I'm tired of hearing 'PC gaming is too expensive.'

A popular myth is that if you want to play the latest PC games on high settings with full resolution, you need a $2000 rig. That isn't so, not even by a long shot. Having a $2000 rig has nice perks, especially if you are going to be using the machine for work as well as play, but if you don't care about running a game on 3 monitors in 3D at 60-100 FPS, there are plenty of options available that will work just fine and are not expensive.

For example, I use a Radeon 7770, which you can buy for just over $100 with rebates. I can run Battlefield 3 with almost all settings on high and ultra at full resolution, and the framerate rarely ever drops below 30 FPS. Crysis 2 runs on extreme and I get a consistent 45 FPS. Most computers made within the last 5 years will run new games just fine if you drop one of these into your PCI Express slot. It's not even like this is an old card-- it's got more life left in it than any of the current consoles do, that's for sure.

And of course, some of you have PCs that are older than that, and you are stuck with a crappy single-core processor that isn't good enough to run anything new. Well guess what? A combo from Newegg with a motherboard and a quad-core, 3.6 GHz CPU is $240. After an upgrade like that, you aren't going to have to need another motherboard/cpu upgrade for a long friggin' time, either. Installing a new motherboard and CPU isn't exactly rocket-science, either-- if you can hold a screwdriver and follow some very basic instructions on Youtube, you can do it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1067244

Assuming you need new RAM, that will run you another $40, but the point is, even in the worst case scenario you should be able to upgrade an old machine for less than $400. If your PC is 4 years old or younger, there's a good chance it only needs a $100 graphics card, and that will last you at least 2-3 years. Even if you have no PC at all, you can get a gaming PC kit that costs less than $600. Obviously, you will also need a copy of Windows which will be another $100, but even $700 is a very far cry from the $2000 rigs that people seem to think are required to play anyting other than Farmville.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1018162

The notion that gaming PCs cost thousands of dollars couldn't be further from the truth, and unlike consoles, when it becomes outdated you have the option of spending another $100 every few years on upgrades if you want the graphics to remain up-to-date (which, BTW, is about what you have to pay to use Xbox Live anyway).

Expensive is just a relative term. To many it is expensive, or an unnecessary expense.

We brood on this way too much.

Most people here know that PCs do not cost that much, they just say that to piss people off and to justify their console purchases

Why are you guys constantly trying to sell console gamers on PC's? serious...

Why are you guys constantly trying to sell console gamers on PC's? serious...

OhSnapitz

Most people here know that PCs do not cost that much, they just say that to piss people off and to justify their console purchases

BPoole96

Expensive is just a relative term. To many it is expensive, or an unnecessary expense.

We brood on this way too much.

lundy86_4

Why are you guys constantly trying to sell console gamers on PC's? serious...

OhSnapitz

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Why are you guys constantly trying to sell console gamers on PC's? serious...

Timstuff

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Expensive is just a relative term. To many it is expensive, or an unnecessary expense.

We brood on this way too much.

AcidSoldner

I am not trying to make a referendum against console gaming, since I myself do quite a bit of my gaming on a PS3, but I think it's silly that people so frequently bring up cost as the main reason not to play PC games, even though there's a good chance that all they need is a $100 graphics card.

Good to know!

Now I'll just go to the gumball machine and get me one....

Who are you trying to kid?

This herm crusade to convert console gamers to pc is waaaaaaaaaaaay more expensive than any rig could ever cost.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Most people here know that PCs do not cost that much, they just say that to piss people off and to justify their console purchases

blackace

Expensive is just a relative term. To many it is expensive, or an unnecessary expense.

We brood on this way too much.

lundy86_4

in some circumstances can be even cheaper

back in 2006

gaming PC (qx6700, 8800GTX, 4GB ram, etc) for $1800
ps3 for $600 & low-end pc for $400 (Let's face it, everyone need a pc) = $1000

ps3 games cost on avenger 15$ more than pc games so,
an average gamer buy 12 games per year that means, 15x12 = $180 per year more expensive, 180x6 = $1080 in 6 years.

conclusion:
the above gaming PC will cost you $1800
and the ps3 with cost you $600+$400+$1080 = $2080

as we can see it came out cheaper and play games with better graphics and performance than consoles.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Expensive is just a relative term. To many it is expensive, or an unnecessary expense.

