Can a 2005 PC compete with current gen consoles?

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive. I'm not saying you can't get a great rig for say $600.. But would that $600 rig purchased/built in 2005, be able to run The Witcher 2, Skyrim ect.. in all their modded glory? I'm not flamming.. it's a simple question to the tech heads out their.

No, but it could play Half-Life 2 with better graphics than Uncharted 3 or Gears 3.

Nope, they would be able to run them as well as the consoles only if they all had the same hardware and the developers worked on that specific hardware.tagyhag

in other words, the only way for a PC from 2005 to run the witcher 2 today is if it wasn't a PC at all but a console?

Nope, in 2005 PC hardware was lower than consoles. A 2006 PC with a 8800GTX still can and it won't be maxing anything, but it will still look better than consoles.

No, but it could play Half-Life 2 with better graphics than Uncharted 3 or Gears 3.

tjricardo089

No, but it could play Half-Life 2 with better graphics than Uncharted 3 or Gears 3.

tjricardo089

Was the 8800 gt released when the consoles came out? If so, that paired with the e8400 or q6600 and 4gb ddr2 ram would be able to output graphics slightly better than its console counterparts for $600. I remember having that set up with a 9600gt (slightly worse than the 8800gt) and I was able to play games like mass effect and crysis with better graphics than my xbox.

Nope, in 2005 PC hardware was lower than consoles. A 2006 PC with a 8800GTX still can.

GD1551

Why would you expect a 2005 rig to play 2011/2012 PC games maxed out/modded? You realize current games are optimized for the latest hardware, right?

[QUOTE="GD1551"]

Nope, in 2005 PC hardware was lower than consoles. A 2006 PC with a 8800GTX still can.

OhSnapitz

Yes.

Probably not, but PC hardware has advanced a lot since then and the latest PCs are probably far more powerful than even next gen consoles

Was the 8800 gt released when the consoles came out? If so, that paired with the e8400 or q6600 and 4gb ddr2 ram would be able to output graphics slightly better than its console counterparts for $600. I remember having that set up with a 9600gt (slightly worse than the 8800gt) and I was able to play games like mass effect and crysis with better graphics than my xbox.

rikimaru93

Yep,I played Crysis on med-high settings(mostly med) and many other games very well untill early 2010 using 9800GT(just a 8800GT revision,no real performance difference),2GB DDR2 RAM and some Intel Core Duo CPU(can't remember the exact model).Also,none of the parts were OC'd.

And in dollars,that PC costed around $600...

Nope, they would be able to run them as well as the consoles only if they all had the same hardware and the developers worked on that specific hardware.tagyhag

Why would you expect a 2005 rig to play 2011/2012 PC games maxed out/modded? You realize current games are optimized for the latest hardware, right?

princeofshapeir

I believe TC was comparing what a 2005 console could do compared to a 2005 pc of comparable price.

[QUOTE="rikimaru93"]

Was the 8800 gt released when the consoles came out? If so, that paired with the e8400 or q6600 and 4gb ddr2 ram would be able to output graphics slightly better than its console counterparts for $600. I remember having that set up with a 9600gt (slightly worse than the 8800gt) and I was able to play games like mass effect and crysis with better graphics than my xbox.

Rocker6

Yep,I played Crysis on med-high settings(mostly med) and many other games very well untill early 2010 using 9800GT(just a 8800GT revision,no real performance difference),2GB DDR2 RAM and some Intel Core Duo CPU(can't remember the exact model).Also,none of the parts were OC'd.

And in dollars,that PC costed around $600...

[QUOTE="princeofshapeir"]

Why would you expect a 2005 rig to play 2011/2012 PC games maxed out/modded? You realize current games are optimized for the latest hardware, right?

sayyy-gaa

I believe TC was comparing what a 2005 console could do compared to a 2005 pc of comparable price.

PC tech from 2005? Probably not. Back in 2005, PC tech was still in transition from singlecore CPU/AGP graphics to multicore CPU/PCI-E graphics. Intel Socket 478 was transitioning to LGA 775, AMD Socket 939 was transitioning to Socket AM2. PCI-E didn't really become fully standard until late 2006-early 2007.

