With all the debate that goes on about which is better to play or fallout or any game on for that matter, I am curious. When I looked up a top of the line gaming computer, if my memory serves me it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,800. My question is, I know there can't be that many people willing to pay that much for machines which will become obsolete eventually, I guess my question boils down to:
1. How much did your setup cost you and did you do a custom setup or do you have something that you can get straight from best buy
2. What are the advantages over a console other than mods

You don't have to be terribly technical with your answer, if it isn't a pretty basic discussion, I won't understand. I'm not very computer savvy.

Any PC gamer will tell you that buying a pre-built computer is an extremely bad idea, because they are overpriced. For about $1,000, you can built an awesome computer that will destroy almost every game out there.

Advantages?

1. INI tweaking(very useful in some cases)
2. Higher resolutions(most console games only run at 1280x720, and so you can't full utilize that 1080P HDTV, unlike with a PC)
3. Better performance(consoles are locked to 30 FPS)
4. Keyboard and mouse. This is my personal opinion, but once you get used to the keyboard and mouse, there is no going back to controllers. Being able to make a 180 degree turn, kill an enemy, and make another 180 degree turn in about a second is a luxury I love.
5. Better graphics. This is a given. PC games have options and sliders and everything when it comes to graphics. Completely adjustable, with INI tweaking, you can make things such as view distances, even higher.

As for my system, it was a pretty mediocre HP my dad bought a couple of years ago for about $700(overpayed). We then upgraded the RAM, PSU, and GPU, and although any PC gamer will tell you it is an "okayish" computer, it still runs most games well on High settings.

My PC was custom-ordered online two and a half years ago for about $1800. It was closer to $1600 if you don't count the speakers and peripherals and such (I was able to hold on to my old monitor).

I can run Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas at 1280x960 with the graphic settings maxed out. In fact I can run Crysis at that resolution with the graphical settings maxed out - at least all of the settings available with DX9 (DX10 adds a handful of others). If you want a really bleeding edge computer there are lots of things to do to get an edge, like dual video cards running in SLI or dual hard drives in a RAID array. However none of this is necessary to run something well and those bells and whistles can easily double the price of your computer. This isn't to say the bleeding edge computer isn't very fast and very pretty but it may not be very necessary to accomplish what you want.

• Custom (not sure of the price due to cannibalization)
  An off the shelf PC can usually be upgraded with just the power and graphics hardware being replaced... This costs around $200 more or less added to the cost of the PC ~$450 to $700
  A decent gaming PC can be made for under a thousand (not counting the cost of a deluxe monitor).
  
  
• Uniformly consistent platform (for the most part) ~Meaning the console. PC advantage is that audio/visual quality is largely up to the system owner, and not the manufacturer... The very opposite of a uniform and consistent platform. (these can be upgraded at will)
  
• Vs. threads (the regular kind I mean) are generally not allowed.

It is not a vs topic as defined by forum rules, which is why two moderators have posted in it.

I bought a pre-built custom comp to my specs for about 1100 USD - it runs most games pretty well maxed out. I also have an XBox which allows me to play whilst surfing the forums from time to time, although I prefer the mouse/keyboard to the XBox controller.

:foodndrink: and why I mentioned "the regular kind". (and only because of the thread title.)

1. Custom-built. Cost, I don't know. Cannibalized some parts from my older machine (case, DVD RW drive, etc. for example) but bought new motherboard, RAM, processor, triple video cards.
2. Speed. Graphics (if you care about that sort of thing). Both will always come out above the console, especially graphics. Also- you can easily upgrade your PC when/as needed/desired (new graphics card, more RAM, better sound card, faster processor, newer motherboard, whatever). Can't do that on the consoles.

I would be surprised if a PC gamer says it's better to play on a console...

