Btw, all you ever needed to get Crysis to run OK is a Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz, 2 GB of DDR2 800, and an 8800GT.
That enabled you to run in high detail at 1024x768 (face it guys, this 1080p native resolution thing is bullshit unless you can truly future-proof your rig).
Since I'm forced into 1024x768 due to a shitty monitor, no problems here!
Also, if you can overclock that "Crysis PC" (Crytek, in response to the performance complaints, put together this sub-$1000 system configuration as an example of what Crysis actually requires to perform reasonably) configuration to 3.2 GHz, you can actually run in DIRECTX9 mode a very high/high hybrid.
With full, very-high texture detail, of course.
Would you rather run shit quality at high resolution or near-awesome quality at a lower resolution (which happens to be JUST high enough to allow appreciable graphics)?
Perhaps a compromise between the two would be better, perhaps not.
I can tell you this though: having your Geforce 9800 GT die and being forced to use a Radeon X1600 Pro with Left 4 Dead 2 and ending up dropping ALL detail except full gore and the resolution to 640x480 and still getting unplayable frame rates and then finding out you gotta drop your sound card's sound quality to minimum to just run in 800x600 with jack shit except medium textures and full gore is bullshit.