Which Option is Right for You?
If you’re in the market for a new computer, whether for gaming, professional use, or casual use, you have a few different options to choose from in what kind of system you can get.
You can buy a prebuilt system that is already ready-to-go, you can have a system custom-built for you, or—the method we recommend—you can build it yourself.
If you’re on the fence on whether or not you should build your next computer, buy one prebuilt, or have one custom built, in this guide we’re going to go over the pros and cons of the three different options you have for getting a new system.
Build Your Own Computer: The Case For and Against It
Building your own computer, in our opinion, will offer the best overall experience for anyone looking for a new system. However, it won’t be a viable option for anyone who doesn’t want to spend the extra time necessary to choose the right components for their system and learn how to assemble it.
The Case
For Building Your Own PC
1. Building your own PC offers the best price-to-performance
There are a lot of reasons why you should build your own PC. Perhaps the best reason for why you should build your own PC is because it has the potential to offer you the best price-to-performance ratio on your system. Since prebuilt computers and custom-built PCs typically have high markup costs, they will cost more on average than it will cost to build your own system.
Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Build A PC?
Pre-built manufacturers do get price discounts on components for buying them in bulk and in some cases—especially during sales—a prebuilt system can offer a similar price-to-performance as a DIY system can. But, in the vast majority of cases, building your own computer will yield you more performance on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
2. When you build your own PC, you’ll be able to customize it to your personal needs
The other major plus of building your own computer (and, perhaps something that is even better than offering you an excellent price-to-performance ratio) is the fact that you can customize it to your own needs.
Often times you’ll find that, on prebuilt computers, the component choice isn’t as balanced as you might like. For instance, a prebuilt $700 gaming PC might come with a $240 processor and a $100 graphics card.
If you’re a gamer, you’d benefit much more with a system that opted for a ~$150 processor and a ~$150 graphics card. That example is just a generalization, but having the option to ensure that you are getting the components that you need rather than having to accept whatever component configuration is available at your budget is a huge advantage for building your own system.
3. Individual components typically have longer warranties than prebuilt and custom PCs
On prebuilt systems and custom-built systems, you can expect a standard 1-2-year warranty. Of course, you could always opt to pay more to get an extended warranty. However, if you build your own computer, you don’t get a single warranty on your own system, but rather individual warranties on each of your components.
And, warranties on individual components are typically longer than 1-2 years.
Intel and AMD’s processors have 3-year warranties. Some PSU manufacturers offer 5-year warranties. Motherboards can offer 3-year warranties as well. Graphics cards also typically have ~3-year warranties, too. So, by building your own system, you’ll get more coverage for your individual components.
Of course, there is a downside to being covered on an individual component basis, rather than on the system as a whole, and we’ll discuss that below.
4. Learning how to build a computer is an invaluable learning experience
In today’s technology-driven world, knowing how to build a computer is an invaluable skill to have. Our society and culture are so reliant on computers, yet most people have no idea what is really going on inside of their systems. By opting to build your own computer, you’ll gain a better knowledge of the technology you use on a daily basis and that could spur a further interest in diving more into computers and related fields.
At the very least, building your own computer will give you a better knowledge of the inner-workings of your computer and, if your computer (or anyone you know’s computer) has problems in the future, you will have a better idea of how to fix it, which will save you the high costs associated with taking your computer to a PC repair shop.
Check it Out: How to Build A PC: Step-by-Step
The Case
Against Building Your Own PC
1. Building your own computer takes a lot longer
One downside of building your own computer is that it is a longer process than buying a prebuilt system. If you’ve never built your own computer before, at the very least, you’ll need to take the time to learn what components you’ll need and how to assemble them properly.
Further Reading: All the Parts Needed to Build A Gaming PC
Fortunately, there are plenty of guides out there that will help you choose the right parts for your build and walk you through the building process.
But, if you’ve never built a computer before, it will likely take you a couple of hours to build your first system.
Also Read: How Long Does it Take to Build A PC?
The other issue that makes building your own computer a longer process is shipping times. A lot of system builders like to purchase their components from a variety of online retailers in order to ensure that they get the lowest price on their parts as possible. And, sometimes, different online retailers have different shipping speeds. Even if you buy all of your parts on Amazon, there is no guarantee that they will all arrive at the same time. And, if they don’t all arrive at the same time, that will just add to the length of time it will take from the time you purchase your system, to the time you can actually start using it.
