Finally I am forced to do it.

[Incongruous]

Finally, after years of faithfull service my computer (made for RTW) has left the plain of overheating and cooked pasta to go to a better one of fans and unlimited cpu power.

I am forced to now begin saving for a new one, a very top of the range one. So top of the range that you could slice steel on it.

I have become, since my last pc, a n00b when it comes to pc hardware. So I ask you learned sages what shall I invest in.
I am buying parts with ETW and the next elder scrolls game in mind

[Lemur]

Well, you can't go wrong with a Core2Duo proc and one of them shiny, affordable 8800GTs. Those new terabyte hard drives are also supposed to be lovely. Seagate's has been getting raves. If you believe what you read, they're almost as fast as a 10,000 RPM raptor. Strange, eh?

Everybody know which case I lust after ...

[Husar]

What the Lemur says though I wouldn't count on it running the games you mentioned on highest settings with 60 fps, but it's about the best value for money you can currently get except if you want only value and spend a whole lot more but I don't think that's advisable.

[Lemur]

For price/performance the 8800GT rules with an iron fist. If you're planning on doing next-gen games at massive resolutions, I would either get two and put them in SLI, or I would buy one and wait to replace it with state-of-the-art when the next game shows you the need.

[Incongruous]

Ok so the 8800GT is really really good. Right that's one box ticked.
Processor to run ETW on maxed out settings? I don't mind If I have to wait a while for it.
RAM?
MOBO?
POWER?

Oh and will newegg.com ship to nz? because damn that's like half the price of one I could buy here.

[Incongruous]

Damn just looked at Intels brand new Duo extreme quadcores (is that right?)
I am guessing thta is the type of CPU you need to run ETW in maxed out settings.

Everything else seems seems very well priced.