1) Desktops are always better for gaming, especially if you plan to run hardcore games. Laptops are unreliable in terms that they cannot be readily upgraded. Also, they lack the needed graphics processing power needed to run good games. Trust me here, I play WoW on my laptop and its horrid. Playing a game at 5-10 fps is not the way you want to enjoy a game.
2) RAM is cheap nowdays, especially if you just plan to buy DDR2. DDR3 is the new standard but not really that mainstream yet, so I recommend DDR2. You should not get less than 2GB. 1GB is just not enough for this day and age. Graphics, something from the nVidia 8 series (8800 GT imo) or an ATI 3870 would suffice for now. CPU, its all up to your personal preference. If I were to recommend something, probably a Q6600 (Intel). Maybe the new range from Intel also (Penryn). Don't really like AMD right now (Phenom kinda failed).
3)I always recommend people build a custom computer because its you have full input in the building process. However, the 530s is not bad. But i still can think you can get a better deal buying your own.
Basically, its all about what you want to run on your computer and then from there you decide what you want. Just my thoughts.
27/05/2008
Melbourne, Victoria