We brood on this way too much.

AcidSoldner

No matter how ya spin it, a 400 euro PC from 2005 would never be running The Witcher 2, Crysis 2 or Skyrim. Yet a console of the same price and time period can, the Xbox 360. Consoles are factually cheaper. As people have said, the expense of a PC is overblown and really no big deal if you have a decent job. But it IS still a fact that's it's dearer.locopatho

PC gamers are idiots, they show something like this then forget to imform you that for an average household PC you more than likely need to upgrade the power suppy and cooling systems as well to run it. It's the same when they conveniently leave out things like the OS costs when showing off cheap PC builds.

Zomg I iz sooo jealous of da all mighty pc gamerz!!!11!1!!!

in some circumstances can be even cheaper

back in 2006

gaming PC (qx6700, 8800GTX, 4GB ram, etc) for $1800
ps3 for $600 & low-end pc for $400 (Let's face it, everyone need a pc) = $1000

ps3 games cost on avenger 15$ more than pc games so,
an average gamer buy 12 games per year that means, 15x12 = $180 per year more expensive, 180x6 = $1080 in 6 years.

conclusion:
the above gaming PC will cost you $1800
and the ps3 with cost you $600+$400+$1080 = $2080

as we can see it came out cheaper and play games with better graphics and performance than consoles.

MK-Professor

PC gaming is not cheaper than gaming on a console, but it's still affordable, and the benefits speak for themselves. Even when the next generation of systems come out, moderate gaming PCs will still probably be able to keep pace with them if not straight up outperfom them with no upgrades.

PC gamers are idiots, they show something like this then forget to imform you that for an average household PC you more than likely need to upgrade the power suppy and cooling systems as well to run it. It's the same when they conveniently leave out things like the OS costs when showing off cheap PC builds.

Newhopes

[QUOTE="locopatho"]No matter how ya spin it, a 400 euro PC from 2005 would never be running The Witcher 2, Crysis 2 or Skyrim. Yet a console of the same price and time period can, the Xbox 360. Consoles are factually cheaper. As people have said, the expense of a PC is overblown and really no big deal if you have a decent job. But it IS still a fact that's it's dearer.OhSnapitz

[QUOTE="MK-Professor"]

in some circumstances can be even cheaper

back in 2006

gaming PC (qx6700, 8800GTX, 4GB ram, etc) for $1800
ps3 for $600 & low-end pc for $400 (Let's face it, everyone need a pc) = $1000

ps3 games cost on avenger 15$ more than pc games so,
an average gamer buy 12 games per year that means, 15x12 = $180 per year more expensive, 180x6 = $1080 in 6 years.

conclusion:
the above gaming PC will cost you $1800
and the ps3 with cost you $600+$400+$1080 = $2080

as we can see it came out cheaper and play games with better graphics and performance than consoles.

Timstuff

PC gaming is not cheaper than gaming on a console, but it's still affordable, and the benefits speak for themselves. Even when the next generation of systems come out, moderate gaming PCs will still probably be able to keep pace with them if not straight up outperfom them with no upgrades.

:lol:

..so now Hermits are using the o'l cow argument.. lol

Just like you can shop for discounted PC components, you can shop for discounted games/accessories for consoles. DSII is $38 on amazon right now and that game just released a month ago. XBLG cards are $40 on amazon right now but I'm sure you'll refer gamers to the $60 retail price point.. and then you have the nerve to get upset when people say a gaming rig runs over $2000.

.

