Like everyone saying skyrim is CPU bound.I recently upgrade from a 4870 to 6870 and not getting any extra boast in skyrim but all games run way better.
PII x3 720 @2.8
4gigsddr2
hd6870
I don't of any transcoding apps that will use GPU acceleration so any GPU you add will just be another useless power drain.Upgrade your CPU to something more beefier or get a device that can playback the media in its native format(xbmc,boxee,wdlive..etc).
I use a pirate version of win7 because i cant afford the 200$ price tag and i need atleast 4 copies for all my pcs.Thats 800$ i dont have.I can pay 75% of my morgage payment with that.If they give us the student discount of 30$ each 4 copies would be easily possible.Iam a pc gamer and i buy 90%...