Should I Switch to PC Gaming?

[Judah Dashiell]

So with a new console "upgrade" (PS4 Neo) being announced, its increased my thinking on switching to PC gaming. I currently own last gen consoles (360,PS3) and see no issues with the consoles themselves to actually upgrade. As I get older, I find it getting harder to justify $500 on a new console every two years or so.


I'm currently happy with my last gen consoles but I consider this a thinking in advance type question.



How do you PC gamers out there like the PC versus console(if you've played on them)? How is the cost? Will I be looking at $500 upgrades every two years or will spending wisely on graphics cards and memory from time to time be cheaper?

 

[Aela Talith]

Yes.

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Go back into the past about 10 years and be a PC gamer.

 

[Voices of The Deep]

Depends on how much money you are willing to pour into a good PC to actually run your games without jacking up. Plus other technical things like, Keyboard and Mouse controls. Because as a console gamer, when i got on a keyboard and mouse for the first time that was a brutal transition. I cannot aim to save my life using a mouse so i had to buy a controller for my PC.

But frankly i mainly play Gmod on PC so xD. Thats my one in everything game right there haha.

 

[Rusty]

Let's say your average console is like going to a dealership and buying a car. New cars are expensive but have all the bells and whistles, but there are a ton of older models with plenty of life in them.

PC gaming is a lot like building a hot rod. You can start with nearly any budget and get results, and if you're willing to put in the work, a little bit of cash can go a long way. But if you really want results, you're going to have to be ready to drop a fair chunk of change. And, much like a hot rod, you're never truly done. You get the engine built just so, but then you realize that the exhaust needs work. You get the exhaust upgraded, but then you realize that you can do more with the engine since it can get rid of the exhaust more efficiently. You put a new intake on, then you start to wonder if you need a better gear ratio to make use of your newfound power. The new gear ratio works wonders, but your rear axle isn't up to the task of putting that power down to the road, so you replace it. And then you realize you need bigger tires as well. Only now you've got so much power that keeping it between the yellow lines is a challenge, so you upgrade the steering and suspension. Next thing you know, you've spent way more than you originally intended, and you've got a laundry list of wants and needs that are just waiting to be taken care of.

Building a gaming PC can be a lot like that. If you've got the time and the money, it might be worth it to you. If not, you might be better off sticking with the '95 Toyota you picked up at the dealership.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Queen Sovereign"]


I know I would have to buy a controller as well. I haven't PC gamed beyond Star Wars Rebellion and Civ Rev


Thanks for the replies so far everyone, love the opinions. Seems folks are divided about PC as much as which console to choose from.

 

[Rusty]

For what it's worth, my brother loves tinkering with his monster of a gaming rig. I stick to my PS4 because computer parts would severely cut into my ammo budget.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Rusty"]


Yeah, I'm not too fond of pouring money into tech that will be "obsolete" and cheaper in a short amount of time, especially when the money can go to other fun things.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]
For me it comes down to what you want to play.

Consoles and PCs have their own special niches and strengths.

Buying a good PC is expensive, but you can do a lot with it for a number of years. Consoles are cheaper but there's multiple consoles.

The games I play; MMOs, strategy, simulation and such are better on PC, but other games are better on Console.

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

The PC I am currently typing this on is, at its core, about 10 years old(processor, motherboard, water cooling, and both hard drives), over all I have only spent about 400 dollars on upgrades in that time. Some were forced on me, like when my power source got fried in a power surge, a graphics card that got a little to hot(to where it reported it's temperature at 255 degrees Celsius). Other than that was just extra RAM that cost me about 80 bucks. So total in the PC over that time is 1100 dollars US. I could build a rather decent rig for about 1200 US at this point if I had the money. Also newegg.com is your friend.

 

[Noah Bright]

Yes.

 

[Ellie Mors]

Save 1300 dollars, buy a good computer (custom order), watch it continue to run things for 8-10 years with no problems.

Or pay for parts and hope you know how to assemble it right.

And then play on both consoles (exclusives) and PC.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Buy a PC. A good one. Buy steam, get everything on sale like, every week. Get a controller, plug it in.

Waste your life away.

 

[Darth Centax]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

As a PC gamer forever, yes

It depends what you like playing though like [member="Valiens Nantaris"] says.

I have consoles on and off but never get the range of games I get on the PC. So many indie devs out there now with interesting titles, and consoles are so slow to get on board with modding or cross platform work. Sony seem worse than microsoft these days for allowing cross platform or modding, which I never thought i'd be saying in my lifetime.

I usually buy a semi expensive PC, I aim not first gen but just after first gen, going for an overclocked one if I can, memory if memory is cheap at the moment. Then I just buy a graphics card 2 years on and get about 3 or 4 years out of the machine, 4 is pushing it

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

I believe PC is generally superior in most respects. Customizability, gameplay, power, and yes, even price sometimes. Consider that if you build yourself a good PC, you likely won't have to upgrade it at all for at least 4-5 years and you'll still be able to play the latest, greatest games. Not only that, but it's also a functioning computer that can do more than just play games. By contrast, how much money do you spend buying the next-gen consoles every 3-4 years?

It also depends on the games you play too. Some games are just better on PC. If you're into modding (like Skyrim and such) then PC is truly your only option. Games like Skyrim and other games with mod-heavy communities are meant to be played on the PC. There is truly no comparison. Now, you can argue that some games are better on console - some games might feel better with a controller rather than a keyboard. This is true. But consider that you can also use controllers on the PC as well. You can buy an Xbox 360 USB controller and plug it directly into your PC for example, and most new-ish games that have also been released on Xbox should read it with no problems.