How would this run crysis?

Fine.

At least High but that also depends on how much other crap you have on your pc slowing stuff down.

very high...maybe 2x AA but most likely no AA.

Basing your computer build off of crysis...what a brilliant idea

Crysis is still the gold-standard benchmark for PCs..

As for the OP, a single 9800GTX/GTX+ or 4850 can run Crysis @ VH
(High post-processing) @ 1280x1024

A GTX260 can do the same at 1680x1050.
With a GTX275, you can run it all at VH (including post processing) and perhaps even ultra high gfx mod as well.

It's OK. Step up to the i7, but keep the GTX 275. The GTX 275 can run Crysis @ 1680x1050 w/ 2xAA, however, you need a faster processor in general, and for future proofing.

+ 1, technology is advancing so fast its hard to be futureproof.

Eh? You understand that you can plug an AM3 cpu into an AM2+ motherboard right?

I could go out tomorrow and buy the very best Phenom II and plug it into a 2 year motherboard which cost $60. What the hell are you on about with this upgrading processor and gpu nonsense? Your pc *is* your gpu and cpu.

What does plugging an AM3 chip into an AM2 board(and not being able to use DDR3) have to do with anything? For ONCE a change in socket type didn't make the previous socket MBs totally obsolete? Fantastic. You think AM3 will still be the AMD standard in 2-3 years? I doubt it. I'll bet sometime next year AMD will finally come out with a response to the i7 with a new architecture and an incompatible socket.
And you are running your system without a motherboard or ram? Is it a magic computer?

Buying any Core2 now is just plain stupid, because it's a dead platform costing far too much.

The same is not true for the Phenom II. The 965 might not be as fast as an i7 when released, but the 975 probably will be. We're talking 4 months and I can *still* plug that cpu into a 2 year old mobo.

As for your RAM point, well there isn't really one to be made. The benefits of DDR3 over DDR2 are so minimal that it's pointless right now. However, if I did decide I wanted DDR3 in the future guess what? Yep that's right, I could just go and buy a DDR3 mobo and plug the SAME chip into it.

Finally, if you think you will be able to plug the top end intel into your current x48 mobo in 3 years, I'd really love to see why you came to that conclusion. The i7 is no more future proof than any cpu before it, if you believe otherwise then you are a total fool who has fallen for all the (multi)threading garbage.

Did MMX make pentium 1's last 5 years? No. Did 64 bit make Athlons last 5 years? No. How long have dual core's lasted in reality? 3 years max? Nobody with a brain would buy a dual core now.

Yet you think the i7 platform will last 5 years? Wakey wakey, we're in the real world now. The i7 has 2 years from now at an absolute maximum and that's only if intel don't decide to change their minds with their westmere's and opt for yet another new socket. It's not like they haven't done that before, is it?

Its not the best future proofing choice though

You would only buy Core 2 if you have a drop-in compatible LGA775 board now. There is no good reason to build a new LGA775 rig unless you don't intend to upgrade for a long time and don't need a huge amount of CPU power.

Now, back on topic, yes that will run Crysis quite well. Forget maximum settings though with AA, you need more GPU power for that.

@g3force: We don't know if he's gonna play RTS anyway.

Well unless he speaks up again we can only assume he's playing Crysis and "something else".

my system crashes playing crysis with settings to medium and at 1024X768
on a 8400e duo core 3.0ghz with 2 gtx 260 in sli. mobo is an xfx 780i
vista ultimate 64 running 8gb ram. with all drivers updated. Whats wrong with my system?