I'm trying so hard to reason with myself as to why I want to go with gaming computer vs a console.
So convince me... I WANT to be convinced. I'm just finding it harder to convince myself any longer.
First let me get some things out of the way:
The price:
Motherboard $80 (for something old and cheap like an h61/67)
CPU: $120 (for a simple dual core like the I3 2100)
Case: $60 (haf 912 or something similar so you have room for video cards + good cooling)
Powersupply: $50-100 (you can get like a 500 watt from a no-name brand for cheap but reliability is bad... name brands are of course more expensive but watts may not be enough to power your video card)
Video Card: $120 or so (gtx 550 or similar)
Hard drive: $50-100 (depending on reliability and how much space you need)
Memory: $25 (single stick of 4 GB)
Optical drive: $20 (you can get as low as $17 but those don't come with cables if I understand correctly)
OS: $100-200 (OEM or full)
Keyboard: $10-100 (for a seriously crappy one or a nice gaming one)
Mouse: $10-100
Mousepad: $10-50
This is assuming you won't run into cooling problems and need some case/cpu fans on top of what I mentioned.
vs
console: $150-300
controller: $25
X-box live: $60 a year (last I checked)
I realize that computers can do more than just game... but I already have a laptop which although it can't game, I can do what I need it to for those things.
I guess PC's are supposed to have better graphics (for the price, i'm not convinced they are... try building a PC that can run skyrim on the same settings as console for $175)
However the main appeal to the console... - that you can play with others - doesn't apply so much to me *cough*loner*cough* so at least I can convince myself I don't need that option.
The other good thing I can convince myself is that if the X-box (or any console) breaks It's more expensive to get it repaired/buy a new one than if something in my computer breaks, since no individual part is that expensive. (though I suppose if the powersupply busts or doesn't provide enough power I might destroy other components in the comp as well)
I can open up console and spawn cheese or dragons around me, or mod skyrim on the PC... but is it worth all the extra money for that ability?
So convince me... I WANT to be convinced. I'm just finding it harder to convince myself any longer.
First let me get some things out of the way:
The price:
Motherboard $80 (for something old and cheap like an h61/67)
CPU: $120 (for a simple dual core like the I3 2100)
Case: $60 (haf 912 or something similar so you have room for video cards + good cooling)
Powersupply: $50-100 (you can get like a 500 watt from a no-name brand for cheap but reliability is bad... name brands are of course more expensive but watts may not be enough to power your video card)
Video Card: $120 or so (gtx 550 or similar)
Hard drive: $50-100 (depending on reliability and how much space you need)
Memory: $25 (single stick of 4 GB)
Optical drive: $20 (you can get as low as $17 but those don't come with cables if I understand correctly)
OS: $100-200 (OEM or full)
Keyboard: $10-100 (for a seriously crappy one or a nice gaming one)
Mouse: $10-100
Mousepad: $10-50
This is assuming you won't run into cooling problems and need some case/cpu fans on top of what I mentioned.
vs
console: $150-300
controller: $25
X-box live: $60 a year (last I checked)
I realize that computers can do more than just game... but I already have a laptop which although it can't game, I can do what I need it to for those things.
I guess PC's are supposed to have better graphics (for the price, i'm not convinced they are... try building a PC that can run skyrim on the same settings as console for $175)
However the main appeal to the console... - that you can play with others - doesn't apply so much to me *cough*loner*cough* so at least I can convince myself I don't need that option.
The other good thing I can convince myself is that if the X-box (or any console) breaks It's more expensive to get it repaired/buy a new one than if something in my computer breaks, since no individual part is that expensive. (though I suppose if the powersupply busts or doesn't provide enough power I might destroy other components in the comp as well)
I can open up console and spawn cheese or dragons around me, or mod skyrim on the PC... but is it worth all the extra money for that ability?