The thing about PC's is that it's not just for games. You get everything you need and don't need in one package and that's it's biggest advantage.
Something I learned about PC gaming...
- Thread starter ZombieGenesis
- Start date
There is nothing more satisfying than buying your parts separately, and piecing it together yourself. You can skimp where you want, and invest more where you want it.
Putting a computer together isn't complicated at all, nor is it risky. Putting a CPU in it's socket the first time can be a little worrisome, trying to put on the thermal paste just right, lining it up. But once you realize how hard you have to clamp it down on the mainboard, it puts it into perspective that it's just not that fragile. Common sense prevails.
Though there is nothing wrong with already having a Mac, and trying to play some games on it. Vast difference. Just don't expect much out of that..
Putting a computer together isn't complicated at all, nor is it risky. Putting a CPU in it's socket the first time can be a little worrisome, trying to put on the thermal paste just right, lining it up. But once you realize how hard you have to clamp it down on the mainboard, it puts it into perspective that it's just not that fragile. Common sense prevails.
Why anyone would buy an insanely overpriced Mac for gaming, is beyond my comprehension.thefreeman0001 said:
Though there is nothing wrong with already having a Mac, and trying to play some games on it. Vast difference. Just don't expect much out of that..
Dunno, I spent over $1000 on my gaming PC, in 2004. Except for a couple of blown parts it's still going strong, not on full high settings anymore but it still fires up and plays new releases at 50+fps.danintexas said:
I think I got good value, although replacement day is inching nearer, I don't think I'll spend so much this time as computer parts have gotten cheaper in six years.
Yeah, fair enough. It just comes across a bit silly when someone says that something is cheap when it costs two/three times the alternatives.ZombieGenesis said:
Oh good, here comes the recursive 'platform of choice' superiority circle jerk. It's what happens when a large quantity of fans are pulled together away from any alternate view points, for example for a thread that only addresses them. One negative comment about the platform and before you know it you get a quote chain of people sneering about the competitors without any further input from the person who started it.danintexas said:
PS. My Xbox has red ringed once. Then I got it repaired for free as it was under the free three-year extended warranty for Red Rings.
PPS. Yes, PCs have more uses but everyone has access to a PC anyway, it's just that it's probably nowhere near in a state to be playing any recent game releases and as such would cost about as much to upgrade as it would to replace completely.
My pc cost like 500 bucks
(Quad core processor, 4 gb of ram, shitty msi gs 240)
All I did was jam in an hd5770 and it does everything I want it to do.
(Quad core processor, 4 gb of ram, shitty msi gs 240)
All I did was jam in an hd5770 and it does everything I want it to do.
PC gaming can be more expensive then console gaming if you buy everything off the shelf. PC gaming can also be considerably cheaper then console gaming if you build your own rig, upgrade it yourself instead of buying a new one when you want to, maintaining it yourself, etc.
PC gaming takes a bit more effort but can also be much more rewarding. A console is basically plug and play. They break from time to time but for most people they work for what they are supposed to. PCs can do a lot more and with that comes more risk of failure.
There is a hint of truth with the old "PC Gaming Master Race" joke. They both have their advantages but if you put in the effort you can do so much more with a PC then a console.
PC gaming takes a bit more effort but can also be much more rewarding. A console is basically plug and play. They break from time to time but for most people they work for what they are supposed to. PCs can do a lot more and with that comes more risk of failure.
There is a hint of truth with the old "PC Gaming Master Race" joke. They both have their advantages but if you put in the effort you can do so much more with a PC then a console.
If I didn't need a desktop PC for doing other things, I would totally agree with that. Just for playing games, the base cost for a console is a rather good value at this point now that the prices have gone down after they've been out for a few years. However, at least in my case, I already needed everything in my PC other than the video card for doing other things, and my video card was all of an extra $100 but runs most games at 1920x1200 very well. If I didn't have/need the rest of the parts already, a 360 would've been cheaper (and I still keep considering buying one every time they go on sale), but I can't exactly compile code or encode video or record/mix audio on a console (or an underpowered PC, for that matter).Geo Da Sponge said:
Not expensive per se, but nothing I've looked at has come in at even close to the same price of console gaming. Like you say, £700, about three times what I paid for my XBox 360. So thanks, but no thanks PC, I'll stick with my console.