Ultimately, the additional time it takes to build a computer compared to buying a prebuilt computer or getting a system custom-built isn’t enormous in the grand scheme of things.
But, if you don’t have the time to learn how to choose the right components for your build or to learn how to build a system, then a prebuilt of custom-built computer would be the better option for you.
2. The process of building a PC is riskier than buying one prebuilt or having it custom-made
The other thing that will turn some people away from building a PC is that the process of building a computer is more difficult and carries more responsibility than buying a prebuilt or custom-built system.
With custom-built or prebuilt systems, the responsibility for ensuring that the system works is on the manufacturer or custom PC builder. If you buy a prebuilt or custom-built system and it arrives not working, that’s on the prebuilt manufacturer or custom PC builder to fix. However, if you opt to build your own system and, after assembling all of the parts, the computer doesn’t work, it’s on you to figure out what is wrong and make it work.
Again, there are plenty of step-by-step guides out there that will help you through the process of assembling your computer.
However, first-time builders often make mistakes and, even if those mistakes have easy solutions, if the first-time builder doesn’t know what the mistake is, they will spend even more time trying to figure out where the problem lies before they can fix it. (Check out our guide on the 31 Common PC Building Mistakes to Avoid.)
So, while there are many benefits to building your own PC, if you aren’t willing to take on some of the risks that come from assembling your own computer, then you should probably go with a prebuilt or custom-built computer.
3. The warranty process on DIY PCs is a bit trickier to navigate
While one positive of building a computer is that you get longer warranties on your individual components, the downside is that the process of utilizing the warranty isn’t as simple as it is on prebuilt or custom-built computers.
This is because, with a prebuilt or custom-built computer, if the computer stops working or is giving you problems and it is still covered under warranty, you just have to send the entire computer into the manufacturer or custom PC builder who built it and they will figure out what is wrong with it and fix it.
If you’re having problems with a system that you built yourself and all of the parts are still under warranty, you will need to figure out where the problem lies before you can send anything in under warranty. You won’t just be able to send in your entire computer and have someone else figure out what the problem is. You’ll have to diagnose the problem yourself and figure out which component(s) need to be sent in for repair or replacement.
So, again, just as assembling the system will place more responsibility on you, so, too, will diagnosing issues and sending parts in for warranty.
Buy A Pre-Built Computer: The Case For and Against It
Buying a prebuilt computer won’t give you the most bang-for-your-buck, but it is a fairly affordable alternative to having a PC custom-built for you and they are the quickest option if you need a new system fast.
The Case
For Buying A Pre-Built Computer
1. Pre-built systems are ready out of the box
The biggest advantage of choosing a prebuilt computer over building your own computer is that a prebuilt computer is going to be ready-to-use in a much shorter timeframe because you won’t have to assemble it.
Prebuilt systems will also be ready to use faster than most custom-built PCs as well, as ordering a custom PC will take time for the custom PC builder to assemble it and ship it.
So, if you need a new computer and you don’t have time to learn how to build your own computer, or you don’t want to wait for the longer lead times that come with having a system custom-built (or to pay the extra cost to cut the lead-time down), then going with a prebuilt system is probably your best option.
2. Pre-built systems have the simplest warranty process
Unlike building your own computer and having individual warranties on each of your components, for a prebuilt system (and a custom-built system), your warranty covers the entire system. This means that if anything goes wrong with your prebuilt (or custom-built) computer, all you have to do is send the entire system in and the manufacturer will figure out what is wrong and fix it.
This will give you some peace of mind in knowing that your computer is protected and it won’t be up to you to figure out which part of the computer has malfunctioned and needs to be sent in for repair.
The Case
Against Buying A Pre-Built Computer
1. Pre-built PCs don’t offer as high of a price-to-performance ratio as building your own PC does
The biggest downside of buying a prebuilt computer over building your own computer is that, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, you won’t get as much performance out of a prebuilt system as you would out of a DIY computer.
The reason is simple: there is a high markup cost associated with prebuilt systems. That high markup cost takes away money you could have spent on getting better-performing components. So, the bottom line is that, if you want to stretch every penny of your budget to get the best performing system possible for the amount you have to spend, then you need to build your own system.
2. Pre-built PCs typically don’t come with as long of standard warranties as individual components do
While the warranty process on a prebuilt computer is much simpler to deal with than a DIY system, warranties are typically shorter on prebuilt computers.
Most prebuilt computers come with 1-year standard warranties with the option to get an extended warranty if you want to pay more.
