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Why should I build a gaming rig rather than buy a ps3?

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Nov 5, 2009
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I really can't decide which to do. It seems that almost any game I want to play comes out on both, and the ps3 is wayy cheaper. Even MMOs are driftig towards console releases.

But for some reason I am itching to build a gaming pc.

What do you guys think?
 
I'd go PS3. They are beautiful machines, plus you get a blu-ray player in the deal. I actually have one of the original models that has the PS2 hardware in it as well to play PS2 games.
 
I think you're ka-raaazeee :p.

Consoles are a simple, casual experience. But that's the problem with them too. There's barely any customisation or options! Forced to use a certain type of controller, no ability to run mods (unless its UT3 on PS3), locked OS, barely any user replaceable parts...

My own Steam library has 140 games. Loads of AAA games bought during sales, loads of super cheap indie games. That doesn't exist on consoles. You have XBLA's indie section but they're 99% "proof of concept" games, and the PSN's alternative (Minis) are very bad value for money. I dare not think how much these games would have cost me if I was a console gamer. All because there is serious competition between rival services on a PC.

Playing online is free and you don't have to subscribe to any services to unlock the full potential of the system.

It's short sighted to say a console is cheaper.

I'd definitely go for a PC. Even a cheap PC is now more powerful than a home console, it does more, wider choice of games, blah blah.
The PS3 is a superb media centre though.
 
I'd go for a console. For the price of a gaming rig, you could easily get a PS3, moderate to big HD TV(assuming you don't have one already), and quite a few games. Of course you can even buy more games if you already have the TV. Another advantage to console games is that they are not serial based, so you can easily sell a game once you beat it/have no reason to play it anymore. I know several people that do this.
 
I prefer a gaming rig since I not use to the gameplay on the console in IMHO.
 
Build custom pc no doubt, and id be happy to help you build it with the right parts for the price. Im very good at it, and i also am on my own custom pc too :)
 
Bit of a difficult question to answer, I mean you can practically do the same things on either machine, thanks to the web browser on the PS3 you can do email etc. I would plumb for the PS3, but that's me. Do you already have a computer? Are you going to want to play around with your games, prepared to update software and drivers, resolve issues when they arise.
 
The correct answer is Both :)

Sometimes you just want to relax on the couch and game on the TV and sometimes you want to play games that are just far better on the PC.
 
apolloa said:
Bit of a difficult question to answer, I mean you can practically do the same things on either machine, thanks to the web browser on the PS3 you can do email etc. I would plumb for the PS3, but that's me. Do you already have a computer? Are you going to want to play around with your games, prepared to update software and drivers, resolve issues when they arise.
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Well technically an iPod touch can do almost everything that an iMac can do, it's just one of them does more and does it better.

I also wouldn't worry about drivers. That was a problem in the olden days but everything is more or less automated now. I haven't had the need to manually update any drivers for my PC (Windows handles updates automatically anyhow), nor have I had a problem with any updates. Infact the PS3 is notorious for frequent, large firmware updates.

If you do go the PC route be sure to take the Steam path. They even have a way of updating video drivers now.
 
Both, totally. And I'd probably start with PC depending on cost..

There isn't a single game I'm aware of which has come out on both which hasn't worked significantly better on PC than PS3. I'm a massive PS3 fan but it's mostly worth it for it's exclusive titles.

I play my Steam library on my HDTV using either a PS3 or 360 pad, or obviously mouse/keyboard (depending on the game) other than cost, the BD playing and certain console only titles there's no advantage to the consoles. A gaming PC is totally painless if set up correctly, which isn't difficult.

And are more interesting PC exclusives than PS3 (or xbox360 for that matter) in my opinion. The production values of the PS3 exclusives can be pretty mind-blowing though.

You really couldn't go wrong with either machine - the PS3 is a wonderful thing. If you have a lot of friends with PS3s too that would tip the balance a bit.
 
What dagless is writing is utter nonsense...

anyway~
My objective response;
If the games you want to play are available for the PS3, and you aren't really interested in PC/Mac games such as Starcraft or something, then go with the PS3. It is not only waaaay cheaper, but is a great multimedia hub for your living room (and I don't even own one)

My subjective response;
PS3 is more fun and a less nerdy path of gaming. Girls won't really care if you play a PS3 for awhile, but if you sit in front of your 'puter nerd-raging with some 13 year old in another country, chances are you will hate yourself while calling the fake world of porn your sex life.
 
ozreth said:
I really can't decide which to do. It seems that almost any game I want to play comes out on both, and the ps3 is wayy cheaper. Even MMOs are driftig towards console releases.

But for some reason I am itching to build a gaming pc.

What do you guys think?
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I have a 27" iMac i5 Quad Core and an Xbox 360. Unless you're interested in the fistful of PS3 exclusive titles, the Xbox is the MUCH better console: Better graphics(yes!), better game performance(yes!), more games.

