Misconceptions about PC gaming.

[Alex_P]

I am decidedly confused, all I can think of if you get a £500 system to upgrade is the gpu. I wouldn't really include the cost of fans as they're cheap anyway. What was the spec?

Well, higher-end CPU coolers aren't cheap.

There's a simple solution, though: if you're on a budget, don't overclock.

-- Alex

 

[NinjaDwarf]

I prefer PC to consoles, but I have to admit, consoles are far cheaper for the hardware they come with.
But you do miss out on mods, map editors etc etc

 

[vede]

If you use a PC for gaming, you also have to deal with hundreds of viruses.

That's false. You only have to deal with viruses if you don't know how to handle yourself on the internet. Basically, only idiots have to deal with hundreds of viruses.

 

[Danny Ocean]

That's true, actually, good point vdgmprgrmr*.

viruses may be widespread, but everyone is protected from them, and only retards who download stuff off limewire need fear, for the IRON FIST of the SITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY is protecting their hard drives from BSODs and malware.

*can I call you vodg?

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

I am decidedly confused, all I can think of if you get a £500 system to upgrade is the gpu. I wouldn't really include the cost of fans as they're cheap anyway. What was the spec?

Well, higher-end CPU coolers aren't cheap.

There's a simple solution, though: if you're on a budget, don't overclock.

-- Alex

Yeah then again getting all those fans would still be cheaper then getting a high end graphics card. 5 fans that help if your overclocking and one that can't get fucked with if your overclocking.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/landingpages/qx9650/default.asp?gclid=CLeJ1bC23pQCFQOeFQoddAv7SA

Mega Special III was what I was looking at mostly and from what I can tell some of it needs upgrading if I were to play crysis on it. Also the pc doesn't even come with a moniter.

 

[Danny Ocean]

What were you planning on upgrading, the psu and gpu?
Don't you already have a moniter?

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

What were you planning on upgrading, the psu and gpu?
Don't you already have a moniter?

Yeah, but its a dell cheap-o flat screen I got with my computer. And I was upgrading quite a bit of it, And I took into account some perhials I think like a mike and stuff. I dunno but still is the basic mega special III mid-range or low-range? And I wish I could take out the power system thing cause I have one exactly like that in a old pc I got from school so I could save a few bucks.

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

A PC generally has greater longevity than a console. A console you buy, and when it goes out it's done. A PC you can upgrade continuously for years and still have it play perfectly on new games.

if by "PC", you mean the case then yes, you would be right. the case can be used forever, you just have to change the motherboard and GPU every now and again.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

A PC generally has greater longevity than a console. A console you buy, and when it goes out it's done. A PC you can upgrade continuously for years and still have it play perfectly on new games.

if by "PC", you mean the case then yes, you would be right. the case can be used forever, you just have to change the motherboard and GPU every now and again.

Or if you have a custom pc you could put in another graphics card with a GPU on it so you can be ahead of the curve.(Hell the pcs from the link have three graphic card spots.)

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

Or if you have a custom pc you could put in another graphics card with a GPU on it so you can be ahead of the curve.(Hell the pcs from the link have three graphic card spots.)

and i think what i am implying here, is that if the motherboard isn't the actual PC, then the term is an abstraction. i mean we're sitting here comparing an entire genre of personal computer (any open ended computer) against locked out consoles.

so do PC games look better than Console... not on my computer, but maybe on yours. and that in itself is the problem with PCs. nothing is unified and there's an element of "random" in anything you try to make it do.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Well, you don't need to replace the hard drives, optical drives, fans, case, or PSU for aages. It's mostly the mobo, and the mobo isn't really neccessary unless they invent a new sockets for the components and GPU.

Yeah, but its a dell cheap-o flat screen I got with my computer. And I was upgrading quite a bit of it, And I took into account some perhials I think like a mike and stuff. I dunno but still is the basic mega special III mid-range or low-range? And I wish I could take out the power system thing cause I have one exactly like that in a old pc I got from school so I could save a few bucks.

Is it one of the new 20" dell screens? The silver ones? If so then keep it! Save some money! If not then get a good one. The screen is the longest lasting part of a PC imho.

Okay, that mega special III is a bit of a weird case. I mean, not that the case is weird, I don't care what it looks like.. oh you know what I mean.
Anyway, it has a good proccessor, but a bad choice of mobo, gpu, psu, and RAM (if you want to OC) 750i is just too much compared to the rest of the system. It's like getting an F1 chassis for a smart car engine.

I think you'll be able to save quite a bit if you get the bits separately. Maybe start a thread or PM some people to help you out, I'd be happy to if you like.

 

[vede]

That's true, actually, good point vdgmprgrmr*.

viruses may be widespread, but everyone is protected from them, and only retards who download stuff off limewire need fear, for the IRON FIST of the SITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY is protecting their hard drives from BSODs and malware.

*can I call you vodg?

Not everyone is protected. Limewire isn't the only dangerous place, a lot of sites offering downloads of pretty much anything are a pretty good risk, and warez/porn sites are the worst killers.

And no, you may not. Well, I can't stop you, but please don't. Most just use "VD."