So, with a prebuilt system, if anything goes wrong after a year (or two), it will be up to you to fix the problem, whereas if you had built your own computer, it is very likely that the faulty component(s) would still be under warranty.
3. A prebuilt PC won’t be customized to your needs
The other downside of buying a prebuilt PC is that it won’t be customized to your own individual needs. You may be able to find a prebuilt system that has the exact specs that you’re looking for, but more often than not, prebuilt PCs typically come with an unbalanced part list.
For instance, if you have $1,000 to spend on a gaming computer, you can get ideal in-game performance by opting for a mid-range processor and pairing it with a higher-end graphics card. However, a lot of $1,000 prebuilt systems on the market opt for higher-end processors and mid-range (or lower) graphics cards, which means that your in-game performance on the prebuilt system will be significantly lower than it would be on a system that you built yourself for the same price.
You may also have specific needs out of your system that a prebuilt computer won’t offer you. For instance, if you have $600 to spend on a gaming computer and you want it to perform fairly decently now, but you also want it to have the potential to be upgraded to a higher-end gaming system down the road, if you built the system yourself, you could allocate more of your budget to getting a higher-capacity power supply. With a higher-capacity power supply, an upgrade to a higher-end graphics card (the one component that will have the biggest impact on your in-game experience) will be much easier.
Unfortunately, cheaper prebuilt computers typically come with lower-end power supplies that aren’t able to accommodate an upgrade to a higher-end graphics card. So, in that case, if you did want to upgrade to a higher-end graphics card in a $600 prebuilt computer, you’d also have to purchase a new power supply, uninstall the old one, install the new one, and then add your graphics card.
On the other hand, if you already had a capable power supply in your system, all you’d have to do is install the new graphics card.
So, if you have specific needs that your computer must meet, then your best option would be to build it yourself (if you have budget restrictions) or have it custom-built (if you have a larger budget and you don’t mind paying a premium)
Paying to Have Your PC Custom-Built: The Case For and Against It
Having a computer custom-built can offer a higher potential for performance over buying a prebuilt computer. However, custom PC builders typically charge higher markup prices on their systems, which makes them the worst option in terms of price-to-performance.
The Case
For Buying A Custom-Built PC
1. Custom-built PCs are ready out of the box
Like a prebuilt gaming computer, if you purchase a custom-built PC, once it arrives, it will be ready to use. Obviously, there is no assembly required. Again, if you opt to build your own computer, when all of your components arrive, it can take first-time builders a couple of hours (or more, depending on how smoothly the process goes) to get the computer up and running.
2. A custom-built system has a simple warranty process
Also like prebuilt computers, custom-built PCs have simple and straight-forward warranty processes. If something goes wrong with the custom-built PC and it is still under warranty, all you have to do is send the PC back to the custom PC builder who built it and it is up to them to diagnose (and fix) the problem as long as the problem is something that is covered under the warranty.
If you build your computer yourself and one of the parts malfunctions, it’s up to you to figure out which component went bad. Once you figure out the malfunctioning component, you’ll need to take it out of your system (which, if its a component like your motherboard, would mean disassembling your entire system) and send it in.
3. Custom-built PCs can be customized to your personal needs
Just as building your own PC gives you the power to choose each component individually, so, too, does getting a custom-built PC. Most custom PC builders will give you a much broader range of components that you can use in your system when compared to a prebuilt computer.
4. Get Extreme Performance and Aesthetics
Another advantage of getting a custom system is that you can have an extreme configuration put together. While building a PC isn’t that difficult, there are certain factors that can make building a computer more difficult.
For instance, if you want to add a custom liquid cooling configuration, a ton of RGB lights, custom graphics on your case, or aesthetic modifications it’s not as simple as just plugging things in. The people who are able to build computers that have those kinds of features have likely been building systems for a long time.
So, if you’re a first-time builder, you’re going to have a lot more trouble trying to build an extreme system.
But, many custom PC companies offer these kinds of features (at a cost, of course.) Therefore, if want an extreme system, but you’re not up for the challenge (and the risks that come with it) of building it yourself, ordering it from a custom PC builder would be the better route for you.
The Case
Against Buying A Custom-Built PC
1. Custom PCs have the worst price-to-performance ratio
If optimizing your budget to build the best performing system possible is your main goal, you’ll want to forego paying to have a custom PC built for you. While the markup prices on prebuilt systems are high enough to hurt their price-to-performance ratio, custom-built PCs have even higher markup prices making them an even worse option on a price-to-performance basis.
