Built 1st gaming pc, thoughts on PC versus Consoles

I've always been a console gamer. I've owned SNES, PS2, gamecube, xbox, and xbox 360. I still own all these except the SNES. But I built my first gaming PC last week.

Specs:

Total cost for everything (inluding shipping and tax) = $1291. I shopped arround, and usually got decent/good deals.

Total Time Spent (researching, shopping, building, overclocking) ~ 50-100 hrs.

I overclocked the GPU to 800mz, and the CPU to 3.3ghz. My 3dMark06 score is 14800.

I spend the weekend playing Crysis on the highest settings.

Conclusion:

1. PC gaming requires a significant initial investment in either time, money or both. But I personally loved every minute of building this thing. Honestly building it was more fun than playing on it. However, I'm an engineer (geek), and I expect not everyone would enjoy this. Building/overclocking wasn't hard, but it wasn't "easy" either. Basically you have to be willing to search PC message boards, ask questions, and read a lot. It's about 95% researching and 5% doing.

2. PC Gaming is on a different level than Console gaming. A PC gamerankings score of 85 is probably worth ~90+ on a console.

3. Crysis is amazing. I mean Holy F***ing God Amazing.

4. In the end, if you already have a HDTV and sound system, consoles are the best gaming experience you'll probably have for their initial cost (~$400). I've seen a lot of low cost builds posted here, but no one would build those.

5. PC might be the best bang for the buck. The initial investment is alot, but the games are much cheaper. I got Crysis on Ebay for $25, Stalker for $13, and Company of Heros for $5. The PC has a HUGE game library, so if you calculate $/hr of fun, the PC will be a better value the more you play it. Also I will be able to radically upgrade this system in a few years for roughly the cost of a new console. Once you learn how to build and overclock, upgrading takes minutes.

6. Console gaming is "easier"

- Initial setup and investment is easier

- Controller is easier to learn than mouse+keyboard

- Games don't crash nearly as often

- Games don't install, have hardware requirements, etc. You just put it in and play.

In the end I'll keep playing both. I'll buy a Wii when I can find one for sale at retail price. I'll buy a PS3 when MGS4 comes out. But I think I'll buy Rainbow Six Vegas II for the PC and not the 360. The PC is in first place.

The only thing that is important is that you get a good return on your pc. I'm sure you'll get that in time, but since crysis is the only game pushing your rig to the limit you wont see a marked return games-wise for a few years, right?

Good read. But one thing with your post

- Games don't install .. that isn't entirely true for consoles :P lol

I've always been a console gamer. I've owned SNES, PS2, gamecube, xbox, and xbox 360. I still own all these except the SNES. But I built my first gaming PC last week.

Specs:

Case COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC Power Supply Antec earthwatts EA500 Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHzHeatsink/Fan ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Memory Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Graphics Card BFG Tech BFGE88512GTSE GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB Hard drive Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500AAJS 250GB Optical Drive SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R Operating System Windows Vista Home Basic (OEM) Monitor Acer 22" Widescreen Speakers Logitech Z-5500 Keyboard Saitek Eclipse Mouse Logitech MX518

Total cost for everything (inluding shipping and tax) = $1291. I shopped arround, and usually got decent/good deals.

Total Time Spent (researching, shopping, building, overclocking) ~ 50-100 hrs.

I overclocked the GPU to 800mz, and the CPU to 3.3ghz. My 3dMark06 score is 14800.

I spend the weekend playing Crysis on the highest settings.

Conclusion:

1. PC gaming requires a significant initial investment in either time, money or both. But I personally loved every minute of building this thing. Honestly building it was more fun than playing on it. However, I'm an engineer (geek), and I expect not everyone would enjoy this. Building/overclocking wasn't hard, but it wasn't "easy" either. Basically you have to be willing to search PC message boards, ask questions, and read a lot. It's about 95% researching and 5% doing.

2. PC Gaming is on a different level than Console gaming. A PC gamerankings score of 85 is probably worth ~90+ on a console.

3. Crysis is amazing. I mean Holy F***ing God Amazing.

4. In the end, if you already have a HDTV and sound system, consoles are the best gaming experience you'll probably have for their initial cost (~$400). I've seen a lot of low cost builds posted here, but no one would build those.

