Guys, the minimum graphics card to run the game with graphics settings WFO would be a GeForce 7600GT. I would HATE to bear the consequences of trying it with any 6000 series card. You might start hewing away at the graphics settings until you get to 640 x 480 16 colors, no special effects and actually run the game. I'm not sure it's worth it.
You're confusing recommended with minimum. Minimum requirements will limp the game along with major problems even then. You will not have fun. Without 2gb of RAM for XP and probably 4 for Vista, you will not have fun. Without at least the above mentioned graphics card, you will not have fun. Since games are supposed to be fun that produces a quandry solvable only by sacrificing some cash. But it's a good investment for your computer in general. Tell the wife it's to make spreadsheets run better!