[QUOTE="Newhopes"] 7770 will run on crap PSUs [QUOTE="OhSnapitz"][QUOTE="locopatho"]No matter how ya spin it, a 400 euro PC from 2005 would never be running The Witcher 2, Crysis 2 or Skyrim. Yet a console of the same price and time period can, the Xbox 360. Consoles are factually cheaper. As people have said, the expense of a PC is overblown and really no big deal if you have a decent job. But it IS still a fact that's it's dearer.kraken2109

Even a prehistoric ATI X1950 can play crysis2 at console settings link

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]

[QUOTE="MK-Professor"]

in some circumstances can be even cheaper

back in 2006

gaming PC (qx6700, 8800GTX, 4GB ram, etc) for $1800
ps3 for $600 & low-end pc for $400 (Let's face it, everyone need a pc) = $1000

ps3 games cost on avenger 15$ more than pc games so,
an average gamer buy 12 games per year that means, 15x12 = $180 per year more expensive, 180x6 = $1080 in 6 years.

conclusion:
the above gaming PC will cost you $1800
and the ps3 with cost you $600+$400+$1080 = $2080

as we can see it came out cheaper and play games with better graphics and performance than consoles.

OhSnapitz

PC gaming is not cheaper than gaming on a console, but it's still affordable, and the benefits speak for themselves. Even when the next generation of systems come out, moderate gaming PCs will still probably be able to keep pace with them if not straight up outperfom them with no upgrades.

:lol:

..so now Hermits are using the o'l cow argument.. lol

Just like you can shop for discounted PC components, you can shop for discounted games/accessories for consoles. DSII is $38 on amazon right now and that game just released a month ago. XBLG cards are $40 on amazon right now but I'm sure you'll refer gamers to the $60 retail price point.. and then you have the nerve to get upset when people say a gaming rig runs over $2000.

Also, you wanna talk cheap prices for Darksiders 2? How does $32 for the Steam version sound?

http://www.cjs-cdkeys.com/products/Darksiders-2-Steam-Key.html

You can get console games for good prices, sure, but in my experience PC game prices have been consistently better.

7770 will run on crap PSUs kraken2109

The Radeon 7770 needs a 600w PSU minimum, an average off the shelf $400-600 range home PC will have a 350-450w PSU.

[QUOTE="kraken2109"][QUOTE="Newhopes"]

7770 will run on crap PSUs Newhopes

The Radeon 7770 needs a 600w PSU minimum, an average off the shelf $400-600 range home PC will have a 350-450w PSU.

Depends how demanding are you.

If you're not demanding, a good PC from 2006 (yes, 2006, the same year PS3 came out) or an moden APU-based PC will run games in 720p on decent settings (better than console).

But if you're demanding, you may find even a mid-range modern PC (GTX 560 level) too slow for your needs (that is if you want to run everything maxed-out and in high-res with high-quality filtering and/or on multiple displays),

So it depends on your needs.

But I will say that expenses are not the biggest problem in PC gaming (because you can still game well with a limited budget if you know what to buy).

The biggest problems are compatability and optimization problems (also buggy games at release, online passes and DRM).

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]An excellent point you make. If you shop smart, PC games are cheaper than on consoles, and that helps offset the investment price quite a bit. Also, on the Xbox 360 you have to pay the Xbox Live troll toll for online multiplayer, which negates some of the money you save.

PC gaming is not cheaper than gaming on a console, but it's still affordable, and the benefits speak for themselves. Even when the next generation of systems come out, moderate gaming PCs will still probably be able to keep pace with them if not straight up outperfom them with no upgrades.

Timstuff

:lol:

..so now Hermits are using the o'l cow argument.. lol

Just like you can shop for discounted PC components, you can shop for discounted games/accessories for consoles. DSII is $38 on amazon right now and that game just released a month ago. XBLG cards are $40 on amazon right now but I'm sure you'll refer gamers to the $60 retail price point.. and then you have the nerve to get upset when people say a gaming rig runs over $2000.

Also, you wanna talk cheap prices for Darksiders 2? How does $32 for the Steam version sound?

http://www.cjs-cdkeys.com/products/Darksiders-2-Steam-Key.html

You can get console games for good prices, sure, but in my experience PC game prices have been consistently better.

true.. but the entry level price points for those two systems were much higher..

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

:lol:

..so now Hermits are using the o'l cow argument.. lol

Just like you can shop for discounted PC components, you can shop for discounted games/accessories for consoles. DSII is $38 on amazon right now and that game just released a month ago. XBLG cards are $40 on amazon right now but I'm sure you'll refer gamers to the $60 retail price point.. and then you have the nerve to get upset when people say a gaming rig runs over $2000.