EDIT: Or was most of that post a joke? I'm terrible at detecting those things.

 

[geldonyetich]

I'm a lifelong computer gamer, and even I can see that the PC gaming platform is doing very poorly. The trouble is mainly a matter of profitability. When publishers release games cross-platform, they generally see about 10 times [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/01/pc-games-hit-ma.html] the sales figures on the console side than they do the PC side. A lot of that is chalked up due to piracy, but the cause really isn't important, the important thing is realizing that suddenly 10 times future development money goes to consoles.

PC gaming will never die - the Indys alone will make sure of that - but it's definitely very sick right now.

Re: Original poster's post.
Tenants #1 and #2 are somewhat incompatible. Yes, you can put together a cheap system, but you'll be upgrading it soon. Or you could put together an expensive system and you'll be upgrading it later. PC component prices have come down - as all technology does - but I hesitate to say that PC hardware is cheaper, especially after you factor in the monitor and accessories.

 

[Alex_P]

If you're at the point where you're tearing out most of the insides to do an upgrade, I think you're better off buying a new case and power supply so you can have two computers. Old machines make great file servers, PVR boxes, backup systems, &c. Most modern monitors let you switch between two inputs with the press of a button, and you can get a little USB-switching box for your mouse and keyboard for around $20.

-- Alex

 

[Danny Ocean]

Not everyone is protected. Limewire isn't the only dangerous place, a lot of sites offering downloads of pretty much anything are a pretty good risk, and warez/porn sites are the worst killers.

And no, you may not. Well, I can't stop you, but please don't. Most just use "VD."

EDIT: Or was most of that post a joke? I'm terrible at detecting those things.

Most of it was a joke, yeah.

Windows comes with a firewall, IE has a phishing filter, vista comes with defender. Most new pcs can ship with AV installed, or there's freeware av and firewalls that do just as a good a job as the marketed stuff. I know that limewire isn't the only dangerous place, it's just an example.

You're right: PC gaming can't die, if it did, what would they make the games on?

 

[tobyornottoby]

The PC only has three types of games, RTS, TBS and MMORPGers. Also untrue. There are a few good shooter games exclusively for the PC, like FarCry and Crysis. Some people even think they play better on the PC with the mouse than on a console with thumbsticks. Personally, I've never been a fan myself. As a side note, Real Time and Turn Based Strategies will ALWAYS be better on the computer, no matter what you say. C&C: Tiberium was good, but it was better on the PC. If Halo Wars is a success, I'll be the first to bet that it'll be ported to the PC and be better on it.

So what you're saying is that PC gaming is far more diverse than just RTS, TBS and MMO... it also has a few shooters

btw, is is because of xbox or have I missed something? usually, PC was the first platform to call when you said FPS. Has PC lost that sterotype to XBOX?

B-wha? That's the reverse of the misconception I usually hear, that women only play casual games on PCs and that consoles are the domain of men-children. To be honest, I've never heard your version voiced.

-- Steve

I think that's about female gamers and not casual players. Most gamechicks I know are console gamers

 

[elimob441]

I have a 3 yr old comp and back in 2005 it was the shit now it can barely play any of my games

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

I have a 3 yr old comp and back in 2005 it was the shit now it can barely play any of my games

Yep I got a shitty dell and its time to upgrade for me.

 

[OurGloriousLeader]

Here are some words and phrases you used that make no sense to most people:

just Eees in a bigger case
watercooling and SLi
GPU every 3-4 years, and/or cpu
intel/amd cpus and motherboards and Ati/nvidia cards.
(eide drives etc..)
Ubuntu

Then there is some more other posters have used:

dual pentium 4 cpu at 3ghz, and an ATI radeon 2600xt
Celeron --> Pentium --> Core 2 --> Quad...

And more on the next page...

Here's the thing: that stuff may simple to you, and is vaguely apparent to me, which I cold figure out after a bit of research, but the vast majority of people, including console gamers, will have no idea what you're on about here. The whole idea of building our own PC is alien. If we were to think about making the transition to PC gaming, we would wander down to Curry's, Dixons or Dell etc, and look at the prices. We wouldn't have the confidence to make our own. It's like supermarkets. Theoretically, it's easier to grow ur own veg, raise some chickens, etc. But it's easier in the short term just to wander down to the supermarket and buy it, prepackaged, after a hard day at work. That's why consoles are popular.

 

[Danny Ocean]

So what you're saying is that PC gaming is far more diverse than just RTS, TBS and MMO... it also has a few shooters

He means it has a few PC only shooters, like the Xbox has...er Halo? Has that been ported? And the PS3 has MGS etc..

Here are some words and phrases you used that make no sense to most people:... That's why consoles are popular.

You're completely right. I've always been around PCs so this all comes as normal to me, but surely only a little research would help, right? All you really need is a membership to a forum with some tech savvy peeps, and you can get them to do it for you.

@elimbob: It should be able to, are you sure it was as good as you say it was? A kick ass PC from 2005 is about mid-range now.

Also, I don't like being the only tech-head in this thread, isn't there someone else on the escapist to back me up?