I love RPGs and ARPGs and I've been putting a lot of time into D3 since the expansion. I've had a lot of fun but I've also get very bored with the grinding for gear. I realize that's the part of the game and I'm ok with that but when you do it for countless hours you want to do something that's a little bit different. So I've installed Skyrim on my PC along with DLCs that come with it.

I have some questions about the game and other things. First, I really need a new PC to run it at max setting but I also don't have a lot of cash for it ($500 or so). If anyone can direct me to a decent PC for that I appreciate it! Second, I see a lot of people use mods for the game but which ones do most people consider absolutely mandatory to increase the enjoyment of the game? Third, I see a lot of people who exploit smithing/enchanting to make very OP gear and pretty much destroy dragons with a few hits. Is there a way of playing that doesn't exploit this? Maybe restrict to one or just use the weapons and armor you find?

I want to try out many builds. Like a anti-paladin/death knight that carries mace of molag bal, an assassin, ranger, mage, necromancer. The list goes on and on!

I don't play on a PC, but if you want to see which mods people like the most, http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/searchresults/?src_order=1&src_sort=0&src_view=1&src_tab=1&src_language=0&page=1&pUp=1

I'm not sure what you will be able to do with a $500 budget for a gaming PC, but you probably aren't going to be able to use most of the popular ENB's and texture mods without killing your framerate.

You can make moderately powered armor and weapons if you want. The only way to get ridiculously overpowered items is to intentionally set out to make them that way. I will max out my smithing skill, but I don't make super uber gear; taking a draugr down in a couple of hits from sneak with my dragonbone bow as opposed to one-shotting dragons, for example.

You might be surprised.