SH4 Questions

Hi all, I plan on buying SH III, IV(gold edition), and V and plan on running III and IV for now since my comp may not be able to handle V yet. keyword yet

However I have some questions about IV for you guys,

1) What rig do you guys use and will run 4 very smoothly at high graphics

2) and Second what mods would be recommended to download as far as ones that add eye candy (more realism in weather/ waves and so on) and playablity (realism as far as damage and sinking of ships and UIs and so on. If you put down the mod itd be helpful if you could put a small description on what the mod does as well

3) And I seem to understand that there is a mod out there which will let you play the atlantic campaign from the German side? I would like this as well too

4) Please let me know which mods work with which mod so I dont end up making my MODs turn the game FUBAR

Thanks all