5. PC might be the best bang for the buck. The initial investment is alot, but the games are much cheaper. I got Crysis on Ebay for $25, Stalker for $13, and Company of Heros for $5. The PC has a HUGE game library, so if you calculate $/hr of fun, the PC will be a better value the more you play it. Also I will be able to radically upgrade this system in a few years for roughly the cost of a new console. Once you learn how to build and overclock, upgrading takes minutes.

6. Console gaming is "easier"

- Initial setup and investment is easier

- Controller is easier to learn than mouse+keyboard

- Games don't crash nearly as often

- Games don't install, have hardware requirements, etc. You just put it in and play.

In the end I'll keep playing both. I'll buy a Wii when I can find one for sale at retail price. I'll buy a PS3 when MGS4 comes out. But I think I'll buy Rainbow Six Vegas II for the PC and not the 360. The PC is in first place.

Hoikensnogin

Good post. Very interesting. If you wouldn't mind, about how much did you spend if you chopped off mouse, keyboard, OS, HDD, DVD and monitor? That setup sounds very comparable to what I would like when money allows.

good post, i just build a new PC and i can enjoy crysis on high which is great. It can be more trouble at times but for me the pay off is better.

I agree with all of your points.

Though PC gaming is a bit more expensive, in the long run it is cheaper or about the same. I also believe if you know what you are doing with your PC, your gaming experiance is going to be much greater with a PC than a console.

For example I play an indie game Mount and Blade and recently downloaded a user made mod that replaced the textures. It made the game 100x better for me. Cant do that on a console.

I agree with all of your points.

Though PC gaming is a bit more expensive, in the long run it is cheaper or about the same. I also believe if you know what you are doing with your PC, your gaming experiance is going to be much greater with a PC than a console.

For example I play an indie game Mount and Blade and recently downloaded a user made mod that replaced the textures. It made the game 100x better for me. Cant do that on a console.

Wasdie

I think mods/maps like that are the single greatest part about gaming on a PC. For pretty much any game, there's something that can be downloaded to augment your experience.

The only thing that is important is that you get a good return on your pc. I'm sure you'll get that in time, but since crysis is the only game pushing your rig to the limit you wont see a marked return games-wise for a few years, right?

Shazenab

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I agree with all of your points.

Though PC gaming is a bit more expensive, in the long run it is cheaper or about the same. I also believe if you know what you are doing with your PC, your gaming experiance is going to be much greater with a PC than a console.

For example I play an indie game Mount and Blade and recently downloaded a user made mod that replaced the textures. It made the game 100x better for me. Cant do that on a console.

hellhund

I think mods/maps like that are the single greatest part about gaming on a PC. For pretty much any game, there's something that can be downloaded to augment your experience.

And its all free. You can't beat that. With console gaming you have to pay for new maps and content.

[QUOTE="hellhund"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I agree with all of your points.

Though PC gaming is a bit more expensive, in the long run it is cheaper or about the same. I also believe if you know what you are doing with your PC, your gaming experiance is going to be much greater with a PC than a console.

For example I play an indie game Mount and Blade and recently downloaded a user made mod that replaced the textures. It made the game 100x better for me. Cant do that on a console.

Wasdie

I think mods/maps like that are the single greatest part about gaming on a PC. For pretty much any game, there's something that can be downloaded to augment your experience.

And its all free. You can't beat that. With console gaming you have to pay for new maps and content.

If you even get it at all.

For just the PC (no monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, or OS) I paid ~$830. I shopped around a lot though. Used Fatwallet.com, rebates, coupons, ebay, etc. Without shopping around, the cost would be ~$1000. The OS (vista OEM) was $70 from Jigantic.com.

- >>Games don't install

edit: love when post screws up,

actually games do install ps3 ftw :lol:

Hey, that's almost the same setup I have! I think I put too much thermal paste on my CPU, though. Can't seem to get it higher than 2.7GHz without the temps going to 70C.

wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.deadmeat59

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.Innovazero2000

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

I only use 2gig with Vista 64 and it runs fine.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.Innovazero2000

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

[QUOTE="Innovazero2000"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.deadmeat59

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

Wrong, that information was fake. It doesn't need 3gigs, it needs 1gig on XP and 2gig on Vista.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"][QUOTE="Innovazero2000"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.rimnet00

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

Wrong, that information was fake. It doesn't need 3gigs, it needs 1gig on XP and 2gig on Vista.

