Edit: You forgot about the gpu too, the 5770 is a dying gpu...in fact, the 5000 series is totally fading out just like the gtx 200s...For newer games such as skyrim and bf3, you need to have greater than (or equal to) a gtx 460 1gb or a 6850

The 5770 should be able to run skyrim no problem at full. BF3, though, would require you to run at low graphics settings, but it should still be playable. Yes, the 5000 series is dated and dying, but that doesn't mean it's completely incapable of running modern games.

(Offtopic: I just bought a 5870 off of one of my friends yesterday.)

A 3.0 GHz processor isn't weak at all - my fastest computer here has a 1.6 GHz w/ ~2Gb RAM, and while it's not that fastest, I only ever notice it when I'm playing Minecraft. If you purchase everything detailed in your first post, as far as I can see, you can't go wrong.

GHz really has no impact on speed anymore. The number of cores coupled with the efficiency of the memory/instruction pipeline is where we're seeing the most increase these days. The i5 2500k pretty much beats all of AMD's current offerings hands-down. I'd definitely say the extra $20 is worth it.

For Minecraft that 2GB of RAM is going to be your main limiting factor.

@OP:
Case: CoolerMaster makes top of the line cases. I have the HAF 932, and I know people who have the one you're looking at, they're happy with it.
Processor: See previous thoughts
RAM: Looks good. With RAM being so cheap, though, why not go for 8GB?
PSU: I have that PSU, I haven't had any issues with it. One of my friends swears that OCZ is the devil, though.
GPU: See previous thoughts
Mobo: No USB 3, only two PCI-E slots. That may limit future upgradability, I'd definitely get one with at least USB 3.
HDD: Looks like a good HDD. I know you said no SSD, but the performance gain from a good SSD to put your OS on is amazing, you may want to consider it.
OS: I'd go for Win 7 Home Premium or Professional, x64 obviously.

The 5000 series would run skyrim at such a low fps...the max during outdoors is only 40 with everything off.

I also had suggested 8 gigs earlier, if you read the previous posts.

I played through Skyrim on a 240m at medium-low settings just fine, a high-end 5000 series (As in > 5670) series should be able to handle it quite well (60fps on max settings at 1920x1080)

Quote from: Netham45 on March 16, 2012, 01:08:44 pm

Quote from: D4rkr4in on March 15, 2012, 10:18:32 pm

Edit: You forgot about the gpu too, the 5770 is a dying gpu...in fact, the 5000 series is totally fading out just like the gtx 200s...For newer games such as skyrim and bf3, you need to have greater than (or equal to) a gtx 460 1gb or a 6850

The 5770 should be able to run skyrim no problem at full. BF3, though, would require you to run at low graphics settings, but it should still be playable. Yes, the 5000 series is dated and dying, but that doesn't mean it's completely incapable of running modern games.

(Offtopic: I just bought a 5870 off of one of my friends yesterday.)

@OP:
Case: CoolerMaster makes top of the line cases. I have the HAF 932, and I know people who have the one you're looking at, they're happy with it.
Processor: See previous thoughts
RAM: Looks good. With RAM being so cheap, though, why not go for 8GB?
PSU: I have that PSU, I haven't had any issues with it. One of my friends swears that OCZ is the devil, though.
GPU: See previous thoughts
Mobo: No USB 3, only two PCI-E slots. That may limit future upgradability, I'd definitely get one with at least USB 3.
HDD: Looks like a good HDD. I know you said no SSD, but the performance gain from a good SSD to put your OS on is amazing, you may want to consider it.
OS: I'd go for Win 7 Home Premium or Professional, x64 obviously.

The 5000 series would run skyrim at such a low fps...the max during outdoors is only 40 with everything off.

I also had suggested 8 gigs earlier, if you read the previous posts.

Just an update: I got my 5870 yesterday. It's playing battlefield 3 on high at a decent framerate, which would be way more than Skyrim would need.

Doesn't Skyrim have like 100 NPCs in one map like most newer RPGs, though? I know some RPGs, even on consoles, tend to lag when visiting the middle of big villages where there's some sort of fountain with a shitload of characters hanging around there, same for huge plains with plenty of enemies.

BF3 has giant 64-player maps that I've been able to play on no problem.

I certainly hope that games won't start being Windows 8-only like back when halo 2 got released for Windows Vista and not XP (in years where XP was still very popular and Vista wasn't). I heard that Windows 8 interface was very different. Or will Direct X 11.1 be compatible with Vista/7?

Actually I would love this theme on a tablet. Just not an actual computer. They need to add a classic mode where we can use the old Windows 95 or Vista like themes. And yeah I know about the preview. I don't know if I'll try it yet, but I might in VirtualBox or something.