The below posts should be read from the bottom (earliest) up (last).
Many people don't use the full potential of their camera by choosing to shoot jpeg instead of raw. Also, Nikon, and the D2X in particular, seem to be getting a beating by some posters on the forums regarding high ISO noise. I'm no expert at post processing, and Nikon Capture is not well thought of in terms of dealing with noise, but I think these clumsy attempts can at the very least be regarded as encouraging. I hope this post, if nothing else, encourages more to use RAW.
Click on the photos for enlargement.

Similar RAW conversion in capture. ISO 1000. Not all that bad really.

Same capture as below but RAW equivalent
Raw converted in Capture.
Upped saturation.
Colour mode changed to 111.
Touch of curves.
ISO3200.

Jpeg straight from camera. 3200iso.
Colour mode 1
saturation normal
Sharpness on High
Deliberately blown highlights by overexposing 1EV