OhSnapitz

Also, you wanna talk cheap prices for Darksiders 2? How does $32 for the Steam version sound?

http://www.cjs-cdkeys.com/products/Darksiders-2-Steam-Key.html

You can get console games for good prices, sure, but in my experience PC game prices have been consistently better.

true.. but the entry level price points for those two systems were much higher..

i built my rig for $500-550, i can play most games at 720p maxed out 45-60 fps, only game that did not run too well was crysis 2(i have to have mostly everything on very high.) I went with the intel g850 and radeon hd 6850.

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]Eveb at $40, Xbox Live is too expensive compared to playing online for free on a PC (or even a PS3, for that matter).

Also, you wanna talk cheap prices for Darksiders 2? How does $32 for the Steam version sound?

http://www.cjs-cdkeys.com/products/Darksiders-2-Steam-Key.html

You can get console games for good prices, sure, but in my experience PC game prices have been consistently better.

Timstuff

true.. but the entry level price points for those two systems were much higher..

To me it just wasn't worth it.. There are a plethra of console games I can't get on the PC.

TC,

Do you use a 7770 with 2gb of dedicated memory or 1gb? There's two different versions.

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]Eveb at $40, Xbox Live is too expensive compared to playing online for free on a PC (or even a PS3, for that matter).

Also, you wanna talk cheap prices for Darksiders 2? How does $32 for the Steam version sound?

http://www.cjs-cdkeys.com/products/Darksiders-2-Steam-Key.html

You can get console games for good prices, sure, but in my experience PC game prices have been consistently better.

Timstuff

true.. but the entry level price points for those two systems were much higher..

To me it just wasn't worth it.. There are a plethra of console games I can't get on the PC.

TC,

Do you use a 7770 with 2gb of dedicated memory or 1gb? There's two different versions.

arkephonic

It is just one of those things that is said as a con against PC gaming (there are not alot of cons, so they take what they can) the fact that everyone pretty much needs a pc, and paying up from the standard to something that can game, usually cost less then a console pretty much negates this point.

Just some people that do not have the balls to acknowlage that pc gamign is not for them, and try to make excuses why.

PC gaming is by far much cheaper, at least in my country where there are no retail sales. I've spent about 1000 euros on all of my ps3 games, that plus the initial cost of my ps3 is 1300 euros.

My first rig (bare in mind that I won't need to upgrade everything to get a decent setup for next gen games, just a new gpu and perhaps the cpu, we're talking about 400 euros) was 900 euros, and I already have more Pc games than PS3 games, for about 150 euros. :)

A popular myth is that if you want to play the latest PC games on high settings with full resolution, you need a $2000 rig. That isn't so, not even by a long shot. Having a $2000 rig has nice perks, especially if you are going to be using the machine for work as well as play, but if you don't care about running a game on 3 monitors in 3D at 60-100 FPS, there are plenty of options available that will work just fine and are not expensive.

For example, I use a Radeon 7770, which you can buy for just over $100 with rebates. I can run Battlefield 3 with almost all settings on high and ultra at full resolution, and the framerate rarely ever drops below 30 FPS. Crysis 2 runs on extreme and I get a consistent 45 FPS. Most computers made within the last 5 years will run new games just fine if you drop one of these into your PCI Express slot. It's not even like this is an old card-- it's got more life left in it than any of the current consoles do, that's for sure.