The reason i don't like consoles or at least this kind of genre on a console, is because i don't feel you have enough freedom. A game like FIFA i would definitely prefer on a console, but as FIFA is quite borring in the long run, i'd never buy a console for that. On the PC i get a whole keyboard to do what i want and an easy controllable mouse. You don't have that freedom on an Xbox or PS3. You are forced to stay with autoaim. Also the game runs smoother on a PC plus i can play on my MacBook Pro when i'm on holiday or somewhere else, where i need waist my time. (I run bootcamp, btw.) Well that's just my opinion, probably not the best but that's what i think. And then it's all the noobs with a shaking hands who play on a console.

Shouldn't this be in Community Discussion?
And they are both good in their own way.
Some of us don't have money, patience or knowledge to get a good computer or upgrade the one we have so for us it's easier with a console.
We never have to worry about our system specs not fitting the game or upgrading our systems or worry that if we mess around too much we might accidentally break it.
But if you do have a good computer and the patience to learn about the system specs and the knowledge to keep it up to date then it's far better than a console.
Example, mods.
FO3, Oblivion and New Vegas has/will have a crapload of mods due to how easy it is to mod the game.
Then we have maps.
Left 4 Dead can get kinda Boring once you've played the campaigns 50 times each.
But the PC guys has like around a dozen great community made campaigns to downlaod.

So in the long run, the PC is better.
But for us that don't have the money/patience/knowledge it's simpler to get the console.

/opinion I guess.

The problem with custom built is that not everybody can do it. Not everybody wants to do it. I've had horrible experiences building computers what with friggin BIOS and driver updates and trying to figure out why in the [censored] it won't boot up. Making sure you're buying the right mobo/proc/mem combo. Trying to figure out what you'll need for power. Buying the Windows OS and we haven't even touched on actually putting it all together. It's a [censored] pain in the ass.

Not everybody has the know-how to build a computer. So, those who don't are more or less stuck with pre-fab PCs or consoles.

And when it comes to making the decision between a $1000+ (but really, a LOT more) computer and a $300-$400 console, there is no question about which to go with. You also don't need to upgrade a console. Any game that comes out for it, you'll be able to play without ever worrying about specs and spending more money on upgrades. PC gaming? More often than not, you'll be checking to make sure you got the specs to play a new game. Don't got the specs? Upgrade... by spending more money.

Irony: Console users cannot use the console...

All true, but these days its pretty basic, unless something goes wrong. A bare bones kit can be bought online (pre-assembled even), and a video card is no harder to install than a 90's game cartridge, (any questions are usually answered in the install guide). If more people knew how easy it can be (and often is)... they would try their hand at it. Nothing substitutes for experience, but for the most part (bare basic assembly) you can learn this stuff in an evening or two on Google browsing tutorials.

** The one major "Gotcha" with custom PC's is that if something does happen, and you damage a part... You have no recourse, as it was you that damaged the part, and there is no one to send it off to that's on the hook to fix it.

Building your own is the way to go and it's not as difficult as it sounds, the hardest part is making sure everything you buy is compatible. As for putting it together, you can't go much wrong if you don't try and force things into places they shouldn't go.

On thing about costs that never gets mentioned is the cost of a decent HD TV and surround system. Add two grand to the cost of your console. B)

At least you PC players get console commands to counteract all the BS the buggy game throws at you. The PS3 version decided to smite my acquisition of T-51bs, T-45ds, and a Gauss Rifle with making Boone die everytime I reload my latest high-progress game file.

I have a self built PC, water cooled and overclocked that cost in the neighborhood of $1300. It will play any game at ultra high graphics settings @1920x1200. As far as becoming obsolete, even consoles become obsolete. At least with a PC, you can upgrade periodically and keep a cutting edge machine instead of buying a completely new one.

Most of the advantages have been talked about already. One thing I like about PCs is the tinkering and hobby aspects. Its like hot rods to car guys. You don't really need chrome dual headers and special alloy wheels, but wouldn't you rather have a custom tricked out speedster than a cookie cutter Volkswagen?

