Dragon Age: The Veilguard System Requirements Revisited…

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is easily one of the most anticipated titles of 2024, as it sees Bioware move towards real-time action combat, rather than its unique cobat approaches in previous iterations of the same franchise.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes nearly a decade after Dragon Age: Inquisition. As a result, it is looking to set a new standard for visuals for the EA-published title with support for Ray Tracing and AI upscaling on supported GPUs. This means that users can benefit from both Nvidia's DLSS3 and the frame-generation features it offers, in addition to AMD's FSR 2.2 standard on GPUs that do not currently support DLSS3.

Users can also benefit from Nvidia's REFLEX low-latency enhancements on the title for a more responsive experience.

Revisiting Dragon Age: The Veilguard's PC Hardware Requirements

Dragon Age The Veilguard Hardware Requirements

Unlike most titles that scale up in terms of RAM and storage requirements, primarily to account for higher-resolution textures, Dragon Age: The Veilguard remains consistent on both fronts, requiring 100GB of storage (with an SSD overwhelmingly the preferred medium except for entry-level PCs) and 16GB of RAM for its needs.

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Where it does vary considerably are the CPU and the GPU fronts, where it moves from quad and hexacore AMD and Intel CPUs, respectively, to 16 core offerings from both Team Red and Blue alike, even as it pushes to compete against Nvidia's penultimate and AMD's ultimate GPU offering this generation with its Ultra spec or Ray Traced needs.

This also sees GPU VRAM requirements balloon to as much as 12GB from a minimum of 4GB when one moves to 'Ultra' specification, with or without RT enabled. Interestingly, Bioware notes that all the above specifications published include the use of "optional upscaling", which means that hardware requirements sans tech such as DLSS and FSR might be significantly higher, since they are already accounted for in the recommendations above.

This does raise the obvious question: does your gaming PC need a hardware upgrade to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard? For most users who have delayed an upgrade the past few years and would like to play it maxed out, the answer is an overwhelming yes. The team at The Best War Games has decided to pitch in with three unique PC builds that cater to entry-level, mid-range and high-end users with a focus on performance and value for money below.

The Rook's Recommended Spec PC Build For Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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AMD Ryzen 5 7600

$198 $229 Save $31

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Brand

AMD

CPU Model

Ryzen 5 7600

CPU Socket

AM5

Cores

6

Threads

12

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The Ryzen 5 7600 is the entry-level, yet very capable, gaming CPU from AMD that features 6 cores, 12 threads, and 32MB of L3 cache. It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.1GHz. The Ryzen 5 7600 is an unlocked processor with a default TDP of 65W. It also has integrated RDNA 2 graphics and is the cheapest offering in the lineup with an iGPU.
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$198 at Amazon $198 at Newegg

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MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi

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Brand

MSI

Graphics Card Interface

PCI-E 5.0

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

AMD WiFi 6E

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MSI B650 Gaming Plus is an excellent choice for AMD CPU users who are looking to get the job done without spending over $200. The 15-power phase VRM will be adequate for mid-range CPUs, while the multiple PCI-E slots will allow users to add various expansion cards. There are plenty of connectivity options too, including several fan headers, a built-in WiFi adapter, fast USB headers, and even troubleshooting options.
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$170 at Amazon $170 at Newegg $170 at Walmart

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G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (AMD Expo)

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Brand

G.Skill

Size

2x 16GB

Technology

DDR5

Speed

6000 MT/s

Compatible Devices

Intel and AMD AM5 motherboards

RGB

Yes

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G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB series is a specialized RAM kit for the AM5 platform with up to 6000 MT/s speed. The RAM kit brings exceptional RGB lighting on top of the heat spreaders and works at low latency. It's decently stable at the advertised speed and makes an ideal choice for gaming builds.
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$113 at Amazon $113 at Newegg $113 at Walmart

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Kingston NV2 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD

$54 $61 Save $7

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Storage capacity

1TB

Hardware Interface

PCI Express 4.0 x 4

Compatible Devices

PC

Brand

Kingston

Transfer rate

3,500/2,800MB/s Read/Write

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This internal solid-state drive from Kingston has 1 TB of digital storage capacity. The NV2 series SSD is designed to be compatible with laptops. It operates on PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 technology, features an M.2 2280 form factor, and delivers read speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s. It has lower power requirements, generating minimal heat, which makes it perfect for compact devices.
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$57 at Amazon $54 at Newegg

