PCs For Gaming?

We show you some reasons why the PC is still worth considering when you are looking for a gaming rig. Ideally of course, we will want to have both console machines and gaming PCs to play all our favorite games. However, what if this is not an option? Think that it’s a no-brainer that consoles are your definite choice for a lean mean gaming machine? Well, think again! We give you some reasons why the PC still holds its ground.

Costs

At first glance, consoles which fetch a price tag of a few hundred dollars definitely look comparatively cheaper than your PC which cost around a thousand or more bucks. However there are some ‘hidden costs’ you may need to consider before reaching your conclusion.

1. Upgrade costs

Generally, consoles cannot be ‘upgraded’ without changing the whole unit. On the other hand, you can always upgrade your PC by purchasing more memory, storage, or changing to a better graphic card. PC

2. HDTV display

To enjoy the fluid and realistic graphics your console can offer, you often need to get a HDTV. That will easily cost you a few hundred bucks more. Now compare that with the cost of LCD monitors which are capable of running even higher resolutions.

3. Online service charges

Wanna take the competition online? Some consoles charge a monthly service fee for their multiplayer platform. For the PC, there are more free-to-play options e.g. setting up your own LAN or free MMORPG servers.

Availability of titles

In the market today, game development has gone more cross platform. You can often find a PC counterpart for game titles on the PS3 and Xbox 360. While there are exclusive titles released on the consoles, the PC has its fair share of ‘PC only’ games, particularly MMORPGs (think World of Warcraft). The fact is, PCs are generally capable of running games at higher resolution and texture quality than consoles. You probably feel that the console’s graphics on your TV are ‘nicer’ because you are seated at a…

Still not convinced? Check out this graphics comparison feature done on Gamespot.com

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6202552/index.html

Mods/Maps/Savegames

PC gamers can express their ingenuity by modifying games and their save files, edit maps and do custom patches. These are often done by fans and provided free for other gamers to enjoy. One good example is the game ‘Defense of the Ancients’ (DotA), which is actually a custom map created on Warcraft III’s map building engine. The game is immensely popular worldwide and even played at the World Cyber Games tournaments.

Other than running your games, your performance gaming PC also enables you to perform a variety of tasks like document processing, email, surfing the internet and creating animation. Not to forget online chatting and social networking (yes, Facebook addicts, you know who you are!). You don’t have to grab that few thousand dollars Alien to enjoy high quality PC gaming. Getting a custom built PC can save you a lot of money for similar levels of performance. And that’s what we are here for.

Also, there is no need to get the best performance and most expensive option for every component. Medium spec PCs today are generally able to run game sat 1280 x 1024 (which is close to HD quality) with ease. Also, game developers already mostly design their games to run well on mass market affordable hardware specs. Spending just a bit more on a decent graphic card could let you play most games at good quality and performance.

Conclusion

While consoles are a great means to enjoy an afternoon of gaming with your friends on the couch, the PC has its own advantages that you should consider when choosing a gaming platform. With rapid advancements in technology, PCs are now able to offer higher quality gaming performance than before. At the same time, PC hardware prices have come down considerably over the years. Further cost savings can be achieved by getting a custom built PC. It would be perfect if we can have all the gaming platforms for our enjoyment. But in the unfortunate event where you

Don’t write off the PC without a second thought! 🙂