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[Nayt Navare]

 So, I'm getting a gaming PC with my excess school money, and I'm stuck between two of them, through Best Buy.   Links below-

http://www.bestbuy.c...1&skuId=2738329

http://www.bestbuy.c...8&skuId=2881467

The first one is pretty amazing from what my friend and the saleman said (yeah, right... <_<), but it IS $700.  Ouch.  But while apparently the 2nd computer can run DAO, and even Fallout, Oblivion and The Witcher, it might have performance issues, specifically with the mods. 

I'm hoping to run some of the more basic ones, nothing TOO fancy, such as, example, the following;

http://www.dragonage...ile.php?id=1917

I'm also looking to do standard equipment mods (color, fan creations, armors and swords), and "enhancers" (clothes on during the, ahem, yeah, you know :innocent:; animation fixes, etc.).

With that in mind, any suggestions from you, the fan community, to heighten my DAO experience? 

[sami jo]

The second computer is unlikely to run the game well if at all.  Officially, mobile graphics cards are not supported because they simply aren't up to modern gaming unless you are paying a ridiculous amount (several times what the highest priced laptop you listed costs).  Integrated graphics cards for mobile systems or desktops are typically even less capable of gaming. 

The second problem with gaming on a laptop is that gaming puts both your CPU and GPU to constant use.  That means lots of heat which laptops are terrible at dissipating.  Heat can literally kill your hardware.  Mods for DAO are not going to be a major drain on your performance (no matter what your friend said--seriously, he is orbiting Pluto if he thinks the second system will run the games you listed on anything but the lowest graphics and very choppily if at all).

The first system has a reasonable mobile card.  IF you can manage the heat (buy a good cooling pad and keep a close eye on it), it should run the game reasonably well with medium graphics settings.  Lower settings might be required to keep the heat generation down. 

I understand the draw of a laptop.  There is no substitute for the portability one can provide, especially in a university setting.  If portability is not as much of an issue for you, you can easily get a reasonable gaming desktop for what the cheaper laptop costs.  If portability is a must, but weight is less of an issue, larger laptops tend to have better heat management and better cost to component ratios.  Toshiba tends to have better heat management on their laptops than most.  Dell has several reasonable models.  You may want to check with your school (probably the book store) to see if they have a deal with one of the manufacturers that gives students a discount.  Whatever you do, check the hardware requirements of the games you want to play against the hardware of the system you plan to buy. 

A good comparison of graphics cards is here.  They also have regular build-offs set at discrete price limits.  You can check out their $500 machines as a good comparison.