New Desktop vs. Game Console

Should I get a new Gaming computer or a cheeper Console?

  • Keep the faith, get a comuter... screw the cost. Faith is rewarded.

    Votes: 18 94.7%

  • Money doesn't grow on trees... go for the console. The gaming gods will understand.

    Votes: 1 5.3%

  • Commit Heracy and put Boot-Camp your your Mac.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    19
lord_raken

lord_raken

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My desktop just died on me. It wasn't really unexpected the thing was 5 years old, but now I don't have anything to play my games on. I have a MacBook Pro that I do all my school work on and the only thing it cant do is game.

So I am trying to decide between a new gaming desktop and a game console. With the knowledge that I already have an amazing computer... is it worth paying the $1000+ for a new gaming computer or should I opt for a cheaper Console?

Pros-Cons to each one... what do you think?
 
Why in the world would you need to pay $1000 for a new gaming computer

What part died? Replace the faulty part.
 
a computer from 2006 is more powerful than all of the consoles out right now, so just get a new PC.
Pros for the PC:
Will last you years if you keep it in good shape and upgrade it every once in a while.
Keeping it in good shape and up to date will allow you to play any new games that come out.
Cons for the PC:
you can't....... um....... can't think of anything to put here right now.... um... maybe cost over time?

Pros for console:
be able to play all the newest games for the next 1 year....

Cons for console:
See "Pros for console"

EDIT---
VirusType2 said:
Why in the world would you need to pay $1000 for a new gaming computer

What part died? Replace the faulty part.
Click to expand...
And this... just find out what part broke, and why... and replace the part.
 
lord_raken said:
I have a MacBook Pro that I do all my school work on and the only thing it cant do is game.

?
Click to expand...

If you have a copy of Windows install Windows on it via Boot Camp. I have it on my 24inch iMac and just got done playing MW2.
 
My computer is very old. The processor (P4 3.24 Intel) is dieing and the motherboard speed is low. I'd post the other specs but I'm away from that info right now. The parts are 2005 and my case has atrocious ventilation. I really didn't know what I was doing when I built it...and I still don't. I'm afraid that a well done upgrade will rival the cost of a new rig with little benefit.
 
Get a computer, or better yet, build one (assuming you know how or would want to learn).
 
lord_raken said:
Wow. That is a good deal. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Np. Just keep in mind that if something is on sale and it has free shipping, you should order it immediately. Like a computer case? No reason not to. No compatibility issues to worry about! That will give you all the time in the world to pick out the rest of your parts.
(actually these days, you want to make sure your video card will fit in the case!)

On 3 occasions in the past week, I've had things removed from my shopping cart because they sold out while I was deciding on what else I wanted. On 2 occasions, items were sold out the same day after I bought them.

Another thing to note though, at newegg, be a little weary/suspicious of things that are on sale. Read the reviews - not just the good ones, but some of the bad ones. Keep in mind though, people who write bad reviews had more motivation to write a review than someone who was happy with their purchase.
 
The thing is, I already have an excellent computer. Do I really need a whole new computer just to play games? Chances are, even an upgrade would cost more than a console. Add this to the fact that my disposable funds are about nill at the moment... and the advantages of a new computer are looking less and less worth the cost. I do plan on getting a new computer at some point... its just a question of how long, and a console would help that time go by... I guess.
 
Also note that games are way cheaper on PC. You can find a lot more bargins with PC games than with consoles i've found, ESPECIALLY with steam.
 
lord_raken said:
The thing is, I already have an excellent computer. Do I really need a whole new computer just to play games? Chances are, even an upgrade would cost more than a console. Add this to the fact that my disposable funds are about nill at the moment... and the advantages of a new computer are looking less and less worth the cost. I do plan on getting a new computer at some point... its just a question of how long, and a console would help that time go by... I guess.
Click to expand...
You don't have to go all out.

If your funds are about nil, then it would be more foolish to buy a console.

You can certainly blow away a console with a computer from yesteryear. All things being equal, same games cross platform aren't quite as good on the consoles, framerates are lower as well.

