PC gaming

[Russell]

Because the other PC gaming thread was started by a bot.

So who is into PC gaming?
What spec is your PC?
How do the graphics compare to consoles?
Ever modded any games?

I’ve nearly completed my first week at my new job and I want to treat myself to a top draw gaming PC, (I‘ve always wanted one). So were would I get a good gaming PC in the UK?

Also what spec would I need to play Skyrim with all the setting maxed out?

 

[Flintlock]

I play a lot of games on my PC, but most of them are old. I also use emulators quite often.

I only have an on-board graphics chip on my laptop so I simply can't play anything too demanding. I've never modded anything.

I don't know the answers to your other questions, I'm afraid.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Yo. Will update this once I get my new SSD, but I can say I've got a 2.77GHz i7, 12GB Ram, and an nVidia 460 GPU.

As for good gaming PC, the correct answer is your living room, because the best and cheapest gaming PCs are typically the ones you build yourself, rather than to someone else's spec.

 

[Dana Scully]

PCs are my main platform for gaming - if I have a choice between PC or console I will almost always go with PC.

i7-2600 @ 3.40 GHz in an SLI ready mobo, 8GB RAM, GTX 560 w/ 2 monitors plus a 2TB HDD, running Win 7 Pro. Also, Turtlebeach PX21 headset ftw.

Graphics are naturally better (though of course it depends on the game) because the system is better than either the PS3 or the 360.

The only game I've ever modded was L4D, and that was just modding the menu I've also buggered around with various developer console shenanigans in L4D, but I don't think that really counts.

Like Ryu said, if you want the most bang for your buck, build your own. It's way cheaper, you have way more control over what parts you want to use, and you get to avoid all the irritating software prebuilt machines generally come with. Even if you've never built one before, it's not that difficult - it's kinda like very expensive Lego, and all the parts come with instructions on how to install them. Just make sure your parts are compatible - if you buy all your stuff from a parts store they should be able to walk you through your build, though it will end up costing a bit more than if you order everything online.

Recommended system specs for Skyrim:

* OS: Windows 7/Vista/XP (32 or 64 bit)
* CPU: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
* RAM: 4 GB
* HDD: 6 GB free disk space
* Graphics: 1 GB Graphics Memory
* Sound Card: DirectX 9 Compatible
* DirectX: Version 9.0c
* Internet for Steam activation

these specs aren't particularly high, so as long as you get a high-end rig I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Max Payne]

If I can, and I can do it reasonably well I will play on pc.

I need to upgrade mine though.

I have an amd quad core with a GTS 450 and 4 gigs of ram and I can handle Skyrim pretty decently.

 

[wander]

Aye, I play video games on my PC. Since I need a PC anyway, it just makes more sense to go all out on a decent PC so I can enjoy my favourite games with the potential to improve and expand them with mods, rather than end up spending just as much money on a crap computer and a console.

There are quite a few games I really wouldn't want to play were I unable to use mods [Morrowind, Fallout: New Vegas, Max Payne 2, Left4Dead, et cetera]; and VTMB is only available on PC, which basically seals the deal for me. I also play a lot of my old favourites on PC with emulators like Flintlock, especially if I'm on the road as I am now. If I'm staying at a hotel and I've got a few hours to kill, I can just fire up Metal Gear Solid or Silent Hill on my laptop.

Ryushikaze and YACCBS are absolutely right, you should just build your own PC. Much cheaper and you don't even have to know about computers these days, as sites like newegg are idiot-proof. Pretty sure you could put together an adequate gaming PC for no more than $400. And even if gaming PCs were significantly more expensive than consoles, you'd save yourself plenty of money buying games in Steam sales. And if you don't want to adjust to a mouse and keyboard, you can just use a gamepad.

Quite frankly, the only things that have tempted me to buy a PS3 are Valkyria Chronicles and Uncharted 3. Nothing tempts me to buy an Xbox 360.

 

[Lex]

At some point in the future when I have money again, I'm definitely going to build a new PC. As it stands, I have a 6 year old Dell laptop that runs everything I want to run at full speed and has served me well. I'm shocked it's still working, Dell stuff usually explodes on day 2.

Specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.3GHz
4GB RAM
400GB SSD.
ATI Mobility Radeon HD3400

Running Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit.

I run it on my TV using a HDMI cable. I don't usually take it anywhere, it basically functions as my desktop. I think this is probably why it's lasted so long. It does really well with running games at full resolution on my TV, though I get some slow down if I crank emulator settings up in say ePSXe.

 

[Cthulhu]

Don't short yourself on memory; get 8 GB minimum, and don't do the cheapest brand (like i think I did), but fast memory stuffs.

Also, get an SSD, if only for windows. 64 GB minimum, 128 GB preferable.

