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Michael Chopra gave the Bluebirds a flying start and although Stuart Green squared things up before the break, Riccardo Scimeca secured all three points six minutes from the end.
Palace chairman Simon Jordan was given a standing ovation before the start as Eagles fans showed their appreciation and relief following the Palace owner purchasing the Selhurst Park ground earlier in the week.
Dave Jones' outfit had the edge in all departments and you can't get any sharper than striker Chopra, surely a snip at £500,000.
His brilliantly struck shot on two minutes after capitalising on some sloppy defending was an absolute classic as it whistled past Gabor Kiraly into the top corner.
It was Chopra's performance that set up the points for his side.
For the winner he cleverly cut inside to make some room for himself as a gap opened and his shot smashed against the post and came back out. But Scimeca was first to react to the rebound and easily rolled the ball into the unguarded goal.
Green, making his full home debut, did level for Palace five minutes before the break, following Jobi McAnuff's perfect pass from just inside the halfway line.
Green was just onside and raced clear to round keeper Neil Alexander before stroking the ball over the line.
Palace did have their half chances with McAnuff shooting just wide and after the break firing straight at Alexander for the Scottish keeper to make his first save of the match.
But despite plenty of huff and puff from Palace, Cardiff were more than equal to it and in Chopra had the best striker, if not the best player, on the pitch.
The Bluebirds were also faultless at the back, as Palace bombarded them with long balls. But Darren Purse and c. coped with it all, while Scimeca and Stephen McPhail kept it tidy and simple in midfield holding good possession.
Steve Thompson missed a great chance in the first half when put clear after Leon Court lost possession, but faced with a one on one with Kiraly, the Hungarian made a good stop as Thompson struck the ball to close to him.
Kiraly also made a superb save to prevent Thompson from scoring what seemed a certain goal, while Chopra also should have scored but lofted his shot over the top.
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