I think he's talking about the recommended specs on the box.

[QUOTE="rimnet00"][QUOTE="deadmeat59"][QUOTE="Innovazero2000"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.mjarantilla

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

Wrong, that information was fake. It doesn't need 3gigs, it needs 1gig on XP and 2gig on Vista.

I think he's talking about the recommended specs on the box.

Which is what I am talking about. The 3gig "recommendations" were false.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="rimnet00"][QUOTE="deadmeat59"][QUOTE="Innovazero2000"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.rimnet00

only? few games if any really need over 2gb...and the only time you would need more is when playing the the overbloated crap that Vista is.

Wrong, that information was fake. It doesn't need 3gigs, it needs 1gig on XP and 2gig on Vista.

I think he's talking about the recommended specs on the box.

Which is what I am talking about. The 3gig "recommendations" were false.

Oh, ok. Meh, it's a mediocre game that no one should play on a pristine PC anyway. :P

I don't agree that a gamerankings score of 85 or so for a pc game would translate to 90+ on consoles. Unless you're implying that the lack of PC only reviews would raise the score, while console only review outlets would decrease it. When it comes to many multiplatform games, the pc equivalent is certainly better(though by how much?).. but to say games in general, like Mario Galaxy, can't hold their own against even decent titles the pc has offered is not fair.

My time in school is coming to an end soon, and me and my GF will be making some good money for a change. I haven't really been able to afford to put much money into a PC while i keep up with the current systems i have. I've been really wanting to build a gaming PC for quite some time, i really hope that i can do it by the end of the summer at the latest. Regardless, i'll probably spend a good portion of the summer doing research.

wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.deadmeat59

This is the second post today from you saying that 2GB is not enough. 2GB is all that is necessary for gaming at present. Why would you buy any more? By the time more RAM is necessary you will be able to buy 4GB of DDR3 for $100. It is just a waste of money right now.

Hey, that's almost the same setup I have! I think I put too much thermal paste on my CPU, though. Can't seem to get it higher than 2.7GHz without the temps going to 70C.

mjarantilla

mjarantilla,

You've definitely got something wrong with your HSF (heatsink Fan). Mine easily overclocked past 3ghz with even the stock HSF. My processor is "GO" stepping. I've read the "B3" version isnt as overclockable, but even it should do 3ghz on the stock HSF from what I've read.

I've always been a console gamer. I've owned SNES, PS2, gamecube, xbox, and xbox 360. I still own all these except the SNES. But I built my first gaming PC last week.

Specs:

Case COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC Power Supply Antec earthwatts EA500 Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz Heatsink/Fan ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Memory Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Graphics Card BFG Tech BFGE88512GTSE GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB Hard drive Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500AAJS 250GB Optical Drive SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R Operating System Windows Vista Home Basic (OEM) Monitor Acer 22" Widescreen Speakers Logitech Z-5500 Keyboard Saitek Eclipse Mouse Logitech MX518

Total cost for everything (inluding shipping and tax) = $1291. I shopped arround, and usually got decent/good deals.

Total Time Spent (researching, shopping, building, overclocking) ~ 50-100 hrs.

I overclocked the GPU to 800mz, and the CPU to 3.3ghz. My 3dMark06 score is 14800.

I spend the weekend playing Crysis on the highest settings.

Conclusion:

1. PC gaming requires a significant initial investment in either time, money or both. But I personally loved every minute of building this thing. Honestly building it was more fun than playing on it. However, I'm an engineer (geek), and I expect not everyone would enjoy this. Building/overclocking wasn't hard, but it wasn't "easy" either. Basically you have to be willing to search PC message boards, ask questions, and read a lot. It's about 95% researching and 5% doing.

2. PC Gaming is on a different level than Console gaming. A PC gamerankings score of 85 is probably worth ~90+ on a console.

3. Crysis is amazing. I mean Holy F***ing God Amazing.

4. In the end, if you already have a HDTV and sound system, consoles are the best gaming experience you'll probably have for their initial cost (~$400). I've seen a lot of low cost builds posted here, but no one would build those.