2. Custom PCs don’t typically come with as long of a warranty as buying individual components
Like prebuilt systems, most custom-built computers come with a standard 1-2-year warranty. There are exceptions with this as some custom PC builders do offer longer warranties. And, of those custom PC builders that don’t offer longer than a 1- or 2-year warranty, they usually give you the option to pay for an extended warranty. Of course, that adds more cost to the build and hurts its price-to-performance ratio even more.
If you build your own computer, you will typically get at least ~3-year warranties on each individual component. And, even though the warranty process is more difficult with individual components, you will have more coverage than you would with a prebuilt or custom-built computer.
Which Option is Right for You?
While each of the three methods for getting a new computer listed above comes with their own pros and cons, the reality is that the right option for you will come down to your personal preferences and needs.
If you have a larger budget and don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of choosing compatible components and assembling your own system, then a prebuilt or custom-built system would be the better option for you. If you’re working with a tight budget, or you just want to optimize every cent of your budget to get the most performance out of it possible, then as long as you’re willing to take on some of the risks that are associated with building your own PC, that would be the best route for you.
Check it Out: Five Powerful Budget Gaming PC Builds
Ultimately, while we always recommend that you build your own system (because, in reality, it isn’t that difficult of a process), we do realize that there are some people out there who just don’t have a desire to take on the responsibility of building a computer. So, if you are in the market for a new computer and you’re on the fence about how you’re going to get one, the information above should help you figure out the right option for you.
Which one is your best choice?
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The computer is an indispensable tool when it comes to daily life and work.
Therefore, PC users will want to purchase or upgrade their computers every once in a while. In contrast to mobile phones, home appliances, and cars, computer components often have unified interfaces and specifications, and with PC-related information readily available on the internet, building your own PC isn’t a difficult task. So, when it comes to buying desktop computers, people usually think about either building their own PC, or purchasing a pre-built PC.
Assembling a computer, i.e. “building your own PC” or “DIY”, refers to the components of the computer being chosen and purchased separately, and then assembled by either the computer store employees or the consumer themselves. On the other hand, for pre-built computers (also known as “branded” computers), on top of the system unit itself, the optional keyboard, mouse and monitor will usually be included as a bundle offer from the PC brand manufacturers or retail vendors; you simply buy the PC, bring it home, and plug in its power, and it can be used right off the bat.
Some say that building a computer costs less, while pre-built pc have relatively poor performance for a higher price. But is this really the case? In this article, we will analyze the pros and cons of Custom PC versus Pre-built PC. If you are thinking about which one you should choose, please read on.
Custom computers have a relatively lower cost—even more so in comparison to higher-end computers.
Usually, price is what most consumers care about the most. After all, they want to make sure that every penny of their hard-earned money is put to its best use. Certainly, the price for assembling a computer is cheaper relative to buying a pre-built computer, but why is this the case? Pre-built computer manufacturers require human resources for the assembly and testing of computers. This is reflected in the cost: the price of the product must be higher than its manufacturing costs in order for it to be profitable. On the other hand, assembling a computer eliminates this part of the cost.
Therefore, an assembled computer with the same hardware specifications will be cheaper, even if a genuine copy of Windows operating system is included. In other words, for the same price, you will get a pre-built computer with relatively poorer hardware specifications. As the saying goes, «you get what you pay for». This will somewhat impact the overall performance, features, and scalability of the computer.
As for the price difference between custom computers and pre-built computers, the gap is minimal when it comes to regular entry-level computers that are less than $500 USD. However, when considering the components and parts for mid to high-end computers (in the same price range but from different brands), the price gap for each item may very well be over $30 USD. This is especially true for motherboards, graphics cards, and RAM modules. With different brands for different chosen computer components, the price gap can become very apparent.
Custom PC are flexible in terms of specifications, as each component can be purchased according to one’s needs.
When assembling a computer, the different needs of every user can be met, since each component can be chosen at will. There is a wide range of specifications, brands, and styles to choose from; therefore, one can pick the products with the higher price-performance ratio, and better quality. On the other hand, pre-built computers offer different models to meet varying purposes and preferences (such as models for word-processing functions, audio-visual features, and gaming), as well as a variety of style and size options. Certain features for some models can be customized, but there may be restrictions on the available brands and components. Some components may even involve customized versions of brand vendors, so the design of these components will be more geared towards cost concerns. Therefore, there are relatively fewer choices for pre-built computers; when buying them, compromises between needs and prices will generally have to be made.