Esdit: That would be the closest thing to a "generation" change for the PC. It's probably also the reason why most PC developers currently have minimum specs that date back to the late 2006-early 2007 time period.

[QUOTE="sayyy-gaa"]

[QUOTE="princeofshapeir"]

Why would you expect a 2005 rig to play 2011/2012 PC games maxed out/modded? You realize current games are optimized for the latest hardware, right?

princeofshapeir

I believe TC was comparing what a 2005 console could do compared to a 2005 pc of comparable price.

Nope, they would be able to run them as well as the consoles only if they all had the same hardware and the developers worked on that specific hardware.tagyhag

Not really. PCs aren't nearly as efficient as consoles. While they may have more theoretical performance on paper, their actual real world performance would be less than that of a modern console using a modern API.

The reason why even a 2008 computer probably can't run skyrim or witcher2 at anything near high is simply because of optimization. When developers make a pc game, optimization becomes much more difficult because of all the different set-ups possible, (and since games are sponsored by nvidia/ati they are pressured to spend time optimizing for the latest graphics cards that come out).

a 8800 card is still probably more powerful than whats in either the ps3 or xbox360. But when you're optimizing for a ps3 or an xbox 360 you just have to optimize for one single configuration which results in less effort and much better performance. Plus you're guarenteed the ability to be able to run the games in the same graphics and performance as the developer had intended.

tl;dr: Consoles are definitely more cost effective than pcs if you simply plan to play videogames.

OP you asked a specific question are are getitng round about answers so I will shut this thread down for you that will also satisfy hermits reading into this crap too much.

No, OP, a system from 2005/2006 for 600 dollars could not run the latest games as well as a console. I highly doubt this wasn't a loaded question given you also stipulated the dollar amount that happens to equals the price of the ps3. However,

The hardware at the bleeding edge was even higher than consoles thanks to CF/SLI and while it played games at very high resolution and FPS, even those PC's couldn't play today's games. That is because hardware, OS, DX11 and other advancements push technology forward much faster than on the consoles which is a closed platform and there is only 1 "common denominator."

With that said, the 600 dollar PC is not the good value propopsition to make or buy and I hate hermits who try to "compete" with crappy console pricing. I would never and have never built a PC for 500-600 dollars. Can you? Sure. However I like to get ROI on my computers and not have to upgrade every six months. I invest on good ram, motherboards, GPU/CPU and outstanding case and power supplies that I can carry forward in upgrades (usually except ram/cpu/MB).

So while the PC is more costly on the FRONT END (initial price) it is cheaper over time:

1. Buy cheaper games

2. games last much longer thanks to the community and mod support therefoer buying less games and getting ROI on purchases

3. free online

4. tend to not buy ps3/360/wii/3ds/everyfrikkin console since you have a system that plays nearly everything.

So your question, if SRS, sucks and can't believe you don't deduce some common facts. If NOT SRS....thanks for allowing me to clarify why your question is loaded, validate that yes you are right that consoles are the only platform that stays CONSISTENT through it's generation (DUH) and then consequently destroy your thinking. Have a great day!

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

No but I would like to meet somebody that hasn't had to replace their xbox 360 since 2005...

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

RyuRanVII

I'm on my third PS3

The probleme is... I don't buy new PC, i just upgrade when needed...

[QUOTE="RyuRanVII"]

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

BPoole96

I'm on my third PS3

3rd? Already? How can that be? Did quality control drop across the board this gen? My original PS2 is still very much alive.

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

RyuRanVII

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive. I'm not saying you can't get a great rig for say $600.. But would that $600 rig purchased/built in 2005, be able to run The Witcher 2, Skyrim ect.. in all their modded glory? I'm not flamming.. it's a simple question to the tech heads out their.