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ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Twin Edge OC

$610 $630 Save $20

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Brand

ZOTAC

Cooling Method

IceStorm 2.0 Advanced Cooling

Slot Size

2

Interface

PCIe 4.0

Boost Speed

2490 MHz

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The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Twin Edge OC features 12GB GDDR6X VRAM, a boost clock speed of 2490 MHz, and a compact dual-fan cooling system. It also has a rounded edge design which makes it look even smaller. It still comes with three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1a port. It is a fairly low power-consuming GPU with 220W at load.
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$610 at Amazon $610 at Newegg $610 at Best Buy

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XPG Core Reactor 750W

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Brand

XPG

Output

750W

Modular Cabling

Fully modular

80 Plus Efficiency Rating

Gold

Protection Features

OCP, OVP, UVP, OPP, SCP, OTP, NLO, SIP

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The XPG Core Reactor 750W is an 80 Plus Gold rated ATX PSU that offers full modularity. It is an all-black PSU certified by Cybenetics for its efficiency and noise levels. It features a 120mm 2400 RPM fan with an FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) design. XPG, which is a gaming sub-brand of Adata, has tuned the fan to stay at 660 RPM up till 50% load. Connectivity options on the XPG Core Reactor 750W include 1 24-pin connection, 2 ATX 12V 4+4 pin connections, 6 PCIe connections, 12 SATA connections, and 4 Molex connections.
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$100 at Amazon

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LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case

$94 $100 Save $6

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Brand

LIAN LI

Material

Steel / 4.0mm Tempered Glass

Motherboard Size (Max.)

E-ATX (Under 280mm)

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

392mm

3.5" Drive Slots

2 x 3.5” HDD

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The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.
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$95 at Amazon $94 at Walmart $100 at Newegg

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Target Hardware Preset: 2K/QHD With High Or Ultra Graphics, Ray Tracing On

Estimated Build Cost: ~$1350

The mid-range PC above aims to benefit from the current generation CPUs and AI upscaling benefits from modern GPUs alike. It leverages a hexacore AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU that offers plenty of power for gaming needs as well as support for newer tech such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 RAM under the hood.

This is in addition to a capable RTX 4070 SUPER GPU from Zotac that gets the job done while allowing the PC to offer Ray Tracing capabilities out of the box, thanks to Nvidia's DLSS3 and the underlying Frame Generation tech. With 32GB of low latency DDR5 RAM specifically for the AM5 platform and a mid-range motherboard option from MSI, the build has plenty to offer. Additionally, the cheap, yet large PCI-E 4.0 NVME SSD from Kingston that offers superior value than most of its peers for its asking price.

All of this is housed in an airflow-centric Lian Li Lancool 216 mid-tower case that offers RGB control built-in, plus a very reliable XPG Core Reactor 750W PSU that can handle anything up to an RTX 4080 SUPER with ease, making for easier upgrades in the future.

The Dragon's Ultra Spec PC Build For Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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AMD Ryzen™ 9 7950X3D 16-Core, 32-Thread Desktop Processor

$639 $699 Save $60

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Socket

AMD AM5

Brand

AMD

TDP

120W

Cores

16

Threads

32

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The 16-core, 32-thread desktop AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor is AMD's answer to a resurgent Intel 13th generation processor lineup as it attempts to wrest back the gaming crown with the same technology that made the last generation 5800X3D such a powerful CPU.

With 128MB of L3 cache on offer, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D leverages its 3D V-Cache muscle in gaming as well as its powerful new Zen 4-based cores in productivity to make for a potent enthusiast-grade CPU in the offing.
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$639 at Amazon $745 at Newegg $639 at Best Buy

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MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi

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Brand

MSI

Graphics Card Interface

PCIe 5.0

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7

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The MSI MPG X870E Carbon Wi-Fi is one of the newest AM5-based motherboards in the business.

It offers a slew of new features including Wi-Fi 7, dual PCI-E 5.0 M2 slots, and an impressive 18+2+1 phase power delivery mechanism.