Games simply are not programmed in a way that they can take advantage of a myriad of processor cores, and that simple fact of life makes the PS3 a hardware design failure. That's what you get when you let a marketing department make engineering and design choices. The Xbox 360 has fewer, but MUCH faster processor cores, thus games simply perform better on the Xbox 360 hardware. Actually, the Xbox 360 is a Triple-Core PowerPC G5 running at 3.2 GHz -- a real beast.

When there was still an officially supported Linux port available for the PS3, the PS3 was very interesting for supercomputing tasks - you could build a very cheap high performance cluster with those gadgets. That was what she was really good for. But for gaming, the PS3 is only the second best console on the market. Unless, of course, you also want to use her as a BluRay player.

But since both consoles are cheap, it won't hurt you too much to just buy them both. But if you have to choose between the Xbox 360 or the PS3 version of the game, the Xbox 360 version is usually the better choice.

A gaming PC is only necessary if you want to play something like the STALKER or CRYSIS games on the highest resolution at a maximum frame rate. If you can live with average frame rates, then you can also play those games on any current iMac.

I used to be a heavy player of First Person Shooters, but got tired of the never-ending hardware upgrade race. The Xbox 360 is the best piece of gaming hardware that I've ever bought.
 
spamboxnet said:
What dagless is writing is utter nonsense...
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/disagrees.

My subjective response;
PS3 is more fun and a less nerdy path of gaming. Girls won't really care if you play a PS3 for awhile, but if you sit in front of your 'puter nerd-raging with some 13 year old in another country, chances are you will hate yourself while calling the fake world of porn your sex life.
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That is the most hilariously dumb thing I think I've read on the forums. "More fun" how exactly? "Girls" huh? PS3 gaming is just as nerdy as PC gaming. :p It's just as possible to play a PC game in moderation as the PS3, and you're just as likely (if not more likely) to be nerd-raging at 13 yr olds on the PSN..
 
Maybe it's habit, but I far prefer FPS games on a PC. Probably habit.

I bought a PS3 for Gran Turismo 5. I only bought it last month, and I still got hit with the Gran Turismo delay, haha. I enjoy the SimBin race games (GTR Evolution, Race 07, etc).

Civilization and Company of Heroes are game that def work better on PC.

MLB2010 and Madden and FIFA11 are soley or better as PS3 games.

So, it really depends on what type of games you want to play. The correct answer is both, and the PS3 has the blueray player and is a good netflix client.
 
There had to be one.. Sorry for arguing OP.

Winni said:
I have a 27" iMac i5 Quad Core and an Xbox 360. Unless you're interested in the fistful of PS3 exclusive titles, the Xbox is the MUCH better console: Better graphics(yes!), better game performance(yes!), more games.
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Let me fix that for you: Better graphics (No!), better game performance (sometimes!), more games (really? If you don't include the indie channel?)

Games simply are not programmed in a way that they can take advantage of a myriad of processor cores, and that simple fact of life makes the PS3 a hardware design failure.
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To be fair, some games are, and *when* they are they look and run better than their 360 counterparts. It's hardly a failure when you see it's market penetration and the technical heights it reaches.

That's what you get when you let a marketing department make engineering and design choices. The Xbox 360 has fewer, but MUCH faster processor cores, thus games simply perform better on the Xbox 360 hardware.
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BS, there are more than a handful of multiplat games that perform exactly the opposite. The 360 is less unusual architecturally and they're both very similar in raw power without optimisation.

But for gaming, the PS3 is only the second best console on the market. Unless, of course, you also want to use her as a BluRay player.
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Or you like any of THE GAMES. Did Ozreth mention the Xbox 360 at all? The 360 has just as much of a handful of worthwhile exclusives as the PS3 does.. The fact he's not brought the 360 up implies to me he maybe wants some of the PS3 games? There are whole genres of game the PS3 is more suitable for, and it's success in Japan means it gets more of their titles too.

But since both consoles are cheap, it won't hurt you too much to just buy them both. But if you have to choose between the Xbox 360 or the PS3 version of the game, the Xbox 360 version is usually the better choice.
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I'm not going to disagree with that.. :) Definitely more than half of multi platforms perform slightly better (occasionally much better) on the 360.. But almost always when it's a multiplat the 360 version is then trumped by a *much* nicer PC version. That’s why I say get both a PS3 and a gaming PC and leave out the 360 unless you really need Alan Wake/Halo/Gears.

I used to be a heavy player of First Person Shooters, but got tired of the never-ending hardware upgrade race. The Xbox 360 is the best piece of gaming hardware that I've ever bought.
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The never ending hardware upgrade race is overblown. As you say, your modern iMac is perfectly capable. It's also probably much more powerful than the Xbox360! :D
 
mixel said:
"Girls" huh?
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You will occasionally see them when you venture outside. It would take too long to explain the differences, so I recommend taking a time out from world of warcraft and go see for yourself. Just walk around saying "hi" to people, and the first one that says "eeeww go away" is a girl.
 
