Will console graphics ever beat PC graphics?

[hawkeye52]

actually come to think of it my comp at the moment cost me around $900 but tbh i will probably keep it for at least 2 console generations possibly 3, 4 at a stretch without changing anything in it but because of my freedom with the hardware could update it whenever i want so in the long run if you are looking to play decent games at a decent level of graphics you could probably just buy a reasonably expensive comp and just update the graphics and processor once every 4-5 years and you are set and will probably cost less then buying a whole new console every time.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

No, because when they make a new console, even with the top of the line hardware, it can only match the top of the line PC. Also, considering the time it would take to mass produce and distribute the consoles, they would be lucky to be able to match a PC when they are out. Then again, if they do manage to match it, give it a month (if that), and PC will pass it.

 

[Msalyani]

I think the biggest reason is price. PC gamers are willing to throw down above $2000 on a computer, while people have trouble spending $300 on a console, its just the way the market works. Let put it like this, the screen shot given by the OP is probably on a computer that is >$3000. I find that if you take a PC that is $300 and compare it to a PS3 that is also $300, then obviously the PS3 would be crazy better. Most people can not tell the slight differences anyway. So yes PC graphics will always be slightly better until they start charge $2000 for a PS3.

I should probably stop responding to this thread after my royal @#$!-up a few posts above, but here we go again.

Yes, some PC's cost $2000. As a general rule, those are over-priced, pre-built systems that anyone with some knowledge in PC's could build for less than half that price.

Still a lot more than $300

 

[Eponet]

I guess there will soon be a Playstation 4, and an XBox UberMegaMax or whatever name they will give it, and that will take their abilities to the next level - though as others say, because the hardware is then locked in, the PC will tend to inch away over it again. Really PC and console development is the same, its just consoles come in less frequent and bigger instalments. PC is small increments all the time.

Go Go Kaizen?

 

[JeanLuc761]

Still a lot more than $300

Certainly true, but there are some advantages to the extra price, depending on how you use the computer. $700 will net you a computer that (should) be able to run any game extremely well, and outperform any console on the market. In addition to this, you'll have a competent rendering PC for those of us who enjoy CGI and/or game design. It's also good for Photoshop work, video editing, etc.

Yes, $700 is expensive, but if it's for more than just gaming, it's worth it.

 

[Redingold]

I can't imagine why.

PCs are upgradeable, and you can spend exorbitant sums on making them anyway.

If graphics on a console worth £300 are better than those on a PC worth £3000 (I do know someone who spent this much on a computer), somebody's doing something wrong.

 

[LiftYourSkinnyFists]

Personaly ive always been a pc gamer so i am a bit biased on this issue, however i think it's worth a look. Bellow is a screenshot from Crysis on the PC. Can consoles ever hope to match up to graphics like this? Given that it takes a pc to program and build a console game will there always be some measure of downgrading to make any given game work on a console? Or since the constant upgrading and updating of pc's is neverending will it take a console sent back in time to beat pc's on graphics and looks alone?

Ideas?

Please note this useful factor when debating this.

Consoles are computers, they are never going to be powerful as a top of the range computer because nobody would pay, well nobody with more sense than money would cough up over £1000 for a console when they could get a computer which they can upgrade slowly to keep up with a market.

The common bottleneck with a console as seen with XBOX with their numerous models such as the recent slim all trying to fix problems and enhance the whole experience of using a console.

You've got to realise that games on consoles are developed on computers, computer which inevitably have to be stronger or equal to the power of the console.

 

[lostzombies.com]

It's all about price. The vast majority of gamers have neither the time or rediculous amount of money to spend upgrading their PC every 2 years to play the new games at their best settings

With all of the PC gamers stating time and time again that this assertion is COMPLETELY false, it baffles me that there are people still going around saying PC gaming is a ridiculous money pit and requires an upgrade every year or two.

If you're spending more than $600 to build the PC, and upgrading more than once every three years or so, you're doing it wrong (or you work with high-end CGI and/or you have a lot of dispensable income).

BUILD...BUILD

not everyone knwos how to build a computer. Why do you think alienware do so well? It's because the majority of people do not know how to make a PC so have to buy one pre-made for thousands of mulla.

The only alternative is to spend a LOT of time learning how to make a PC.

People just want to play games for a low price and not have to worry about expensive upgrades or having to learn how to build a whole computer to save money.

It's why consoles are so popular and it's why pre-made cars sell better than custom car-kits.

It's basic economics-supply and demand.

