PC Gamers: Are they the biggest Graphics Whores?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/Fl ... nitors.JPG

There's nearly 500lbs of CRT right there.

[BoringSupreez]

http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/Fl ... nitors.JPG

There's nearly 500lbs of CRT right there.

That's awesome... but I'd like to know how much he's paying for the electricity to run all that.

[Frag Mortuus]

I'm running a pair of GTX 560 Ti's in SLI of course. Together the cards can run anything I throw at it maxed out in 1080p. The cards are at least two years old now and I don't see them slowing down any time soon. Maybe when the Next Gen graphics engines start getting used in the next year or so. But, I would also assume that they will require a new version of DirectX which my card won't support. BUT, they usually make games playable on the new DX version and on the previous with some graphics features disabled. I am hoping to get another three or four years out of these cards.

I'm also running a 4 year old CPU (Core i7-920). Again, I don't see it running out of life any time soon. The bad thing now is that I'm at a point where once my CPU can't play newer games I will have to buy a new CPU, MOBO, and possibly RAM. So, I'm looking at least $650. But, compare that to console gaming and you really do break even.

People seem to think that you have to replace your entire PC with each generation. PC gamers know that you hardly ever replace the whole PC at once. When the time comes that I will buy a new CPU and Mobo I can continue using my old Power Supply, Graphics Cards, Hard Drives, Case, Bluray Drive and possibly RAM.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The thing about PC gaming, is that yes, the entry cost is higher. There's no doubt about that. But holy moly can you save a bunch if you buy lots of games.

[J T]

You just can't do this on a console:

[ATARI800XLfan]

Because wanting a framerate above a palty and nearly unplayable 25, tons of control options, and cheap games after the initial investment is totally insane.

Graphics are often used for comparison simply because it's one of the few things we can objectively see in a certain platform. The PS3 has obviously better graphics than the PS2. Sure game library is debatable, but graphics aren't. That's why graphics are brought up all the time, by owners of all platforms. This "graphics whoring" isn't a PC exclusive thing.

I'm not sure if this thread is a troll or just plain ignorance. For $500 you can get a PC that's leaps and bounds better than a console at comparable resolutions, can do all the things a console can do (yes, you can in fact hook almost any PC to a TV with a wireless controller) plus all the utility a PC has. There is a definite appeal to PC gaming. It's not for everybody, but it's not just the graphics.

Also, to quote LugNut

If you're looking at the same game, where visuals are really the only difference, why wouldn't you want to play it in the best available format?

Just some other points I'd like to make to people out of the PC gaming loop:

Hardware upgrades are not a yearly thing. 3 even 4 year old graphics cards and processors will run games just fine. It wont be best of the best mind you, but, neither will your 3 or 4 year old console.

Patching and updates are smoother than consoles at this point with most digital services. Games at this point just auto-update themselves. Usually in the background while you do other things.

It does not take a $2000 PC to play games. Try a purpose build at around $500.

Almost every PC built in the last 2 years has an HDMI port. It's easy to game on your TV.

on the 500 dollar comment I have tried building a gaming computer on just 500, nearly impossible to get a decent gaming one at that price. while it might cost 546 for just hardware which includes a AMD 7770 GPU and a FX-4100 CPU. not including tv or keyboard/mouse then there is the extra price for the operating system. Though I do agree I also do pc gaming besides the Xbox 360 I own.

[MrPopo]

Tom's Hardware does system builder marathons every few months with a $500, $1000, and $2000 option. The $500 runs stuff just fine. Few people include mouse+keyboard and monitor because you use the ones from your previous machine, so the only cost not included tends to be the OS.