And of course, some of you have PCs that are older than that, and you are stuck with a crappy single-core processor that isn't good enough to run anything new. Well guess what? A combo from Newegg with a motherboard and a quad-core, 3.6 GHz CPU is $240. After an upgrade like that, you aren't going to have to need another motherboard/cpu upgrade for a long friggin' time, either. Installing a new motherboard and CPU isn't exactly rocket-science, either-- if you can hold a screwdriver and follow some very basic instructions on Youtube, you can do it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1067244

Assuming you need new RAM, that will run you another $40, but the point is, even in the worst case scenario you should be able to upgrade an old machine for less than $400. If your PC is 4 years old or younger, there's a good chance it only needs a $100 graphics card, and that will last you at least 2-3 years. Even if you have no PC at all, you can get a gaming PC kit that costs less than $600. Obviously, you will also need a copy of Windows which will be another $100, but even $700 is a very far cry from the $2000 rigs that people seem to think are required to play anyting other than Farmville.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1018162

The notion that gaming PCs cost thousands of dollars couldn't be further from the truth, and unlike consoles, when it becomes outdated you have the option of spending another $100 every few years on upgrades if you want the graphics to remain up-to-date (which, BTW, is about what you have to pay to use Xbox Live anyway).

Dude, PC gaming IS expensive. Sure you have some points there, but they are null and void for this simple fact: To get a decent PC (High settings at >45 FPS) CPU, GPU, and Mobo aren't the only things you need. You also need a good 1920x1080 monitor to experience that level of fidelity that high resolution gives you, which will run at least $100-150. (I just bought a 21.5" ASUS IPS for $160, so I know what I'm talking about) You also need: - a case (where a decent one is at least $75+) - a hard drive (At least another $75 for a decent 7200RPM with decent capacity) - a power supply (at least another $75, as going ultra-cheap on a PSU is a no-no) - at least 8GB of Ram (around $40-$50) - disc drive, m&kb, speakers, ($100 or so) -and the worst part, Windows (another $100) with all that said, you're looking at at least another $350 on top of the Cpu, mobo, and GPU to add on to your budget. If you're spending $500 on those components (which is cheap considering most high-end cards are $300+, and good Cpu's like the i5-2500k or 3970 are $200+) That extra $350 is already the cost of another console on top of what you've already budgeted, which is probably 1.5-2x the cost of one already. PC gaming IS expensive. This is why people don't go for cheaper parts when entering PC gaming. When building a PC, it truly is go big or go home. If you can't see a drastic difference between the PC and console because your parts are cheap, why spend the extra money in the first place? My advice: If you want the best graphics, performance, and freedom gaming has to offer, go for PC. Just be sure you know that its at least double the cost of a console, but that's why it's the best:)

PC gaming is by far much cheaper, at least in my country where there are no retail sales. I've spent about 1000 euros on all of my ps3 games, that plus the initial cost of my ps3 is 1300 euros.

My first rig (bare in mind that I won't need to upgrade everything to get a decent setup for next gen games, just a new gpu and perhaps the cpu, we're talking about 400 euros) was 900 euros, and I already have more Pc games than PS3 games, for about 150 euros. :)

parkurtommo

Yeah, I can see how console gaming would be expensive and PC gaming would be cheap if there were no retail sales. Steam has great deals, but I kid you not when I say I get just as good of deals at retail as I do from Steam. For example, I just got Crysis 2 for $10 bucks on Steam, but I got it for $5 bucks at retail, brand new, sealed. I just got Red Faction Armageddon and Guerrilla at $5 bucks a piece, and got them for the same price on PS3 new, not used. Steam has great summer, winter and weekend sales, but retail stores have great sales as well, equivalent in value. Steam is really not far superior to retail as many people claim, and I have a ziplock back full of retail receipts to prove it.

I agree with the thread that PC gaming isn't expensive, but neither is console gaming. Console gaming is cheaper. The games are the same price for both, but a PC costs more than a console, especially a high end pc.

This herm crusade to convert console gamers to pc is waaaaaaaaaaaay more expensive than any rig could ever cost.

ispeakfact

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

PC gaming is by far much cheaper, at least in my country where there are no retail sales. I've spent about 1000 euros on all of my ps3 games, that plus the initial cost of my ps3 is 1300 euros.