All of which make it an excellent high-end motherboard for AMD's newest Ryzen 9000 series (and upcoming X3D) CPUs.
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$500 at Amazon $500 at Newegg

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ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler

$280 $330 Save $50

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Brand

ASUS

Cooling Method

Liquid

Integrated Lighting

ARGB Fans, 3.5-Inch LCD Display

Noise Level

36.45dBA

Fan Speed

600 - 2200 RPM +/- 10%

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The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is ASUS's latest premium tri-fan AIO that offers better cooling, an upgraded LCD, and a new Asetek 8th generation pump as some of its salient features. Thanks to a thicker radiator and a new cold plate, it can reduce temperatures drastically versus both its predecessor and its competition.
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$280 at Amazon $280 at Newegg $280 at Walmart

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G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30

$195 $210 Save $15

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Brand

G.Skill

Size

64GB

Technology

DDR5

Speed

6000 MHz

Compatible Devices

DDR5 Compatible AMD and Intel chipset-based motherboards

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The G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks are a pair of 32GB RAM sticks that conform to AMD's more stringent EXPO memory requirements for overclocking. With tight timings and a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96.

With a subtle RGB effect and a premium feel, the Trident Z Neo is one of the best premium RGB RAM sticks money can buy that is designed for AMD-based systems.
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$195 at Newegg $195 at Walmart

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Crucial T700 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD

$210 $230 Save $20

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Storage capacity

2TB

Hardware Interface

PCIe 5.0

Brand

Crucial

TBW

1200TB

Warranty

5-year limited warranty

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The Crucial T700 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD is a blazing fast latest generation SSD that can reach read speeds of up to 12,400 MBps and write speeds of up to 11,800 MBps. It is one of the fastest SSDs on the market and has a solid endurance of 1200TB TBW. Crucial also offers a 5-year limited warranty with this SSD.
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$210 at Amazon $210 at Newegg

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ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB GDDR6X White OC Edition

Display card main info widget

Brand

ASUS

Cooling Method

Triple fan

Slot Size

3.5 slot

Boost Speed

2670 MHz

CUDA Cores

10240

VRAM (MEMORY)

16GB GDDR6X

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The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB GDDR6X White OC Edition is a high-performing graphics card that an run any game at 1440p and even 4K, without struggling to deliver a 60+ FPS experience. It features a triple fan cooling system that sits on top of a thick heatsink and vapor chamber. It comes with 16GB GDDR6X VRAM and a boost clock speed of 2670 MHz in OC mode.
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$1350 at Amazon $1620 at Newegg $1350 at Walmart

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MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU

$165 $200 Save $35

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Brand

MSI

Output

1000 Watts

Modular Cabling

Yes, Fully Modular

80 Plus Efficiency Rating

Gold (Upto 90%)

Connection type

16 pin x 1, 4+4 pin x 2, 6+2 pin x 6

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The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.
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$165 at Amazon $165 at Newegg $170 at Best Buy

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HYTE Y60

$161 $180 Save $19

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Brand

Hyte

Material

Steel/Tempered Glass

Motherboard Size (Max.)

Micro ATX / ATX / ITX / E-ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

375 mm

3.5" Drive Slots

2

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There is no better mid-tower case to show off gaming rigs than the Hyte Y60. With three tempered glass panels, the Y60 case provides a nearly unobstructed view of the components. A dual chamber design enables builders to keep PSUs and cables tucked behind motherboards to avoid interfering with other components. The Y60 ships ready to vertically mount graphics cards with an included PCIe riser cable. Even with solid glass panels, the case still promotes airflow with extensive vents that wrap around the right side, top, and back of the chassis.
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$177 at Amazon $175 at Newegg $161 at Best Buy

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Target Hardware Preset: 4K/UHD With Ultra Graphics, Ray Tracing Ultra

Estimated Build Cost: ~$3500

For users looking to go the extra mile when it comes to playing a title like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the PC above should meet their needs easily.

It bundles the fastest 16-core CPU currently available for gaming, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, with the fastest RTX 4080 SUPER readily available at most retailers in the US, the ROG Strix RTX 4080 SUPER OC. The build also leverages the newer MSI X870E Carbon Wi-Fi motherboard for better overclocking potential with its RAM option, which comes in a 64GB trim, as well as future CPU upgrades.

With 2TB of fast PCI-E 5.0 SSD storage from Crucial in play, along with a 1000W PSU from MSI on offer, this PC opts for the aesthetics-focused Hyte Y60 case that allows it to mount the RTX 4080 SUPER vertically while having plenty of space for cable management for first-time PC builders. Users can also opt for the slightly upgraded Hyte Y70 case instead, which also supports an LCD panel upgrade (sold separately).

