Also, if you don't care about graphics you can lower your direct x level. On my awesome laptop, before it burnt out (RIP) I was able to run full detail on pretty much all games and maintain 50fps, but I care about graphics so little that I would turn it down to dx 8.1. Now with this crappy desktop I am forced to just to run the game, but it's all the same to me.
Keep in mind that what Jason suggested about getting a new video card would be ideal. However, if you're short on change like I am then lowering your dxlevel is a pretty decent, temporary solution.
Anyway, if you're interested in doing so, follow this short guide....
Go to your steam "my games" tab. Right click any Valve game, or any Valve-based mod. (i.e. INS, RnL.)
->properties
->set launch options (you may get a pop-up window warning that this is for advanced users only. If you're not an "advanced user" pretend you are.)
->type "-dxlevel 81" (no quotes)
->launch the game, when you get to the main menu, exit the game.
->remove "-dxlevel 81" from the launch options
->relaunch the game, go to options
->go to video tab
->set everything on the lowest setting. AA off, etc.
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Also, if you're RAM is low, you can use gamebooster (just google it.) It's a pretty nifty program that disables processes not required while in-game. Just be sure to return to "normal mode" once you're done gaming. Otherwise it will make surfing the web and stuff a bit slow.