Eh, I'm happy with my console, and all I really want now is a laptop which can run TF2 at the highest setting possible. I doubt it'll be as easy or cheap as making my own rig, but since I'm going to be moving about alot soon, it'd be insane to have a PC.
The thing that keeps PC gaming in check if you're building yourself are components that stay the same. If you get a good case it'll last you a decade, requiring you to upgrade the PSU halfway through. A good keyboard could last you the same length of time, if not more, and a solid monitor as long as you don't want it to be too big can also last you easily 5 years. They're even hitting the point where getting something bigger really isn't of benefit.
This of course can also be said for consoles, as you don't really need to change your TV, it's really just this generation that's the most expensive as you need to get an HDTV, but the next generation when everyone already has an HDTV will be very cheap.
We're just in a rather unique position with PC gaming right now where the incremental upgrades of a PC keep the cost down while the major investment of an HDTV and sound system drive console costs really high.
What also needs to be taken into account, particularly with the PS3 is that it becomes your home theatre system for the next decade. You buy an HDTV and a PS3, and hardware costs are roughly $100 per year (they could be more, but you really don't need more than a 40" HDTV for the most part). That's a single up front cost and it really isn't going to change. With a PC, no matter how powerful it is, you'll always have to upgrade, and over a 10 year period you'll likely be spending at least $200/year.
Wait for memory prices to come down though, and you can get in with a solid gaming system for $500, depending on your monitor needs you're looking at $100-$200, and from there just getting an upgrade when there's a sale could keep you at roughly $150 per year.
Compared to an Xbox 360 though, PC gaming is a bit cheaper, but compared to a PS3 overall it's still a bit more expensive. Either way, certainly affordable as anything else.
This of course can also be said for consoles, as you don't really need to change your TV, it's really just this generation that's the most expensive as you need to get an HDTV, but the next generation when everyone already has an HDTV will be very cheap.
We're just in a rather unique position with PC gaming right now where the incremental upgrades of a PC keep the cost down while the major investment of an HDTV and sound system drive console costs really high.
What also needs to be taken into account, particularly with the PS3 is that it becomes your home theatre system for the next decade. You buy an HDTV and a PS3, and hardware costs are roughly $100 per year (they could be more, but you really don't need more than a 40" HDTV for the most part). That's a single up front cost and it really isn't going to change. With a PC, no matter how powerful it is, you'll always have to upgrade, and over a 10 year period you'll likely be spending at least $200/year.
Wait for memory prices to come down though, and you can get in with a solid gaming system for $500, depending on your monitor needs you're looking at $100-$200, and from there just getting an upgrade when there's a sale could keep you at roughly $150 per year.
Compared to an Xbox 360 though, PC gaming is a bit cheaper, but compared to a PS3 overall it's still a bit more expensive. Either way, certainly affordable as anything else.
Ok. I am a PC Gamer to the core. I spent 1000$ on this computer. 7 YEARS AGO! That's right, for 7 years, and only once 200$ for a new graphics card, I have been running games that span all consoles, all generations and on something that I needed anyway...too let's say...POST ON THESE FORUMS! Only recently did if have trouble with a game. Assassin's Creed 2. I could still run it, just not on highest. Alas. Besides that game made my friends PS3 lag too.
Subtract the cost of what I needed anyway, the higher cost of console games, and the cost of buying x-number of consoles and this is WAY cheaper.
Subtract the cost of what I needed anyway, the higher cost of console games, and the cost of buying x-number of consoles and this is WAY cheaper.
It took at least seven years of experience with upgrades and OS installs for me to be confident enough to build my own system from the ground up (this was in the nasty days of Win3.1 through WinME) but when I did I was surprised by how easy it actually was. It's really not that hard! If you're halfway competent with hand tools and know how to install an OS from the boot CD, it's a straightforward process. I've always found it to be a very rewarding experience- there's something gratifying about logging in to the freshly-installed OS on brand-new hardware.
Good on you, OP.
Good on you, OP.
That's a great deal. I wish laptops were so easy to put together (or maybe they are and I haven't heard of anything). Three years ago I ROFLMAO'd at DDR2 667 2GB stick price at Dell... $200... the fuck was that? But I can't say I had a hi-end choice back then, so had to stick with it. Not regretting much, either. More so, when you've got a three year warranty, while separate parts had just one year back then. And they get broken down too often.