OhSnapitz

A 600$ 2005 PC could not even run 2005 best looking games

A 3000$+ 7800GTX SLI would run some 2008 games well but runs nothing latest at all

The probleme is... I don't buy new PC, i just upgrade when needed...

Bebi_vegeta

You can upgrade a 2005 PC with a 2011 GPU ?

Wouldnt the CPU bottleneck it to nothingess ?

What about RAM ?

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive. I'm not saying you can't get a great rig for say $600.. But would that $600 rig purchased/built in 2005, be able to run The Witcher 2, Skyrim ect.. in all their modded glory? I'm not flamming.. it's a simple question to the tech heads out their.

loosingENDS

A 600$ 2005 PC could not even run 2005 best looking games

A 3000$+ 7800GTX SLI would run some 2008 games well but runs nothing latest at all

You should stop talking about price... since you've never had a gaming PC to start off with, you wouldn't know the price.

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive. I'm not saying you can't get a great rig for say $600.. But would that $600 rig purchased/built in 2005, be able to run The Witcher 2, Skyrim ect.. in all their modded glory? I'm not flamming.. it's a simple question to the tech heads out their.

loosingENDS

A 600$ 2005 PC could not even run 2005 best looking games

A 3000$+ 7800GTX SLI would run some 2008 games well but runs nothing latest at all

Uh huh

I payed about $800 for my PC in 2006 and it could max any game at the time. Then Crysis came out and I couldn't max it but it looked pretty damn good for the settings I could use. I have since made incremental upgrades and now I have spent about $1200 overall and once can max just about anything out there. Maybe not modded to the max, but enough to beat any console by miles. This whole multi thousnd dollar argument is getting old. Either that are you too stupid to realize that you don't have to let alienware bend you over to get a good PC.

[QUOTE="Bebi_vegeta"]

The probleme is... I don't buy new PC, i just upgrade when needed...

loosingENDS

You can upgrade a 2005 PC with a 2011 GPU ?

Wouldnt the CPU bottleneck it to nothingess ?

What about RAM ?

Did you not read what I wrote? I upgrade when needed...

[QUOTE="loosingENDS"]

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive. I'm not saying you can't get a great rig for say $600.. But would that $600 rig purchased/built in 2005, be able to run The Witcher 2, Skyrim ect.. in all their modded glory? I'm not flamming.. it's a simple question to the tech heads out their.

Bebi_vegeta

A 600$ 2005 PC could not even run 2005 best looking games

A 3000$+ 7800GTX SLI would run some 2008 games well but runs nothing latest at all

You should stop talking about price... since you've never had a gaming PC to start off with, you wouldn't know the price.

I know that all top crads cost in the 600$+ range and SLI is 1200$ just for the GPUs

Add a top CPU at another 500$ at least and you are already at 1700$, if you dont go for the top of the top parts

2000$ is the absolute minimum imo, i can see the prices, i dont have to buy a PC to see the cost, i can browse a website

[QUOTE="loosingENDS"]

[QUOTE="Bebi_vegeta"]

The probleme is... I don't buy new PC, i just upgrade when needed...

Bebi_vegeta

You can upgrade a 2005 PC with a 2011 GPU ?

Wouldnt the CPU bottleneck it to nothingess ?

What about RAM ?

Did you not read what I wrote? I upgrade when needed...

I think his point is, you'll always have a bottleneck in your system if you keep upgrading a single part at a time, and might as well just get a new pc altogether.

2000$ is the absolute minimum imoloosingENDS

[QUOTE="Bebi_vegeta"]

[QUOTE="loosingENDS"]

You can upgrade a 2005 PC with a 2011 GPU ?

Wouldnt the CPU bottleneck it to nothingess ?

What about RAM ?

jockie_chan

Did you not read what I wrote? I upgrade when needed...

I think his point is, you'll always have a bottleneck in your system if you keep upgrading a single part at a time, and might as well just get a new pc altogether.

Exactly, at least the PCI express has remained standard

Before that you had to buy a new PC because the GPU slot was just incompatible

[QUOTE="Bebi_vegeta"]

[QUOTE="loosingENDS"]

You can upgrade a 2005 PC with a 2011 GPU ?

