Do you need a graphics card for gaming

Depends on the games you play, if you want to play something like assassins creed brotherhood or need for speed shift 2 you will definitely need a powerful graphics card, but have no fear a graphics cards for 200$ can run these games nicely but you have to make sure you have enough juice in you power supply to feed the card.

If you want to play something like GTA:Vice city or CS 1.6 you will not need a graphics card, unless your system is very old. and if it is, i would recommend you buy a new one.