For example, some people don’t play video games, so they only require entry-level graphics cards, or even no graphics card at all (by utilizing the integrated graphics that come built-in with processors). In this case, it is not necessary for the power wattage of the computer to be particularly high. However, if one requires both the computing performance of high-end processors and more RAM capacity, the right pre-built computer may be hard to find. This would be another scenario where one may wish to assemble their own computer.
Pre-built computers are the most convenient, and quality is guaranteed.
There are actually very few gamers who assemble their own computers. The biggest advantage pre-built computers offer regular computer users is convenience, which encompasses overall manufacturing quality, software and hardware testing, and after-sales service.
The value of pre-built computers lies within these advantages.
For regular pre-built computers (meaning brands that are not hardware manufacturers), the computers offered will be cost-driven—either by customizing stripped-down versions for mass-production, or by adopting a standard reference design to lower the cost. Hardware manufacturer brands do not take these measures. Take MSI’s desktop computer, for example: it targets the gaming market, and offers a wide range of product series that meet different needs. The Aegis series is specifically designed for top PC gaming players, and offers the most outstanding gaming experience; the Infinite series desktop computer emphasizes providing a comprehensive gaming experience without limits; the Trident series desktop computer features a thin and light form while being equipped with excellent gaming performance—on top of being eye-candy when placed in the living room, it also allows gamers to enjoy their games on the TV. As for the Nightblade series, although compact in design, it boasts ample storage capacity and perfect performance.
In order to enhance gaming quality, MSI has also adopted gaming graphics cards that focus more on materials used and cooling function. This is unmatched by any regular pre-built computers.
Assembling a computer isn’t all that difficult, but it does requires relevant hardware knowledge. This includes a proper attention to connector cables and ensuring the operating system, drivers, and antivirus software are properly installed. Pre-built computers take care of these tasks for the consumers. Pre-built computer purchasers also don’t have to worry about compatibility issues among components that they purchased separately, or whether those components will provide consistent and stable operation. The manufacturing of pre-built computers follows strict, standardized procedures regarding software installation/hardware assembly and testing, so there will be fewer related problems and issues than seen with self-assembled computers.
Moreover, you can’t assume everything’s running smoothly just because the computer is able to boot up and operate.
If issues arise in the future for your assembled computer, you are required to find out where the problem lies, and have the faulty component repaired—with or without warranty. With pre-built computers, the warranty will cover the entire computer, so the brand manufacturer will handle any issues, saving you time and effort.
Which should you choose: Custom PC or Pre-built PC?
Actually, buying a computer is just like having a meal. You can choose to do some grocery shopping and cook for yourself at home, go to a restaurant, or even pick up some take-out food; each choice has advantages and disadvantages, and there is no definite better choice. It all depends on the needs and circumstances of the individual computer buyer.
First of all, gamers who can assemble their own computers will do just that; there is no reason for them to choose pre-built computers. They are able to detect and replace any faulty parts, and even if the entire computer is broken beyond repair, they can always count on themselves to start fresh by buying computer parts and assembling them.
If you are buying computers for others, for your company, or for your school—regardless of whether you know how to assemble a computer—it is most convenient to buy pre-built computers, as this will save you time and effort in picking which one to buy. When considering the maintenance responsibilities that may follow, you’ll also save yourself a lot of trouble with pre-built computers, since you can have the brand manufacturer handle issues that may arise. If you don’t know how to assemble a computer, but you really want to save money, you can pick your own computer parts and have the computer store employees assemble it for you. Otherwise, if you don’t know an expert in self-assembled computers who is willing to help you out, it is most convenient to buy a pre-built computer that fits your own budget and needs. All you have to do is bring the pre-built pre-built computer home, plug in its power, and you can use it right away while enjoying a warranty for the entire system unit. If you choose to assemble your own computer, you may experience more issues, which could cost you more time—and more money.
Not sure how to choose an MSI pre-built desktop? Feel free to refer to the following website:
https://www.msi.com/Landing/best-gaming-desktop-pc
Console vs PC. Endless War? / Habr
Greetings, Khabrovites! So Friday crept up unnoticed. Today we will talk about the long-standing and ongoing war between PCs and consolers. This confrontation has no equal. The battles within the console market are nothing compared to PC vs console battles. Just like the battles between PCs among themselves: which “vidyaha” is better and who has how many fps.