5. PC might be the best bang for the buck. The initial investment is alot, but the games are much cheaper. I got Crysis on Ebay for $25, Stalker for $13, and Company of Heros for $5. The PC has a HUGE game library, so if you calculate $/hr of fun, the PC will be a better value the more you play it. Also I will be able to radically upgrade this system in a few years for roughly the cost of a new console. Once you learn how to build and overclock, upgrading takes minutes.

6. Console gaming is "easier"

- Initial setup and investment is easier

- Controller is easier to learn than mouse+keyboard

- Games don't crash nearly as often

- Games don't install, have hardware requirements, etc. You just put it in and play.

In the end I'll keep playing both. I'll buy a Wii when I can find one for sale at retail price. I'll buy a PS3 when MGS4 comes out. But I think I'll buy Rainbow Six Vegas II for the PC and not the 360. The PC is in first place.

Hoikensnogin

That is probably one of the best assessments of PC gaming vs. console gaming I have ever seen. I agree with this fully.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]

Hey, that's almost the same setup I have! I think I put too much thermal paste on my CPU, though. Can't seem to get it higher than 2.7GHz without the temps going to 70C.

Hoikensnogin

mjarantilla,

You've definitely got something wrong with your HSF (heatsink Fan). Mine easily overclocked past 3ghz with even the stock HSF. My processor is "GO" stepping. I've read the "B3" version isnt as overclockable, but even it should do 3ghz on the stock HSF from what I've read.

Well, I have a Thermaltake V1 HSF, which I heard is pretty good. Like I said, I think I overapplied the thermal paste.

I actually did get it to 3GHz a while ago with sub-65C temps, but I turned it back down to 2.4GHz after one of the cores refused to go to max load at 3GHz (my encoding program kept on hanging; I had four instances running, one on each core, to max out the CPU). I'm not sure why it's showing temperature issues now at only 2.7GHz.

I don't agree that a gamerankings score of 85 or so for a pc game would translate to 90+ on consoles. Unless you're implying that the lack of PC only reviews would raise the score, while console only review outlets would decrease it. When it comes to many multiplatform games, the pc equivalent is certainly better(though by how much?).. but to say games in general, like Mario Galaxy, can't hold their own against even decent titles the pc has offered is not fair.

blahzor

Fun factor wise, I think the GOY console games easily hold up to GOY PC games. This is why I'll keep my consoles and buy a Wii and PS3 in the future. But PC games are held to a higher standard. Multiplats on the PC will often be scored lower, when if anything they're better. That's not my point though. My point is a person who only buys 90%+ games on consoles (me for example) should buy 85%+ games on the PC.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.CheeChee_Macko

This is the second post today from you saying that 2GB is not enough. 2GB is all that is necessary for gaming at present. Why would you buy any more? By the time more RAM is necessary you will be able to buy 4GB of DDR3 for $100. It is just a waste of money right now.

I did my research and chose 2gb of ram. I'm not going to argue about this choice, but if I wanted 4 gb of the same Crucial Ballastix (excellent memory) that I've got, I would cost another $35 after rebate from Newegg.

I don't agree that a gamerankings score of 85 or so for a pc game would translate to 90+ on consoles. Unless you're implying that the lack of PC only reviews would raise the score, while console only review outlets would decrease it. When it comes to many multiplatform games, the pc equivalent is certainly better(though by how much?).. but to say games in general, like Mario Galaxy, can't hold their own against even decent titles the pc has offered is not fair.

My time in school is coming to an end soon, and me and my GF will be making some good money for a change. I haven't really been able to afford to put much money into a PC while i keep up with the current systems i have. I've been really wanting to build a gaming PC for quite some time, i really hope that i can do it by the end of the summer at the latest. Regardless, i'll probably spend a good portion of the summer doing research.

blahzor

He's correct in saying PC 85 = Console 90. It's proven by looking at the expectations and satisfaction of the userbase on each platform. For proof, just look at how console gamers rate the same game as PC Gamers just on this site alone. It's not what's better per-say, it's what is perceived to be better by each.