My first rig (bare in mind that I won't need to upgrade everything to get a decent setup for next gen games, just a new gpu and perhaps the cpu, we're talking about 400 euros) was 900 euros, and I already have more Pc games than PS3 games, for about 150 euros. :)

arkephonic

Yeah, I can see how console gaming would be expensive and PC gaming would be cheap if there were no retail sales. Steam has great deals, but I kid you not when I say I get just as good of deals at retail as I do from Steam. For example, I just got Crysis 2 for $10 bucks on Steam, but I got it for $5 bucks at retail, brand new, sealed. I just got Red Faction Armageddon and Guerrilla at $5 bucks a piece, and got them for the same price on PS3 new, not used. Steam has great summer, winter and weekend sales, but retail stores have great sales as well, equivalent in value. Steam is really not far superior to retail as many people claim, and I have a ziplock back full of retail receipts to prove it.

I agree with the thread that PC gaming isn't expensive, but neither is console gaming. Console gaming is cheaper. The games are the same price for both, but a PC costs more than a console, especially a high end pc.

Dude, PC gaming IS expensive. Sure you have some points there, but they are null and void for this simple fact: To get a decent PC (High settings at >45 FPS) CPU, GPU, and Mobo aren't the only things you need. You also need a good 1920x1080 monitor to experience that level of fidelity that high resolution gives you, which will run at least $100-150. (I just bought a 21.5" ASUS IPS for $160, so I know what I'm talking about) You also need: - a case (where a decent one is at least $75+) - a hard drive (At least another $75 for a decent 7200RPM with decent capacity) - a power supply (at least another $75, as going ultra-cheap on a PSU is a no-no) - at least 8GB of Ram (around $40-$50) - disc drive, m&kb, speakers, ($100 or so) -and the worst part, Windows (another $100) with all that said, you're looking at at least another $350 on top of the Cpu, mobo, and GPU to add on to your budget. If you're spending $500 on those components (which is cheap considering most high-end cards are $300+, and good Cpu's like the i5-2500k or 3970 are $200+) That extra $350 is already the cost of another console on top of what you've already budgeted, which is probably 1.5-2x the cost of one already. PC gaming IS expensive. This is why people don't go for cheaper parts when entering PC gaming. When building a PC, it truly is go big or go home. If you can't see a drastic difference between the PC and console because your parts are cheap, why spend the extra money in the first place? My advice: If you want the best graphics, performance, and freedom gaming has to offer, go for PC. Just be sure you know that its at least double the cost of a console, but that's why it's the best :lol:Plagueless

I agree with most of this post. It's pointless to go PC if it's just marginally more powerful than consoles. You gotta spend big on PC to get the goods. It's a pricey up front cost, but it's well worth it.

I am tired of hearing that you can have the same living room experience while gaming on a PC as you can with a console.

Why don't hermits just realize not eveyone wants to play video games on a PC???

[QUOTE="arkephonic"]

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

PC gaming is by far much cheaper, at least in my country where there are no retail sales. I've spent about 1000 euros on all of my ps3 games, that plus the initial cost of my ps3 is 1300 euros.

My first rig (bare in mind that I won't need to upgrade everything to get a decent setup for next gen games, just a new gpu and perhaps the cpu, we're talking about 400 euros) was 900 euros, and I already have more Pc games than PS3 games, for about 150 euros. :)

parkurtommo

Yeah, I can see how console gaming would be expensive and PC gaming would be cheap if there were no retail sales. Steam has great deals, but I kid you not when I say I get just as good of deals at retail as I do from Steam. For example, I just got Crysis 2 for $10 bucks on Steam, but I got it for $5 bucks at retail, brand new, sealed. I just got Red Faction Armageddon and Guerrilla at $5 bucks a piece, and got them for the same price on PS3 new, not used. Steam has great summer, winter and weekend sales, but retail stores have great sales as well, equivalent in value. Steam is really not far superior to retail as many people claim, and I have a ziplock back full of retail receipts to prove it.

I agree with the thread that PC gaming isn't expensive, but neither is console gaming. Console gaming is cheaper. The games are the same price for both, but a PC costs more than a console, especially a high end pc.

The point is that Steam doesn't have better deals than retail. PC is more expensive than consoles because it costs more money to build a nice gaming rig than it does to buy a console. My video card costs more than PS3 or 360, and that's not taking into consideration case, CPU, RAM, power supply, disc drive, motherboard, harddrive, sound card, etc.

It's over twice as much for a good one when compared to consoles. It's more expensive.