I do both, and I'd day it depend on your type of gaming.

Console is better for casual gaming (lazy sofa Saturdays) and much better for social gaming when friends and family are over.

The PC is a better single player gaming experience for me, also for multiplayer over network. The graphics and controls are usually better than they are on the console. For some games, they are MUCH MUCH better on the PC.

Yes the PC is more expensive, but you generally need a PC for non-gaming stuff anyway, so it's not you can just have a PS3 and no PC. As a side bonus if you have a gaming rig, your general PC experience will also be on a peppy computer.
 
Dagless said:
Well technically an iPod touch can do almost everything that an iMac can do, it's just one of them does more and does it better.

I also wouldn't worry about drivers. That was a problem in the olden days but everything is more or less automated now. I haven't had the need to manually update any drivers for my PC (Windows handles updates automatically anyhow), nor have I had a problem with any updates. Infact the PS3 is notorious for frequent, large firmware updates.

If you do go the PC route be sure to take the Steam path. They even have a way of updating video drivers now.
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An iPhone can do more then an iMac, it can browse the web anywhere! But we are not discussing iMac's, the OP is asking about PS3 and PC. And the PS3 does not have regular firmware updates, one every 2 months? And that's usually a security patch cause of some hacking thieving little ***** somewhere!!
So the PS3 has security patches, same as Windows and Mac, and you get games patches, same as Windows and Mac only better because you have to download it to play the game.
As for the drivers, really? Windows will automatically download the latests AMD or Nvidia drivers when they are released?
 
mixel said:
That is the most hilariously dumb thing I think I've read on the forums.
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Don't worry, he/she is a joke account/troll that is pushing a little too far.

apolloa said:
As for the drivers, really? Windows will automatically download the latests AMD or Nvidia drivers when they are released?
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It's only a new feature of Steam but yes, they can do now. Though personally I go down the modded drivers route to get a little extra kick.
And of course DirectX is updated automatically with Windows Update.
 
Totally man. Like your comments are completely valid :rolleyes:

"Consoles are a simple, casual experience."

"There's barely any customisation or options! Forced to use a certain type of controller, no ability to run mods (unless its UT3 on PS3), locked OS, barely any user replaceable parts"

"Playing online is free and you don't have to subscribe to any services to unlock the full potential of the system"

"I'd definitely go for a PC. Even a cheap PC is now more powerful than a home console"

"Well technically an iPod touch can do almost everything that an iMac can do"

"Infact the PS3 is notorious for frequent, large firmware updates."
 
Im going to agree with the overwhelming majority though i think vaguely due to the individual spates throughout the thread.

Basically a computer is a must lets be honest, i'd prefer it to be a Mac but i'm guessing your set on the PC front, no problem you'll learn from your errors, we all do:p

So if you haven't got one thats suitable to lead you into the future i'd op for that first then buy a console later if you need it, for the record Bluray is overrated and if your getting a PC gaming rig more than accessible by your computer and a simple lead to your TV.

Console gaming is more "fun" sometimes, its difficult to explain but theres just something about it that pulls you in. It is way more social, easy to play with friends just turn on the other controller. Having a controller is good too with racing games etc lets you get into it more everyone loves to move with their input devices! But again more that easy to plug em in to your computer.

I have an Xbox 360 myself, to me it is the one thing Microsoft have done right and done themselves for a change! though it pains me to say it, honestly it hurts inside! But i simply have it for a)halo b)COD. The controller is nicer and the multiplayer experience is nicer i think. I agree vaguely with the PS3 being designed by marketing to make it sound better as from the impression i got at the time of release i thought it was going to be better that the xbox 360 through and through.

Best of luck...
 
Having both a PS3 and a 'gaming rig,' I would go with the latter every time. $500 can build you a very nice machine, and while upfront costs are more expensive than a console, you get a larger variety of games, regular driver updates to make your system faster (at least GPU-wise), and as has been said, online play is free.

If your primary concern is social gaming, however, a PS3 will be a much better choice.

spamboxnet: most of the things he says are true. Unqualified? Perhaps. But true? yes. Some of them apply to the PS3 as well, but not all, and not to the same extent.
 
Dagless said:
Don't worry, he/she is a joke account/troll that is pushing a little too far.
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I think you'd better clarify just WHO you are directing that comment to sir. if it's me then be prepared to be taken down because I certainly am no joke and I dislike arrogant fools who totally ignore all other opinions and facts regardless if they are true or not!

I also forgot to comment on the fact that playing online with the PS3 is free just the same as a PC!
 
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