I've got 16 GB of memory, an i7-2600K at 3,4 GHz and a MSI R6950 Twin Frozr III Power Edition/OC (blah blah blah) graphics card that runs everything just fine; just not maxxed out in my 24", 1920x1200 Dell screen's native resolution, so you'd either have to get a pair of those or something even more ridiculous if you want to decently play a maxxed out Battlefield 3 on multiplayer.

 

[Hisako]

GAP55-USB3 mobo
Intel i5 (read: lol)
Corsair 2x4gb ram
Gainward nVid GTS250 1024mb
1TB HDD (with an extra 80gb IDE drive for my operating system because i am lolo)
Windows XP

Sounds like an old fossil compared to some of these specs above, but 2 years ago it was about 700AUD, plenty of bang for the buck (esp. as Gainward likes to OC their GPUs as their manufacture standard).
Runs Skyrim on ultra like a dream, although framerate tanks when using the HD texture pack. I prefer to keep that off.

I guess the point I want to make is that it doesn't actually take a whole lot to run games of this current generation at a decent quality on a PC. Unless someone's a graphic designer or is using some other ridiculously memory/processing-intensive program, getting the latest GTX or HD just to stay ahead of the curve is robbing themselves of an extra 100-200 dollars that could have been spent elsewhere, maybe on a better cooling system or a nice sound system, idekki.

 

[Russell]

I don’t have the confidence to build my own PC, I’d be paranoid of breaking parts or just failing at it. Plus I don’t know where you’d buy parts, I don’t trust internet shopping for anything over £50.

Anyway I was window shopping today at Curry's (electronics’ store) I saw a PC for £750, but that price might include the monitor, (I already have one)

Windows 7
Intel Core i7-2600 processor 3.4 GHz 8MB L3 cache
NVIDIA GeForce GT 550
12GB RAM
2TB Harddrive

That good?
Seems good but pricey, but I don't know any other shop to go to, 'PC World' had crap all.

 

[Dana Scully]

The specs are good, and if you're not comfortable buying parts then the price isn't bad either. You may have no choice but to buy the monitor (often it's part of the package) but even so you can just use dual monitors which, provided you have the space, is pretty sweet.

 

[Hisako]

Oh yeah and speaking of, nothing improves a gaming experience like a decent chair and desk.

Like seriously I have less than 20cmx20cm of mouse space and you wouldn't believe how much that gimps my shooter game for the love of god get something roomy

 

[CK]

MA785GT-UD3H mobo
8gb G.Skill DDR3 RAM
3.0ghz x4 AMD CPU
500gb HDD
1gb Power colour ATI HD 4600 Series

It does the job I can run Just Cause 2 on full with no issues.

I don’t have the confidence to build my own PC, I’d be paranoid of breaking parts or just failing at it. Plus I don’t know where you’d buy parts, I don’t trust internet shopping for anything over £50.

Anyway I was window shopping today at Curry's (electronics’ store) I saw a PC for £750, but that price might include the monitor, (I already have one)

Windows 7
Intel Core i7-2600 processor 3.4 GHz 8MB L3 cache
NVIDIA GeForce GT 550
12GB RAM
2TB Harddrive

That good?
Seems good but pricey, but I don't know any other shop to go to, 'PC World' had crap all.

Is that a brand model or something that is custom built? Also you should get over your fear of online purchases everything is a lot safer these days. Or pick up a few UK PC gaming mags, they normally have ads for people who build custom PC's because you really get your moneys worth when you go custom.

 

[Cthulhu]

At least in the Netherlands, there is an organization that protects online buyers. Stores participate and pay an X amount per month, which gives them a uh. Well, logo thingy that says they're connected to that organization. When you buy at a store connected to that organization, stuff you buy is insured up until €2500; that is, if the store fails to deliver, or goes out of business after receiving your order (this has happened a few times), you can appeal to the organization and get your money back.

 

[Xelazander]

I'm thinking of getting a new laptop, or building a desktop. My alienware gaming laptop is shitting itself lately (it's 4 years old).

Is anyone here clever enough to look at my minidump files and tell me how to fix my BSODs?

 

[Russell]

Windows 7
Intel Core i7-2600 processor 3.4 GHz 8MB L3 cache
NVIDIA GeForce GT 550
12GB RAM
2TB Harddrive

^ Got this one. (It's so quiet)
Thanks to BT it twas' a bitch to get the internet working using this old modem.
Took a while but I manged it. Hence the long absence. Back now.

Been playing thru some older PC games with the graphics set to maximum/ultra. Such as, C&C3 Tiberian wars:

Spoiler: BY MY OWN FORCES!

Also playing Anno 2070, going to buy Fallout or Skyrim soon.

 

[Max Payne]

lucky bastardo ;_;