[misha1967]

Sober's right. Focus on CPU and memory. You want the 64bit OS so you can get the 8Gb. My system is, other than an aging CPU (Phenom 9850 X4 BE 2.6GHz) which could use a boost, limping along just adequately on 4Gb. And when I say adequately, I mean "just fine as long as I'm not near a port with a lot of traffic."

I should definitely boost the CPU, but I suspect that even just plugging in another 4Gb would help as the game slurps up every last byte of available RAM.

But yes, get a decent GPU to be sure, but focus on the CPU and memory as my setup was going almost as fine on a GTX260 as it is now on a GTX570, FPS-wise, except it looks much better on the 570. It's not my new GPU's fault, it's a matter of it not having sufficient backup from the rest of the system to be able to truly stretch its legs.