Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Console, Vs, PC | Themes: Desktop Computers
- 4. Hardware Basics: Some Assembly Required
- 5. Conclusion
- 6. More on this topic
4. Hardware Basics: Some Assembly Required
As I mentioned before, there are a few caveats involved when upgrading an older system to turn it into a gaming computer. Compatibility is a necessary topic to consider. Before making any purchases, you need to ensure that the video card and RAM you’ve selected are compatible with your system. If you’re unsure what your computer is compatible with, the best thing to do is find someone to ask, whether it’s a tech-savvy friend or fellow Internet surfers over in the forums. For those who are unsure what to look for, I’ve come up with a list of important things to ask.
First, make sure your computer has a powerful enough CPU to run today’s games. If you have a dual-core CPU, such as the Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2, it’s a strong enough platform to be worth spending a little money to upgrade the RAM and video card. That’s because your CPU will last you a while longer. But if you have an older single-core CPU that operates at less than 2.8 GHz, even the fastest video card available may not be enough to get your computer to run modern games smoothly. In this case, upgrading to a new CPU wouldn’t be as cost-effective as buying a console. If you’re in this boat, and you’re just looking for the cheapest way to play current games, a console would be the better choice.
Next, you’ll want to know which graphics card slot your computer has. There are two main types: PCI Express (PCIe) and AGP. About five years ago, the older AGP slot on desktop computers started to be replaced with PCIe slots instead. Once you’ve determined whether you have an AGP or PCIe slot, you can choose which video card you want.
As mentioned above, the HD 3850 is the ideal candidate because it is relatively powerful, has decently low power consumption, and is, most importantly, affordable (about $70). Another great benefit of the HD 3850 is that it comes in both AGP and PCIe varieties. Another very good and affordable PCIe choice is the HD 4670.
There are, of course, other more expensive cards that can give you better performance in the particularly demanding games, such as Crysis. Video cards like Nvidia’s 9800 GT and GTX 260 are affordable and still quite powerful, as are ATI’s HD 4850 and HD 4870. These are today’s heavy-hitter video cards. They’re not necessary, however, because modern games are specifically designed to run well on the more affordable offerings we’ve mentioned.
As you amp up your video card, you must consider your computer’s power supply. The clone PC builders (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc.), are generally a bit stingy with their power supplies’ wattage and amperage, making low-power video cards like the HD 3850 and HD 4670 ideal candidates to go with your basic power supply. But if you can confirm that your system has upwards of 400 W of power, the more powerful cards become suitable options
There are a couple ways to check the wattage of your power supply. The most direct way is to simply open up your case and look for a large sticker on the power supply itself. It’s possible that your power supply may not have a sticker, in which case contacting your manufacturer or looking up the tech specs on the brand site would prove more useful. If you are unable to confirm the power capabilities of your power supply, the HD 4670 is the safest choice in terms of compatibility.
As for RAM, if you have at least 2 GB, you’re pretty much set already. Generally, 1 GB is the bare minimum you would want to have for gaming. Any less than that and you’ll need to upgrade it. Fortunately, upgrading your RAM is very easy, and with the extremely affordable RAM prices these days, a 4 GB kit is an easy purchase to make, generally costing about $40. All you need to do is confirm whether you have DDR or DDR2 RAM and the speed at which it operates. Again, a tech-savvy friend or the forums would be the ideal place to ask for assistance. Corsair has a useful tool to help you figure out which memory your system uses.
For those of you who might like some extra reference material, here is a video describing how to replace a video card and here is an instructional video on installing more RAM. Disclaimer: This article does not serve as a reference or tutorial for removing and installing hardware in your PC. We're simply suggesting that learning how to do so could help you get more bang for your buck.
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Yeah, considering that you already have PCI-e and DDR2 machine it is really cheaper and, imho, better. But if you don't have PCI-e, it becomes way expensive, not to mention that you need to replace the core of your PC (read: buy new PC).