Reviewed by Users Only:

Frontlines Fuel of War = 7.1 on PC - 7.8 on 360

Gears of War = 8.5 on PC - 9.4 on 360

Call of Duty 4 = 9.1 on PC - 9.4 on 360

Bioshock = 8.8 on PC - 9.2 on 360

For just about all AAA and AA games, 360 users rate their games higher, when one could easily argue the PC has the better version. This is what people are talking about. The bar is set higher by PC Gamers themselves, at least what they expect from a game.

[QUOTE="CheeChee_Macko"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]wow thats an expensive rig. you only put in 2 gb ram thats not much.Hoikensnogin

This is the second post today from you saying that 2GB is not enough. 2GB is all that is necessary for gaming at present. Why would you buy any more? By the time more RAM is necessary you will be able to buy 4GB of DDR3 for $100. It is just a waste of money right now.

I did my research and chose 2gb of ram. I'm not going to argue about this choice, but if I wanted 4 gb of the same Crucial Ballastix (excellent memory) that I've got, I would cost another $35 after rebate from Newegg.

I dont blame you, ive personallynever seen more then 2 gigs needed, thats assuming your not running on vista (who really does anyway? Joking) If your anything like me you'll have a few extra gigs floating around in no time anyway, always useful when a games start upping the bar.

As related to the topic, the best part of PC gaming has to be the mods hands down for me.

Nothing beats a HTPC with a large HDTV. ; )

I have respect for both b/c one couldnt exist without the other.InfinityMugen

PC Gaming would surely exist without console gaming...

Is it me or is the PC gaming base (hermits) growing and growing with each passing day? I remember a time when I was practically the only one with Adrianwerner that used to defend the PC here, my how times have changed. _Pedro_

Most of the PC gamers left SW after they lost an epic bet with 1 guy over the review outcome of Doom 3. Its taken years for the population to build up again.

[QUOTE="InfinityMugen"]I have respect for both b/c one couldnt exist without the other.rimnet00

PC Gaming would surely exist without console gaming...

Yes it would, but not the other way around. You are correct.

Is it me or is the PC gaming base (hermits) growing and growing with each passing day? I remember a time when I was practically the only one with Adrianwerner that used to defend the PC here, my how times have changed. _Pedro_

For me, I came around after seeing all the insane hype for Halo 3... and being very vocal about how mediocre I felt the game was. After being told: "System Wars"... a few times, I hoped over here. What has kept me around though is debating against all the PC misconceptions that people like to bring up.

What's really funny is though. I used to be a hardcore Hermit / Lemming who was all about the Wii60. I thought the 360 was a brilliant system. After being on system wars for so long, I have now being rather anti-lemm.

Is it me or is the PC gaming base (hermits) growing and growing with each passing day? I remember a time when I was practically the only one with Adrianwerner that used to defend the PC here, my how times have changed. _Pedro_

[QUOTE="_Pedro_"]Is it me or is the PC gaming base (hermits) growing and growing with each passing day? I remember a time when I was practically the only one with Adrianwerner that used to defend the PC here, my how times have changed. Vandalvideo

If you'd bother to read all the parts that he got, he actually did a really good job on the price. The CPU/Speakers/Graphics Card easily account for half of what he spent.

What makes you think paying a 3rd party to assemble it would be cheaper?

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"][QUOTE="_Pedro_"]Is it me or is the PC gaming base (hermits) growing and growing with each passing day? I remember a time when I was practically the only one with Adrianwerner that used to defend the PC here, my how times have changed. Bgrngod

If you'd bother to read all the parts that he got, he actually did a really good job on the price. The CPU/Speakers/Graphics Card easily account for half of what he spent.

What makes you think paying a 3rd party to assemble it would be cheaper?

I'm sure that if he'd hunted around more instead of using Newegg for all of them he could've pulled the price down by a couple of hundred. But that's just a matter of how much convenience you're willing to trade for money. No sense getting buyer's regret over it.

"*Frowns* I'm the OG. Anyway back on topic, TC you spent way too much money on that rig, you can use gamepads on the PC, you could have used a third party to assemble it, etc. Vandalvideo

woops sorry vandal. I forgot about you, I can't remember a time you weren't here.

Most of the PC gamers left SW after they lost an epic bet with 1 guy over the review outcome of Doom 3. Its taken years for the population to build up again.

Wartzay

yeah I remember that. That was pretty humiliating, I'm glad I didn't bet as well.