The material will be a continuation of my previous topic, where we talked exclusively about consoles. nine0003
Naturally, the article will be a mix of my personal experience and opinion from the outside.
How it all began
Back in the 80s and 90s, there could be no talk of confrontation. Game consoles, like the first games on the PC, were not at the stage to swear or compete with each other.
It was cool that something appeared and developed there.
Closer to the middle of the 90s, Dendy and Sega began to appear in the expanses of the former CIS. Most PCs appeared at home, and especially for games, in general, in the early 2000s. The lucky ones who could check out the 1st Doom, I met closer and closer to the end of 90x years. The first worthwhile games on the PC, such as: Doom, Wolfenstein, Prince of Persia, Warcraft — only a few could afford to play, and especially in the outback. At a time when Dendy and its copies were in the possession of more people. The Dendy and Sega game libraries were just as huge compared to the PC. Therefore, everything is obvious here.
I immediately discard hi-tech personalities with financial capabilities who could afford everything much earlier at that time, I broadcast on behalf of an ordinary teenager at that time. nine0018
Consoles gain momentum
And so, in the early 2000s, Sony enters the market tightly, strengthening its authority from previously released consoles.
Behind them, sluggishly, Microsoft is pulling up. But in memory we will clearly have the first impressions of the games of the same PS1. When she gave out a picture no worse than PC games of that time. About Dendy and Sega, there is nothing to talk about at all. So what kind of wars? Everything just evolved.
Since 2002-2005, PC games have made a significant graphical breakthrough. Consoles no longer looked so convincing. The people slowly began to become wary and make decisions: buy a prefix or build a PC. nine0003
In my memory, the first PC games that made my jaw drop were: DOOM III (2004), Far Cry (2004), Serious Sam 2 (2005), and, of course, Need for Speed: Underground 2 (2004), but not as much graphics as gameplay and soundtrack decided. I think, to this day, Need for Speed: Underground 2 is the best game in the series on PC and Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999) is the best on consoles. These were truly revolutionary projects and made an indelible impression. Every couple of years I go through 1-2 games from the list for sure.
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All of the above games are my personal opinion and I don’t want to cancel other projects that came out at this time.
PC strikes back
Crysis was released in 2007, in parallel on PC and consoles. This is where the consoles have gone by the wayside. What a shockingly beautiful graphics, gadgets and gameplay this masterpiece and benchmark had at that time. It seems to me that this is where the real confrontation began. This game was the first to show the full power of the PC platform and how graphically lagged behind the console market. Yes, many will say: “what about the gameplay, casual, etc.”? Friends, the main wars are still going on against the backdrop of graphics to this day. «Graphic drawing», overclocking to achieve maximum fps — this is the main theme in the war between PC and consoles. nine0003
Consolers turned their tails between their legs, and PC boyars, who could build a top PC at that time based on Nvidia 8800, rejoiced.
I’ll tell you more, Crysis still looks modern at ultra graphics settings today.
At that time I didn’t have the budget for a powerful PC and I built a PC based on AMD and Radeon X1950xtx and what do you think? At high settings at a resolution of 1680×1050, I slowed down. This is on a new PC. I didn’t give up, it was my first «gaming» PC and I wanted to get into graphics. I went through Crysis for the first time on high settings with a frequency of 15-17 fps, shooters will understand how painful it was. But, I went nuts from the picture, the foaming waves and the palm trees falling from the shots. With each improvement in hardware, I went through Crysis again and again, and each time I was surprised by the beauty of this creation. Got me a little carried away, sorry. nine0003
Since I got the PS3 in 2010, I could only see on YouTube what a gulf in graphics between PC and consoles. Yes, I took the best graphics game of the time, but other projects lagged behind.
Consolers switched to exclusives.
God of War on Sony looked like the most worthy project of the mid-2000s in the console field. Xbox could not be remembered for something like that, except for Alan Wake. Plasticine parts of Halo, which were sometimes exclusive to Xbox, sometimes not — we do not take into account. Forza, like Gran Turismo, both on the PlayStation and on the Xbox, began to “insert” far from the first parts. nine0003
What really impressed me about T-shirts was Gears of War. I love this series of games, up to Gears 5, but then again, the exclusive was wandering on the PC from time to time.
In 2007, Sony rolled out Uncharted — one of their best projects. System seller, so to speak. Released in 2013, The Last of Us finally drove the nail on the “T-shirts” for exclusives, which have not remained so over the years. And this I even superficially walked through the libraries.
What do we see for 2020?