To get PCIe you need new mobo, hence new cpu (you probably don't have AM2 and AGP or 775 and AGP) hence new RAM (even rarer AGP and DDR2) and at last that PCIe GPU... Which leaves you with most inexpencive parts: case, optical drive and hdd...
So, you need to have a decent PC already to make it a gaming PC.
Cheers
P.S. I am PC guy not console guy, just in case you got that impression.
What about the Wii?
What about the Wii?
While the Wii's retail price is somewhat cheaper than the 360 and PS3, the Wii's strategic unavailability makes it fairly pricey. Then there's the cost of extra controllers plus the specialized controllers for each game. If anything, the Wii costs more than the other consoles.
Now, I didn't really include the Wii because it's an entirely different gaming platform. The games on the Wii are either very casual, or aimed at the younger, less serious gaming crowd.
Yeah, considering that you already have PCI-e and DDR2 machine it is really cheaper and, imho, better. But if you don't have PCI-e, it becomes way expensive, not to mention that you need to replace the core of your PC (read: buy new PC).To get PCIe you need new mobo, hence new cpu (you probably don't have AM2 and AGP or 775 and AGP) hence new RAM (even rarer AGP and DDR2) and at last that PCIe GPU... Which leaves you with most inexpencive parts: case, optical drive and hdd...So, you need to have a decent PC already to make it a gaming PC.CheersP.S. I am PC guy not console guy, just in case you got that impression.
The article does actually cover AGP solutions as well. Even with an AGP system, an Intel P4 at 2.8GHz will provide a strong enough core to run today's games with your $150 vid card and RAM upgrade. Granted, AGP costs slightly more and is a bit less cost effective since the core system is a bit slower.
This article is a waste of time. The main difference is the simplicity of console gaming.
12 year old kids on Xbox/PS3 obviously can't afford a $1000 computer or maintain it so they ask for a console.
That way they can play GTA IV and beat prostitutes.
Another comment, more than 50% of current console owners DON'T have HD televisions so that makes this article even MORE a waste of time and effort.
Good article.
Even though I prefer PC gaming, ideally, a person would have both a console and PC because there are serious advantages to both.
PCs are still really the only platform to use for strategy games. They are vastly superior in graphics (Don't believe me? The Playstation 3 GPU is the Nvidia RSX, which is a Geforce 7800, which is about the same performance as a current $60 9500 GT for a computer) And the build-it-yourself aspect is fun and does not have to be expensive at all. (Newegg has dirt cheap deals all the time)
But consoles provide a great in-room multiplayer experience and easy of use.
It's about time; tons of my fellow console gamers have argued that, in both graphics and gameplay (fine I'll give them that), the consoles are greatly superior. I'm glad I found this article, can't wait to show it to them!
In your article you try to argue that you must include the cost of a television as part of a console package. I am not exactly sure what the author views PC games on, but you need a computer monitor if you want to see anything. Therefore, to be fair, you need to add in the cost of a comparable computer monitor as part of the PC cost. I am not sure where you go shopping, but I can find 32" HDTV/monitors for less than $600. So, the whole cost of what you view games on is moot since you need to add the cost to both. If you try to argue that, 'well I have a computer so I have a monitor.' Then the same reasoning goes that if I have a console gaming system I have a TV. Duh!
Well try playing wow on a console :-)
Another comment, more than 50% of current console owners DON'T have HD televisions so that makes this article even MORE a waste of time and effort.
Where did that statistic come from? I would argue that the majority of people who will spend £300~ on a console will have enough savvy & money to have a hd tv (they're cheap enough these days). Though I do agree the article is a bit of a no brainer.
I like PCs, and have been a PC gamer for a long time. There are some ways to make your PC just like a console now. Including being able to sit down on the couch and play games with your friends. Hooking up an HDTV to a PC is pretty easy, especially with ATI cards. However, with a 3850 you will not want to use 1080p to play games, just as consoles don't render the vast majority of games at 1080p. To get multiple people in on the action you can get one wireless 360 controller for PC, so that you get the blue tooth dongle, and then just buy extra wireless 360 controllers.
