182140/index.html

http://gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=25920461

I am not sure if the DX 10 cards add anything if you are running XP sp2.

It will add performance (ie. FPS) over running a lesser DX 9 card (eg. a nVidia 7xxx). However you will not be able to unlock any of the DX 10 functionality - it will basically just run as a very fast DX 9 card (with extra pixel and texture pipelines, and probably more/faster memory).

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX (768MB) Review and benchmark comparison.

pauloparra wanted to chat about,

Whiterabbit-uk what graphics card are you using to play Crysis? Are you using SLI? Nvidia is getting everybody confused with the 8800's. I am not sure if the DX 10 cards add anything if you are running XP sp2. Can you play Crysis with a $100-$200 card at a reasonable fps?