With the new architecture of consoles, starting with the PS4 and Xbox One generations, the boundaries are blurring in terms of exclusivity.
Yes, it was the exclusives and the lack of problems with the upgrade that all these years consoles have attracted new and current users. Now, if Sony tries to keep the brand and does not port its main titles to other platforms, Microsoft duplicates many “exams” on “Windows.
No matter how the console players puff, the PC confidently holds the brand. Reduced exclusives on consoles, graphical lag, non-universality — all this has changed the worldview. As a «bonus» we add an update of console versions, ala upgrade — this further reduces interest. nine0003
It used to be better. I bought a box and forgot it for 5 years, and now “S”, “Pro”, etc.
So what’s the precedent?
It’s simple. Every year, and taking into account the above factors, each side began to realize its place in the market. PC owners are well aware that they have an ace of flexibility, power up their sleeve, and console players are aware that with modern architecture they have fewer exclusives and with progress in graphics and frame rates they are constantly “heated up”.
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Many people cannot «jump» to a PC because they are used to it and it is convenient for them. PCs, in turn, are not ready to watch «soap» in 30 frames at 4k (most often).
I occasionally watch and visit game forums and communities. The degree of confrontation has dropped noticeably over the years. Either a new generation of gamers has been reborn, or there has been less aggression.
Total
And the finale is such that the hatchet of war is almost buried. There is a choice and it’s great. What I see from my side: this is my personal decline in interest in consoles due to the decrease in exclusives. I wanted to take a PS4 for myself, and there, apart from GOW, The Last of Us 2, there is nothing interesting for me. Everything is on PC. At one time I thought about Xbox One because Killer Instinct was impressive, but they take it and port it to Windows. nine0003
Such things. Do you think everything has died down or is it the calm before the storm? Although what a storm there is, everything is sad at these last gaming exhibitions.
I will be glad to have a lively discussion, have a good weekend and good games!
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5 reasons to choose a gaming PC over a console / Computer and mobile games / iXBT Live
It’s hard to think of a topic more hackneyed than PC vs. Console, but this week’s article «5 Reasons to Choose a Console Over a Gaming PC» showed that it still resonates with gamers. I could not stay away and, because the author of the aforementioned text is unlikely to present arguments not only against, but also for, and the issue should be covered comprehensively, took the liberty of rolling out this text.
First, I want to call on everyone to live in harmony, because all of us here are smeared with the same world, we are enthusiastic fans of video games and agree that it makes sense to purchase a specialized gaming device.
All those who are not ready to overcome the paywall play on smartphones, tablets, watches and in clubs, and in absolute terms they are the majority. We can be called gourmets and connoisseurs, two sides of the same coin, who are looking not just for the opportunity to poke buttons in their spare time, but appreciate gaming as a form of leisure and want to get the highest quality gaming experience possible. Based on this thesis, we will go through the reasons for choosing a PC as a platform. nine0003
Performance
Gaming PCs are expensive these days, shamelessly expensive! But for those who are willing to bear the cost, it gives you the opportunity to get high fps, ultra graphics settings with ray tracing and other technological advances, a smooth and clear picture on a 240 hz monitor, and a feeling of superiority over most of your hobby buddies. Whereas on consoles, the framerate is either locked, or, on a fresh generation, a choice is given between performance and quality modes.
There are settings available on the computer, after playing with them, you can find the best option for yourself. For radical supporters of the idea of »FPS uber alles!» (Framerate above all — German) it is possible to kill the graphics to a level below the plinth, getting a three-digit frame counter and faith (supported by the following screen) in the advantage gained in online battles. nine0003 Screenshot from a video filmed with a high-speed camera on the monitor screen
Huge library and availability of games
For a true connoisseur, there will be just a world of endless possibilities here.
- Any games, from hot novelties to classics whitened with gray hair and regalia, which you want to touch. Any genres, including those not represented on consoles in principle. You can tease PCs as much as you want with the inability to play God of War, but LoL and DOTA have hardly fewer fans. If you like to diversify the gaming menu from modern blockbusters with various innovative indie projects and good old classics, there is simply no better option! Hence the conclusion that taking a computer for the sake of only conditional Fifa / Kolda / Fortnite is a very controversial decision.
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- Availability of past generation console games on emulators that can no longer be played without the original device.
- Affordable prices for new games, complemented by regular discounts, sales and even, oh gods, giveaways (and here the freeloading pekaboyar is not even EGS alone).