You want a house/car/computer, etc then the VAST majority of people in the world will buy one that is already pre-made even if it is more expensive. Now if you offer them a house/car/computer that is pre-made AND vastly cheaper/easy to use and the only downside is the graphics are a tiny bit different, what do you think the vast majority of people will do?

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

my decent rig, that will admittedly become obsolete by next summer

Wait, how old is your computer? Mine's getting on but it still runs everything that I throw it on high or a mixture of Medium and high. (It cost $1500 AUS though).

Uhh it's not very old, running on 3 years or sth. but i couldn't afford a very high end graphics card. Processor(2.53GHz) and RAM(3Gig) are pretty good, but my Nvidia 9400 is behind the times. if i buy a new one, i can easily extend its life though, which i guess is the PC's incomparable Silver lining.

 

[Lunar Templar]

i suppose that depends on your definitional of 'good graphics'

in the 'hyper real OMFG i can see hims SWEATING!!' sense, no, PCs are up gradable,

consoles, best you can hope for is swapping HDs

but then ...
i'm a bigger fan of the 8 and 16 bit games then most current stuff, since graphics are more then forgivable it the rest of the game is good

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

I consider consoles to be nothing more than specialized PCs which you can't upgrade; all PCs are limited by their hardware. So all it would take is a console with high enough specifications-- except those would be waaaaay expensive, not unlike gaming PCs.

 

[JeanLuc761]

BUILD...BUILD

not everyone knwos how to build a computer. Why do you think alienware do so well? It's because the majority of people do not know how to make a PC so have to buy one pre-made for thousands of mulla.

The only alternative is to spend a LOT of time learning how to make a PC.

People just want to play games for a low price and not have to worry about expensive upgrades or having to learn how to build a whole computer to save money.

It's why consoles are so popular and it's why pre-made cars sell better than custom car-kits.

It's basic economics-supply and demand.

You want a house/car/computer, etc then the VAST majority of people in the world will buy one that is already pre-made even if it is more expensive. Now if you offer them a house/car/computer that is pre-made AND vastly cheaper/easy to use and the only downside is the graphics are a tiny bit different, what do you think the vast majority of people will do?

I'll agree that a lot of people aren't willing to take the time to learn how to build a PC, which is a real shame because it means people are spending far more money for what they get.

Building a PC is, in all honesty, not a very difficult process. The easiest way to do so is to go onto a website such as www.newegg.com and ask people there about what you're looking for in a PC and what the best parts are. Once you get the parts, assembling the tower is easy; everything basically only fits one-way.

After that, get a legitimate copy of an operating system, insert the disc upon boot-up, and voila! You've got a custom-built PC.

 

[lostzombies.com]

I'll agree that a lot of people aren't willing to take the time to learn how to build a PC, which is a real shame because it means people are spending far more money for what they get.

Building a PC is, in all honesty, not a very difficult process. The easiest way to do so is to go onto a website such as www.newegg.com and ask people there about what you're looking for in a PC and what the best parts are. Once you get the parts, assembling the tower is easy; everything basically only fits one-way.

After that, get a legitimate copy of an operating system, insert the disc upon boot-up, and voila! You've got a custom-built PC.

It's similar to building your own car, the parts are out there and it's not rocket science. BUt it does require a lot of time. When the alternative is walk into a shop and buy a console for £250, go home and stick a disk in and youre off, there is noy much contest.

I mean I enjoy PC games but only RTS such as total war. I need a good laptop for HD video editing so I dont need to go high end gaming PC etc.

I would have no problem learning how to make a PC but it boils down to being lazy. I can order a dell and have it with me in 4/5 days. The alternative is spend a couple hundred hours learning the ins and outs of making a powerful pc/laptop and then a couple of weeks building it.

I admit the price of pre-made high end computers is too much but the industry makes such insane profits on it, and people are not so horrified that they will change their spending habbits to force a change.

I mean in what 20 years I can't really see a PC gaming community which will be sad but it's the way that our society goes; cheap easy tech that you dont need to do anything to for it to work.

And in 30 years time we will all be gaming in hologram alternative reality suits and be laughing that these conversations took place (they will be powered by consoles though )

 

[Ziel]

Building a PC is a lot like that babies toy, where you have to stick the star-shaped block through the star-shaped hole. The actual building of the PC isn't all that difficult. The challenge is knowing what to buy...making sure you don't get a socket 1366 mobo for an AMD CPU and that sort of thing.

I find people tend to think PCs are far more complicated than they actually are in that regard. Not to mention the price people think they'll need to pay for a good PC...

I suppose if you were a baby that tried shoving the square block through the circular hole, a console might be a better choice though.

 

[lacktheknack]

Won't happen, for obvious reasons.