HDTV or PC

Alright, I posted this on the PC Hardware boards and they all, of course, said get the PC. Here is the situation. I bought a 27 inch LCD HDTV to replace my broken 27 Inch, flat screen SDTV. It turned out the SDTV wasn't broken. I paid $489.99 for the LCD TV. I have an xbox 360 and get the local channels in HD through cable at my college. I am amazed at the difference between SD and HD and don't know if I can go back. I was planning on buying a HDTV when I got out of college (I'm a senior next year) so I don't really want to return it just to buy a new one in a year or two. Did I mention I don't want to go back to SD...

Anyways, I also have a 4 year old PC (i have a 6 month old laptop, AMD Turion 64 X2 56-TL, 2 GB DDR2 Ram, integrated video so its not made to game). The PC I have has a Athlon xp 3000+, 1 GB DDR RAM, RADEON 9600 PRO (128 mb), and so it needs to be upgraded to play anything modern. I can build this computer on newegg for $491 after tax...

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+, 2 GB DDR2 800 RAM, ATI RADEON x1950Pro, AM2 Socket Mobo, 500 Watt (Dual +12Rail) PSU

The thing is, I can't afford both the TV AND the computer. I game more on the 360 but spend more overall time on the PC. I still am in the return period of the TV. Should I keep the HDTV or hit up the gaming rig? 

Sounds like you have a pretty decent PC and laptop to me! If you throw $500 at the PC to upgrade it, you'll have a great setup, but you'll just need to do it again in another 2-2.5 years to play "modern games". 

If you keep the HDTV (I'm assuming it's 720p at that price) it will still work great with any other console you decide to pick up in the future and you probably won't be disappointed with it so soon (until you get a glimpse of 1080p :) ).

EDIT: Also, now that you have an extra TV on hand, sell it on the cheap to someone else on campus. Then put the $100 (or whatever you get) towards more RAM for your PC.

Sounds like you have a pretty decent PC and laptop to me! If you throw $500 at the PC to upgrade it, you'll have a great setup, but you'll just need to do it again in another 2-2.5 years to play "modern games".

If you keep the HDTV (I'm assuming it's 720p at that price) it will still work great with any other console you decide to pick up in the future and you probably won't be disappointed with it so soon (until you get a glimpse of 1080p :) ).

StumpyTrash

It's only 27 inches...1080p is overkill at that size. Most people agree that 1080p is good for over 50 (or for monitors).

Alright guys. I guess I'll just hang with my current stuff, thanks for talking me down to earth (I'm not made of money, but sometimes I forget to care) 

[QUOTE="StumpyTrash"]

Sounds like you have a pretty decent PC and laptop to me! If you throw $500 at the PC to upgrade it, you'll have a great setup, but you'll just need to do it again in another 2-2.5 years to play "modern games".

If you keep the HDTV (I'm assuming it's 720p at that price) it will still work great with any other console you decide to pick up in the future and you probably won't be disappointed with it so soon (until you get a glimpse of 1080p :) ).

seabiscuit8686

It's only 27 inches...1080p is overkill at that size. Most people agree that 1080p is good for over 50 (or for monitors).

Alright guys. I guess I'll just hang with my current stuff, thanks for talking me down to earth (I'm not made of money, but sometimes I forget to care) 

[QUOTE="seabiscuit8686"][QUOTE="StumpyTrash"]

Sounds like you have a pretty decent PC and laptop to me! If you throw $500 at the PC to upgrade it, you'll have a great setup, but you'll just need to do it again in another 2-2.5 years to play "modern games".

If you keep the HDTV (I'm assuming it's 720p at that price) it will still work great with any other console you decide to pick up in the future and you probably won't be disappointed with it so soon (until you get a glimpse of 1080p :) ).

smurfah15

It's only 27 inches...1080p is overkill at that size. Most people agree that 1080p is good for over 50 (or for monitors).

Alright guys. I guess I'll just hang with my current stuff, thanks for talking me down to earth (I'm not made of money, but sometimes I forget to care)

I guess its just opinion, but I have seen both, and no, there is no difference. Maybe you have witnessed a different reason for this "gain." Maybe someone was using different cables or the TVs were of different quality (contrast ration, brightness, etc)