- A bunch of high-quality free-to-play projects that, unlike consoles, do not require payment for access to multiplayer (but suck money from the player at the same level).
- The notorious return of games in Steam within 2 hours, not for all projects during this time it is possible to evaluate the quality of the product, but it is usually quite realistic to figure out whether the hardware can cope with the load and whether, in fact, you want to continue playing. nine0101
The collection is not the latest, but representative)
Mods
One of the killer features of the computer, which is underestimated by many. Many old projects are alive and relevant thanks to the community, and as mods, new games and even genres were born (the aforementioned Warcraft alone gave birth to MOBA and Tower Defense, and let’s not forget Counter-Strike).
Mods allow you to diversify your favorite game, revive interest in it, refresh the look or completely change the gameplay! nine0003
Facelifted GTA 5 or The Witcher looks at the level of the most modern projects, at the same time, without requiring any costs from users, which cannot be said about official re-releases of old games from official publishers. Numerous modifications of The Sims, GTA and other megahits were sold like hot cakes during the rampage of illegal trade, the APRM 3 mod for the Confrontation 3 strategy was published by Russobit as the official Second Wind add-on, and all kinds of “nude mods” were released for the vast majority of games and have always been in high demand. Sorry, but the rules of the portal do not allow you to post the appropriate screenshot from Oblivion, so we admire the graphic mods of GTA V.
The Big Car Steal bells and whistles could fill this article from top to bottom)
Upgrades and expandability
its entirely, very useful and in demand, it also allowed the IBM PC to conquer the market back in the 80s.
Games are becoming more demanding every year, with an appetite absorbing gigabytes and gigahertz, new technologies appear, so why limit yourself to the framework of the original configuration? The lack of disk space is solved by buying an additional drive or replacing an existing one (fortunately, consoles now also know how to do this), the amount of memory expands in a similar way, and these components steadily become cheaper over time. nine0003
Installing a new processor is justified when choosing a budget option initially, with a subsequent transition to, for example, the top of the next generation. The most demanded upgrade is the installation of a new video card. The release of new versions of DirectX, the recent emergence of ray tracing — support for new graphic effects for two decades has spurred the demand for this type of component and gives users a noticeable progress compared to projects just two years ago. Nextgen comes suddenly only on consoles, on the computer it is a constant, smooth and progressive process.
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It is impossible to pass by all kinds of controllers and other accessories dear to the heart of some gamers. Steering wheels for racers, joysticks, Ir-trackers and throttle controllers for fans of aviation sims, vibration caps and mice with weights for tankers and shooters, gamepads for everyone, in the end — the range of all kinds of bells and whistles is simply cosmic. As a happy owner of a steering wheel with feedback, I can responsibly declare that it breaks out of your hands and shakes the table during collisions like no other controller can! nine0003
Of course, one cannot but complain about the current situation in the iron market, miners and the shortage of semiconductors dealt a heavy blow to the availability of video adapters, affecting the console one last year. And if the prices for the new PS and Xbox can be considered to have returned to an adequate level, then it is still difficult to build forecasts in the «pisish» kingdom, supply problems and hype will last at least another two years.
Henry Cavill seems to be telling you to build your own computer, be Superman, whore! nine0077 Versatility
Ironically, the computer is designed for a wide range of tasks. It can be a communication tool, a multimedia center, a workstation, a home server, a study guide, a tool for interfacing all personal gadgets, a mining farm, after all! A PC is able to replace a lot of home electronics, but if you choose a gaming laptop instead of a stationary model, then the pluses include the ability not to part with your favorite games while traveling and, to be honest, for many at work. Given the trend towards the transition to remote work and study, a computer was required at home even for those who used to live well without it. nine0003
As for the arguments about the difficulties associated with the use of a PC — it’s the 21st year of the 21st century, the skills of working with digital technology in civilized countries have long become not a bonus, but an urgent need, not only office workers and engineers, but also the military, auto mechanics, doctors, designers, factory workers — representatives of almost all professions.
If not so long ago computer literacy can be compared with the knowledge of a foreign language, now it is already turning into the same basic competence as ordinary literacy, as the ability to read, write and count is self-evident for us. nine0003
In conclusion, I would like to wish everyone more mutual understanding, tolerance and willingness to consider arguments and agree with the right to life of points of view that differ from their own. A life in which everyone thinks and acts the same and there is no one to practice the art of arguing with would be utterly gray and boring. Therefore, let me finish, everyone has more interesting and high-quality games and see you in the comments!
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