As everyone has already mentioned in this thread, the game requires a very fast CPU to run maxed out - and that CPU needs to be fast at single-threaded performance in particular. While you've got almost as fast an AMD chip as you can get (certainly with overclocking), AMD chips, especially the latest ones, are better at multi-threaded performance than single-threaded, compared to their Intel brethren. You will have a great experience at high settings, with some sliders increased and adding more image quality enhancements. But to run the game maxed out well you will need the likes of an Intel Sandybridge processor clocked to 4ghz or beyond.
In short, swap out the motherboard and processor for an Intel 2500K + nice cooler + decent p67 or z68 motherboard.
Whether you think it's worth doing that just for Skyrim (and perhaps The Witcher 2, another CPU heavy title) is another matter. Traditionally, games are not this hard on CPU, so shooters etc. will be fine with your current CPU.
Thanks for the help. I suppose I'll just shop for the processor and motherboard last and hope that my budget permits for Intel when the time comes, as I do want my computer to be able to handle demanding RPGs (I also plan on playing The Witcher 2). Then again, I'm sure I could appreciate the game just fine at high settings
I will be playing shooters here and there, but typically I spend the most time on strategy games, i.e. Starcraft 2, and RPGs/open world type games.
» Sat May 26, 2012 4:28 pm 