I'm not sure if there is any game available on both platforms that controls better on a console.

$60 games, no mods, paid multiplayer and expensive upgrades, in some cases. (WiFi adapter/Xbox Live/small HDD - 360)

Though it will be interesting to see the pricing of the consoles as we come up on Christmas... So hold up for a couple of weeks.
 
I always thought that money did grow on trees because its made of paper and paper comes from trees.

but i also like having my options open and having both consoles and the pc is the best way to go. i play mostly the best games on all of them and when one is being a bitch i switch
 
Edracon said:
a computer from 2006 is more powerful than all of the consoles out right now, so just get a new PC.
Pros for the PC:
Will last you years if you keep it in good shape and upgrade it every once in a while.
Keeping it in good shape and up to date will allow you to play any new games that come out.
Cons for the PC:
you can't....... um....... can't think of anything to put here right now.... um... maybe cost over time?

Pros for console:
be able to play all the newest games for the next 1 year....

Cons for console:
See "Pros for console"

EDIT---

And this... just find out what part broke, and why... and replace the part.
Click to expand...


that's not to say that the game designers for a console game didn't tweak it down enough for it to look good and run smooth on a console.
 
If by "tweak it" you mean dropping the texture resolutions by more than half, lowering the number of polygons, and reducing the lighting quality, yeah.
 
I just bought a bunch of new hardware. Finally actually LOOKED in this damn Gateway, and it was terrible, no potential to upgrade at all. With a new case, a new motherboard, a new CPU, and the 4850. With the 3gb of RAM I have from my old PC(probably the only adaptable thing in the whole box) I'm set to go. Oh and a 550 watt PSU.

For the case, I very much dislike flashy blue lights, which is why I went for the sleeker design.
 
I wish video card prices would come way down. I cannot at all justify paying $200 to play video games. The reliability of video cards is also a huge concern for me, considering I've lost two this year. Financially, things are very difficult these days. I guess I could try something cheaper, but I bet I'd feel disappointed with the performance. I really just need something relatively legacy, to play my collection of 'older' games like Oblivion, Bioshock, and DiRT at full graphics settings.
 
So what I'm getting here is to go for the new computer. It costs more but its worth it in the long run.

I'll just have to save a little longer for it.

Also, does anyone know a good "Do-it-yourself" computer book. When I moved from California to Texas I left most of my L337 G33k friends behind.

And another... How is windows 7 for gaming? Does anyone have experience with it?
 
Well, windows 7 has DX11, where Windows XP only had DX9, and Vista DX10. So it should be greatly improved for hardware and games that take advantage of it.

As for performance, I've seen benchmarks and Windows 7 is better than Vista, but not as good as XP, all things being equal. (DX9 games).

In DX10 and DX11 games, they can't be compared fairly across the OS's, I would guess.

However, the performance advantage of XP is fairly small, and shouldn't be a problem. You aren't going to notice the difference between 130 frames per second and 122, for example. Obviously, it will be an important factor when playing games that run at 20 and 30 fps.

Crossfire and SLI tends to run about 5-17% faster on Windows 7 and Vista.

Here - just found benchmarks comparing XP, Vista, and Windows 7, in 32 bit and 64 bit configurations and with various video cards:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/windows_7_gaming/
 
I don't think you have a solid reason to go for a console. You've said stuff that might make a console amusing for you but not a for sure substitute.

I'd say get a PC for sure. That's no $1000 either. Could be had for under 500 (just the box) if you already had monitor, mouse, keyboard etc. If you get a console for now then that is $300 that you can't spend on a PC later and it is basically the same thing except not as good and it goes by the TV.
 
Commit Heracy and put Boot-Camp your your Mac.
Click to expand...

FYI to whoever put this, Boot Camp comes with Leopard. You put Windows directly on a partition created by the Boot Camp utility.
 
I have both but usually only use the xbox when there are other people around (which is a fair bit).

If your likely to use it with other people get the console, otherwise save up for the PC it's well worth it.
 
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