I have ATI/AMD Radeon, but it seems nVidia has less issues with Skyrim, and nVidia driver updates seem more solid. At least here on the forums more issues seem related to Radeon than nVidia!

Yes! You'll never look back. Try to find one for <= 1$/GB. Took awhile, but I managed to score a 256GB Crucial C300 for $220.

SSD is the way to go - turning on my pc in the morning or restarting during the day would put me out of action for minutes at a time on my old drive, but with my SSD Win 7 loads in 20 seconds...

How do you avoid Spoilers as a Mod User? I would love to be able to install some of the Shader, Texture Mods on Day 1 (of playing the game)

I see TONS of Mods I would love to install but I'm worried about Spoilers while I'm looking around picking them.

i.e. I would love to use the (insert Mod here) but when I went to DL it I saw that it re-textures the (Oh, hell I didn't know about that Boss fight yet!)

Yes but don't buy a junk brand or you will regret it

I had it on the ps3, worst choice ever. I then proceeded to build a computer from scratch. Paid $800 for what is a $2,000 machine on the market right now(cheap because I bought everything seperately and put it together myself). Did you know that you should be able to see an epic and detailed mountain in the distance while in whiterun? I didn't until the pc showed it in all its awesomeness.

The only reason I wouldn't recommend jumping ship is if your computer isn't good enough. Like they say above.

Also, beware of jumping into a ton of mods, they can ruin the game if you aren't careful and deliberate with them.

OK, after watching some more Mod videos, especially Skyrim Mod Sanctuary #23, I might jump on the PC sooner.

Might have to get one and start a new Save before the 1st official DLC releases.

Is there a rating system for Mods where users rank them on categories like:

Originality
Lore Adherence
Resource Utilization
Completeness

Dude welcome to the big leauges. Console gaming is for noobs.

Not really, just an endorsemant system on the nexus. Which to be honest just puts all the anime/hentai, animated prostitution, and ENB lighting mods at the top.

The gems usually go unnoticed.

OK, OK, I'm sold

Now help me design one

I like the idea of building one from the ground up, but my experience inside the case is limited to swapping a few HDD, fans, cleaning heat sinks, that sort of thing.

It will be doubling as an HTPC so it needs to be QUIET.
It doesn't have to be small (It could be a tower) but small would be nice (Like a TIVO form factor).
I like the Solid State Drive for the noise
Needs to have co-ax IN so it can do duty as a PVR
HDMI Out
I'll be using xBox controller (wireless)

MUST output to Samsung LED/DLP in native resolution. I spent MONTHS trying to get PowerStrip software to squeeze VGA resolutions into a Component Video TV and failed. My wife isn't going to stand for that again! I'll be over at divorce.com/forums posting

Recommend MSI Twin Frozr style GPU they are nice and quiet with double shark fin fans as opposed to the now very popular single barrel fan that can be quite loud while under load.
My GPU fan is the loudest thing inside my case and the case alone has 5 fans.

I have my computer hooked up to the TV by HDMI using 1920x1080p and use a Microsoft wireless KB+Mouse from the couch. The MS setup seems to have better range than my old Logitech wireless desktop, operates at a higher frequency like a wireless phone so no problems with distance. Also have the X-Fi Ti Pro hooked up to the home theatre amp so sound is great too. I live alone though so having the computer as part of the entertainment unit is not a problem.

Picked up a xbox for windows pad today, thanks for the advice guys