Are PCs still really less reliable than consoles?

[Dr Spaceman]

Is it still fair to say that consoles are more reliable than PCs? Sure, you only hear the occasional story of the failed Wii or PS3, but we all know that 360s have become notorious for dying at the most inopportune times.

Granted, PCs may take a bit more maintenance, but isn't it kind of sad that our "game-only" machines are struggling in similar ways to our "game-internet-work-document-programming-a million other things" machines?

The question really is: We all take for granted in a generic PC vs. console debate that PCs are less reliable and more difficult to get up and play a game. Can PC enthusiasts really simply concede this point anymore?

 

[hellthins]

It depends on how you build your machine. Machine, for example, is really unreliable, but that's because I have a graphics card that can be considered, for lack of a better phrase, the 360 of graphics cards. It has a really really bad tendency to overheat. But outside of that, my computer works like a charm. If I were to upgrade to water cooling, it'd be just fine. But instead I'm getting a whole new PC anyways since this thing's about six years old. The graphics card has been with me about three to four years and has only been a trouble the past year, unlike my 360 which broke down and RROD'd in about two years.

 

[songnar]

The big difference is this...

Experience.

Yes, with a PC it is generally required that you know what you are doing which is why most people prefer to game on a console. It's simple, insert media, play game. As far as reliability - if you know what you are doing a PC can be the most reliable machine you will ever put your hands on. If, however, you don't know the difference between a CPU and a potato chip you are probably better off sticking with the consoles.

 

[Aardvark]

Your PC is only as reliable as you are. If you don't know a think about them, chances are it'll go down more often than [insert female celebrity of dubious character]. You can get yourself one of those custom-built, ready-made computers, y'know the only ones on earth that have Vista on them? But then you'll have the itch to upgrade. Unless you're sure of what you're doing, this will end in tragedy.

Consoles are a little harder to take care of, but if you don't celebrate each Halo kill by whooping for joy and tossing the thing around the room, you'll probably make it to the end of the warranty.

 

[vede]

No.

If anything, playing a game's become harder on consoles, and easier on PCs.

Consoles began with the simple, "put game in, turn machine on, play" setup, but now they have crazy operating systems, user accounts, blah-dee-blah-dee-blah.

PCs, though, began with UNIX and DOS. Text interfaces. You had to know your way around the magical box that was your computer. What was the path? What files do I need to use? What command? Now, for most average users, you double-click on a small visual representation of the game on your shiny desktop, and you're pretty much playing the game right then.

The only difference between the two which hasn't really changed is the original setup. Many people don't now how to hook up a computer, and people who want to play games on computers (should, but...) generally don't know how to build an ideal machine from the ground up. Consoles have always been rather easy to hook up.

EDIT: Wait, I may have answered question wrongly...

I'd say only an idiot in control of a PC will have trouble keeping it maintained. As long as you can analyze what seems like a sham and what isn't, you're fine.

"free Porn! barely 18! totaly free*! just click here! HOT BABES!!!" ----> SCAM

"Free XBox 360*!!! PWN ur friends with this new version of the xBoX with better graphix and coolr games!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ----> SCAM

"Hello, trusted blog readers, I recently found a relatively cool site where you can buy high-quality dice at average prices. A good deal for any readers into tabletop gaming!" ----> Maybe a scam, but I'd check it out.

*Agreement to terms of service and forfeit of soul required.

 

[Slayer_2]

Um, here's how hard it is for me to play a game on my new gaming PC:

1a: Don't be a noob.

1b: Don't get viruses due to your noobiness.

1c: Find a game I want a buy it.

2a: Install the game.

2b (optional/varies): Get a crack for your game so it works without the DVD in the drive/to get rid of DRM.

3: Put away the game disc and case in a safe place.

4: Start the game

If you are doing anything different, you are: either causing yourself more trouble than nessacary, are a noob or need to upgrade.

Cost of my PC: $550, but I gained $400 for selling my old PC. So for $150 I get the fun of gaming without the hassle of Discs, DRM and hardware/software issues. My specs:

Nvidia 8800GT 512MB
Intel Dual Core @ 3.0GHz
Gigabyte S-series motherboard (Dual and Quad core support)
2GB of OZC RAM
Windows Vista

For you non-techies, Imagine this: Crysis on Highest at 40+ FPS. I don't want to come off as a PC elitist, but really I don't know why you'd want a console, unless you're a total technology illeterate. PC = cheaper, easier and best of all, funner.

 

[cainx10a]

Consoles are future proof; the game that's going to be released 2 or 3 years from today, will run on a console. But there is no guarantee that it will run at it's full potential on your PC 2-3 years from now.

Edit: My pc ran all the latest games (Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, Devil May Cry 4, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition and a few others) without any problems. Just bought GTA 4 on Dec 4. and guess what, it's performance is so damn awful, that I'll have to make some further upgrades - picked up a Radeon HD 4870, a new PSU but I just lack a new monitor.

 

[Fatalis67]

On a PC, you have to take into account your system properties and the requirements of the game. If you don't do this and play games that are way more than your system can handle, it will crash. This could lead to people saying that PCs are unreliable.