To be honest, I haven't tried to use more than one (my wife doesn't game), and I don't know how many games off split screen on the PC, though I think it's likely that more will in the future. I do know that Trine would work great with this setup.
BTW, Trine is really fun, and sorry for the rambling post, I'm pretty tired.
witout modding, you can emulate almost everything on a computer, and hence play whatever you want with any controller that a computer will recognize - not the most "moral" way to go, but there it is
I agree the answer is both PC and console. My son has converted me to adding my own Xbox alongside of my computer. I am a long time PC player but consoles are easier to operate, less headaches with updates and compatibility issues. Then again PC games receive cheat codes easier, seem to get cheaper faster, and no Xbox live fee.
Where did that statistic come from? I would argue that the majority of people who will spend £300~ on a console will have enough savvy & money to have a hd tv (they're cheap enough these days). Though I do agree the article is a bit of a no brainer.
I saw that statistic too... I think it was... Gizmodo?
http://gizmodo.com/5321526/half-of [...] rd+def-tvs
Anyway, the point is, while you are savvy enough, and have the money to fully enjoy your console, doesn't mean that it's that way for everyone. For example, there was a good few months I was gaming on a 15" lcd (1024x768) and using a 9800GT. Seriously. Finally got a 19" from a friend, and just upgraded to a 22" not too long ago.
Point is less about the TV, methinks, than excluding costs. Most people, when they think about a gaming PC, think of EVERYTHING included in the cost. Most people, when they think about the console, only consider the console alone in cost.
As some people have mentioned, that same TV can be used for the PC as well. There's a lot of crossover nowadays. But, overall, it costs less and you get more, imho if you game with a PC. As someone else mentioned, though, you don't get everything. The best way to go about it is pick the platform you like based on the games. If you're ever questioning whether what you bought was worth it, chances are you paid too much. That goes for everything.
Addition to above: I play on a PC and a Wii. No, no casual gaming. PC's all RTS's and FPS's, the occasional RPG. The Wii is for things like DDR, Smash Bros, Mario Kart. The net-party is played on the PC. The real party is played on the Wii.
I think it's funny that people think if you're a hardcore gamer you can't enjoy the Wii. I do. And I'm definitely in the hardcore gaming crowd (why, just this week I've played a little Braid, Rainbow6 Vegas: 2, L4D, Heroes of Might and Magic 5, Dawn of War II, Dance Dance Revolution, Smash Bros).
Get a PC for gaming, doesn't have to be the most powerful thing ever. Buy a console. Get both. Enjoy.
Interesting article. I prefer to upgrade my PC every so often. I've been doing it more now that I don't have to pay for school anymore, but seem to be playing it less as I seem to have a little less free time
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Good article. The comparative costs of including a monitor and an hdtv prolly shouldn't have been included, because if you have a computer you'll have a monitor. Same goes for a console, you'll already have a tv. Most people aren't starting from scratch.
This article is from a viewpoint of someone who just has an older computer, but doesn't have a tv or a console. But if you started both from scratch, you could prolly get a decent gaming pc with a monitor and cheap keyboard and mouse for the same price as you would a console and a small(ish) hdtv.
Also, games are more expensive on consoles that pc
Consoles are for idiots. $65 video games.
1)Unmoddable software.
2) No roster updates.
3) No cheats without typing some long code.
4) No typing.
5) Absolutely horrid control system for first person shooters (how the heck do you aim with a thumbstick?).
6) Can't upgrade until the next loser console comes out 5 years
later.
7) Can't do anything other than game.
8) Can't connect more than 4 controllers (and as a result forcing PC ports to also max out at 4 controllers when we should be able to play full 5 on 5 bball with our USB controllers)
I know most of the world only seems to play FPS (which both console and PC do well) but another concern people should have is do you like fighting games or RTS. Each of those genres are really focused on only one or the other (fighters on console, RTS on PC).
The final answer is get both PC and console. But... if you can only have one, go with the PC. Hook it up to a HDTV and get a gamepad and it will act a lot like a console. Plus, internet use, organizing photos, video editing, finances, work, school, shop, what can't you do with a PC?