Wouldnt the CPU bottleneck it to nothingess ?

What about RAM ?

jockie_chan

Did you not read what I wrote? I upgrade when needed...

I think his point is, you'll always have a bottleneck in your system if you keep upgrading a single part at a time, and might as well just get a new pc altogether.

Exactly, at least the PCI express has remained standard

Before that you had to buy a new PC because the GPU slot was just incompatible

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]Nope, they would be able to run them as well as the consoles only if they all had the same hardware and the developers worked on that specific hardware.sayyy-gaa

in other words, the only way for a PC from 2005 to run the witcher 2 today is if it wasn't a PC at all but a console?

One of the benefits of gaming on PC is that you can upgrade hardware so who cares

This is a stupid question. The reason is that PC games, by and large (referring to the games the "core" crowd play) aren't designed to be run by the older hardware efficiently. PC hardware is released consistently, and games continually run at higher resolutions with better effects, better texture resolutions etc.

No a 2005 PC doesn't play modern PC games but then again it's a 7 freaking years old piece of hardware. Only because consoles are stuck in the past doesn't mean PC should too. PC doesn't have to play by the same rules, it does cheat :P In the end a PC is costly but that's because it's a freaking computer. It does gaming and much more and a bit more after that.edidili

Indeed, PCs are usless after a few years and must move forward indeed

Xbox 360 on the other hand runs Withcer 2 fine, so i would not call that "stuck in the past" either

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

[QUOTE="RyuRanVII"]

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

jun_aka_pekto

I'm on my third PS3

3rd? Already? How can that be? Did quality control drop across the board this gen? My original PS2 is still very much alive.

I think so. My NES and Genesis still work fine. My original 60GB got the YLOD 14 months after purchase, so I sent it back to Sony. For $150, they sent me back a different refurbished model and didn't have the game that was originally in it. After hours talking to their customer service they finally agreed to send my another copy.

The refurb lasted 9 months and that is even with me vaccuuming dust out of it every few weeks. I fixed that one myself with a heat gun and thermal compound but it kept breaking over and over so finally I said fvck it and bought a Slim model. Luckily I have no had any problems with that at all

Just a curious question.. as a few gamers tend to think that PC gaming is inexpensive.

OhSnapitz

The majority of the time I see this comment posted it has to do with the price of PC games, the amount of free-to-play games available, as well as all the free content available.

Most people agree you need a PC anyways, so why not build one that plays games for the same price you'd pay for a crappy one at a store?? There's a ton of money that can be saved in doing so.

In terms of playing games on my PS3, PSP, DS, Wii, or PC my PC has been the cheapest thing to game on every single year, relatively speaking.

[QUOTE="edidili"]No a 2005 PC doesn't play modern PC games but then again it's a 7 freaking years old piece of hardware. Only because consoles are stuck in the past doesn't mean PC should too. PC doesn't have to play by the same rules, it does cheat :P In the end a PC is costly but that's because it's a freaking computer. It does gaming and much more and a bit more after that.loosingENDS

Indeed, PCs are usless after a few years and must move forward indeed

Xbox 360 on the other hand runs Withcer 2 fine, so i would not call that "stuck in the past" either

[QUOTE="RyuRanVII"]

I wonder how many console gamers are still using a 2005 x360 and a 2006 PS3.

BPoole96

I'm on my third PS3

[QUOTE="edidili"]No a 2005 PC doesn't play modern PC games but then again it's a 7 freaking years old piece of hardware. Only because consoles are stuck in the past doesn't mean PC should too. PC doesn't have to play by the same rules, it does cheat :P In the end a PC is costly but that's because it's a freaking computer. It does gaming and much more and a bit more after that.loosingENDS

Indeed, PCs are usless after a few years and must move forward indeed

Xbox 360 on the other hand runs Withcer 2 fine, so i would not call that "stuck in the past" either

That's probably why PC is for people who don't want to settle for "fine"