On a console, your XB360 will be able to run every XB360 game without problem, every time.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

The more advanced things get...the easier it is to break them >_<

You could play football (both kinds) with a frikin' SNES and then play Mario bros. at the end of the game and not have to worry about anything. Nowadays, we can't even keep them in a little corner without dust and heat getting the best of them.

Consoles are future proof; the game that's going to be released 2 or 3 years from today, will run on a console. But there is no guarantee that it will run at it's full potential on your PC 2-3 years from now.

Edit: My pc ran all the latest games (Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, Devil May Cry 4, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition and a few others) without any problems. Just bought GTA 4 on Dec 4. and guess what, it's performance is so damn awful, that I'll have to make some further upgrades - picked up a Radeon HD 4870, a new PSU but I just lack a new monitor.

Actually, you should be able to run GTA IV, but it's so horribly optimized that I can't believe they didn't delay it again.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

they used to be, but no longer

 

[Joeshie]

Consoles are future proof; the game that's going to be released 2 or 3 years from today, will run on a console. But there is no guarantee that it will run at it's full potential on your PC 2-3 years from now.

Edit: My pc ran all the latest games (Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, Devil May Cry 4, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition and a few others) without any problems. Just bought GTA 4 on Dec 4. and guess what, it's performance is so damn awful, that I'll have to make some further upgrades - picked up a Radeon HD 4870, a new PSU but I just lack a new monitor.

Consoles are only future-proof to the point that companies still release titles on them. In a few years time, you probably won't be playing new games on your 360 or PS3 or Wii, while I could still theoretically be playing new releases on my PC.

See how it works now?

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

Actually, I remember GTA IV running like shit at the beginning of the console release too. bad luck for Rockstar I suppose.

 

[BirdKiller]

I haven't touched a console for 4 years now, but a lot of PC gaming for the last decade or so. I have to agree that consoles are generally reliable than the PC.

Ideally, every console game should run on every console since every consoles are identical.

PC however is not, they come in different specification, manufacturers of each hardware, operating system, driver versions, and etc. There's always a small chance, I emphasize small, that your computer may not run the game initially without a few tweaks, manual updates, etc.

Anyone who tries to argue that PC are reliable as or more than consoles by stating "if only the user {maintains it well, doesn't do anything silly, checks system requirements, demos the game, or... } implies either they don't know what the definition of reliable is or hasn't played consoles at all.

In general, console gamers just have to safekeep their disks from scratches and ensure their console has open air ventilation. If their console screws up, it's generally the manufacturer's fault and they get blasted for it in the gaming community. If the PC screws up however, the responsibility is often up to the user or/and the fault is spread out such that no party is chiefly responsible.

 

[Joeshie]

The thing with GTA IV is that it's massively CPU and GPU-VRAM limited. I bet all you suckers who bought a dual core instead of a similarly priced quadcore aren't laughing now, eh?

No, I think that we are all face-palming that Rockstar can't optimize for PC worth a shit anymore. I mean, it's not like the graphics in GTA4 are even that impressive.

 

[Joos]

There are too many factors that come onto play to make generic statements like that. If you want a stable gaming PC, you should chose hardware with mature drivers, ie stuff that has been on the market for at least six months. Also, how you chose components is important so you don't create hardware conflicts. It is also important to take heat into consideration when building a gaming PC. For example, if you buy a generic box so you can afford a better graphics card for example, it would be a great idea to buy some extra fans to ensure good airflow through the case (very important with gaming hardware), since most value cases skimp on extra bits to cut costs.
When it comes to consoles, you can affect stability less on your own. Still, heat is a factor so make sure your hardware is well ventilated and doesn't suck up too much dust.
Ie, you can build a gaming PC that is more stable than a console, but it is unlikely (unless you compare to the older Xbox 360). Then again, my PC at home has been running over a year now without any hiccups what so ever. No problems with my PS3 either.

 

[vede]

Consoles are future proof; the game that's going to be released 2 or 3 years from today, will run on a console. But there is no guarantee that it will run at it's full potential on your PC 2-3 years from now.

Edit: My pc ran all the latest games (Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, Devil May Cry 4, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition and a few others) without any problems. Just bought GTA 4 on Dec 4. and guess what, it's performance is so damn awful, that I'll have to make some further upgrades - picked up a Radeon HD 4870, a new PSU but I just lack a new monitor.

What?

PCs are arguably the most future-proof gaming machines ever created. With consoles, if your new game is for the next console, you can't play it on your old one, plain and simple. Try playing an SNES game on the NES, or a 360 game on the original XBox. It won't work.

Try playing STALKER: Clear Sky on a computer from 2002. It'll play. Slowly and very dully, but it'll play. Now try playing Fallout 3 on the Microsoft game platform of 2002; the XBox. It'll try, but I guarantee you that it won't even get to the main menu.

 

[BirdKiller]

It should be noted that at the cost of reliability, PC dominates when it comes to customization, from hardware to software, often because the system is not restricted as the consoles are to maintain reliability.