My computer cost me 800$ and it runs New Vegas just fine. It has even been called a 'tinker toy' on multiple occasions. I've had no problems playing games on it on the highest settings. The main reason I would get the computer version over the console version is for the user created mods.

The PC versions has a great community behind it. If there are troubles with the game or PC, there is a good chance someone will figure out a work around, or use the GECK/console to fix them. Not something the console gamers can do.

I like to buy all my PC parts and build my own. You do not need a $3000+ system, though they are nice. Mine was pricey, hell, my graphic cards alone were $800+....because I use crossfire. Though I got a great price on the CPU. (q9550 for $50.)

So don't buy the latest and greatest. Buy last years latest and greatest. The 5870's dropped damn near $100 when the 6000 series came out. (3 weeks after I payed the original price for mine. )

If you do decide to build a PC, I highly recommend you ask for help on the forums. There is a thread in CD specifically for this type of thing when the time comes, if ever. http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1118559-the-community-tech-thread-no-93/ Tigs is the man for helping those build good PCs with what you have to spend. You can read some of the previous systems he's thrown together for others and work from there.

This isn't meant to be inflammatory, But, as long as there are multi-platform releases, games will be programmed to the lowest common denominator, in most cases. At this point, both X-Box and PS3 are very much old technology. A cutting edge pc is way overkill these days.

1. My rig only cost me 250-300 dollars to build. Sure it's bloody ancient but it's able to damn near max NV at 1600x1200.
2. Let's see....Bugs are easier to fix. Dev console. Better graphics. More stable. Better controls(I've tried both, joypad is horrid compared to mouse for aiming). Not needing VATS to hit anything fast moving. The list just goes on and on.

I have both consoles and PCs to play games on. Most of the time I prefer the PC (mods, customizing the game, better performance in most cases). However some games are better on the console, or have DRM issues that I want to keep off of my PC.

Now, I could build a PC that would spank this game, or just about anyone else out there, for $600 to $800. Assuming I don't need a monitor or speakers or Keyboard/mouse. I mean I could use my TV for a monitor like consoles do and someone has to have an old keyboard and mouse laying around. Heck, I could maybe even build one for less than $600.

That being said, either platform, console or PC will give a great gaming experience as that is what you have to play games on. And, that is what is important, right, the games, not the platform.

Indeed, if you get a "last gen" PC now, you can expect to be playing games on it for like 5 years or more at highest or pretty high settings. Just because of that Zan.

Having recently priced out a system for a friend.

$800 gets you a basic system (2GB RAM, dual-core, 500GB SATA, no monitor, basic $100 video card). Or if you spend around $1000-$1100 you hit what I currently consider the sweet spot (4GB RAM, quad-core, 500GB SATA, $200 video card like the GTX 460). I never include monitor / speakers / mouse / keyboard into the cost because most people already have one of each. And with a bit of care, or recycling of parts from an older machine you can drive that down a bit to $700-$900.

$1400 would be slightly overpriced for 90% of the population (even gamers). Anything over $1500 and I suspect you're paying too much, or are paying 2x to 3x what a lesser part would cost you just for 10-20% more performance.

One reason I stick with commodity parts - the ATX tower case that I bought back in 1997 is still in active use. Not as my primary system, but as a secondary system (currently loaned out). And if a part breaks, I know that everything in there can be bought at a local computer store in a pinch. Or from dozens of online retailers if I'm in less of a rush to get it fixed.

Mods seem to be the most relevant reason but if that stuff doesn't seem important to you I'd go with the Xbox360, the best one is only in the neighborhood of $300 or so now and if I remember right the 360 will get DLC before the PS3.

a good Video card will run you 300 - 500 bucks (18 mo's ago the nvidia 9800 was close to 500), and if you put that in SLI, that is potentially 1000 bucks just for the video cards. If you don't go with a awesome video card, you can build a rig for under 1k, but not if you want good video too.