The Scout's Minimum Spec PC Build For Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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Intel Core i3-14100F

$90 $140 Save $50

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Brand

Intel

CPU Model

Core i3 14100F

CPU Socket

LGA 1700

Cores

4

Threads

8

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Intel Core i3-14100F is a refreshed version of the i3 13100F, now with higher clock speeds that go to as much as 4.7 GHz. Based on Intel's older Alder Lake architecture rebadged as a Raptor Lake Refresh offering, the CPU brings 4 performance cores and a total of 8 threads to get started with any small or medium-scale application. With its capable single-core performance, it holds its own versus most entry-level processors in gaming and productivity alike.
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$90 at Amazon $90 at Newegg $90 at Walmart

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GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard

$116 $121 Save $5

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Brand

Gigabyte

CPU Included

No

Graphics Card Interface

PCI Express 4.0

Memory Slots

2 Slots

Memory Type

DDR4

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The GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard is an excellent, entry-level motherboard that offers the Gigabyte UD moniker indicating better build quality on offer than most of its competing entry-level alternatives.

With a single M2 slot and 2 DIMM slots on offer, the H610M is built for minimalistic, budget-centric PCs with support for Intel's 12th, 13th, and 14th-generation CPUs.
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$90 at Amazon $116 at Newegg

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Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 16GB (8GBx2) 3200MHz (PC4 25600) CL16 RAM

Display card main info widget

Brand

Silicon Power

Size

16GB (8GB x 2)

Technology

DDR4

Speed

3200 Mhz

Compatible Devices

All Intel and AMD based DDR4 memory

RGB

No

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The Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM is a DDR4 memory module engineered to enhance the capabilities of desktop PCs. It offers a memory size of 16GB and speeds of 3200 MHz. This RAM is designed to be compatible with Intel Coffee Lake processors and adheres to Intel Extreme Memory Profile (Intel XMP) standards, ensuring seamless integration with various systems.

Equipped with an aluminum heat sink, the RAM efficiently dissipates heat while its 1.35V low voltage reduces power consumption for hardware components. These attributes contribute to maintaining swift and stable performance during extensive gaming periods or intensive workloads.
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$28 at Amazon

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XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE

$210 $280 Save $70

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Brand

XFX

Cooling Method

Air-cooled dual-fan

GPU Speed

2044 Mhz

Interface

PCI-E 4.0 x8

Memory

8GB GDDR6

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The XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE is an excellent value proposition as it trades significantly cheaper than the RTX 3050 while performing as much as 15% faster which makes it a no-brainer for Team Red users looking to upgrade this year.
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$210 at Amazon $210 at Newegg $210 at Best Buy

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Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD

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The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4x4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It's designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
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$38 at Amazon

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Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU

Display card main info widget

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The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.

The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
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$41 at Amazon

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Zalman T7 ATX Mid Tower PC Case

$50 $60 Save $10

Display card main info widget

Brand

Zalman

Material

Steel, Plastic, Acrylic Panel

Motherboard Size (Max.)

ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

12 inch

3.5" Drive Slots

4

Display card main info widget end

The Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower PC Case features a front mesh panel for maximum airflow and a transparent side viewing window. The case includes 2 pre-installed 120 mm fans and accommodates ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
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$50 at Amazon

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Target Hardware Preset: FHD/2K With Medium or High Graphics, Ray Tracing Off

Estimated Build Cost: ~$550

For users on a strict budget when it comes to building or upgrading their current PC to get a playable frame rate on their Dragon Age journey, the build above delivers exceptional value while attempting to stay as close to $500 as possible.

To do so, it leverages the latest Intel Core i3 CPU, the 14100F, which offers a 4-core, 8-thread configuration with higher clocks than its predecessor paired to an H610M motherboard from Gigabyte.

16GB of value-centric DDR4 RAM is bundled into the configuration as is a budget-friendly AMD RX 6600 Core from XFX, which offers the necessary graphics throughput needed to play the game with medium or high preset graphics at lower resolutions.

With a smaller 500GB SSD option in play for the Kingston NV2 SSD to adhere to the lower budget, in addition to a 600W Thermaltake smart PSU, the build also opts for a budget-friendly Zalman T7 case as its enclosure, narrowly moving past the $500 target price as a result, but offering a capable gaming PC that can run Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024 at minimum graphics presets with ease.