Thinking of going PC

Mr109

Mr109

Mr109

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Hi All,

I really don't want this to start a crazed fanboy debate, I'm just after the thoughts of anyone who's done similar.

I've been away from PC gaming (except through bootcamp on a mac) for a number of years. I gave up a water-cooled OC pc for the easy life of console gaming.

I had both 360 and PS3 (which I'll keep) and have a PS4 on order.

I'm starting to think about coming back to PC games, I like sims (flight, space and racing) and FPS. I'm also very much liking the idea of Oculus Rift, which I know may come to consoles at some point. There's also I part of me thats a bit of a graphics whore and I'm guessing a GTX 670 will be better than the PS4.

I do all my gaming on a 1080p projector and 1080p tv, and don't want to change that. I know a SFF gaming PC is going to cost a lot more than a PS4, but think that would be somewhat mitigated over time through cheaper games.

My questions are:

  1. Will a SFF PC with a GTX 670 or similar be quiet enough for living room conditions? The Mrs is going to be watching TV whilst I'm on the projector.
  2. How none desktop friendly are PCs now? I've seen some vids of steam big picture is it any good?
  3. Will a GTX 670 give me 1080p 60fps in new games?
  4. Has anyone made this switch? Do you regret it?
  5. Is PC gaming possible without spending hours messing about with .ini files?

So come on ladies and gents, what do you think? Am I crazy? Should I stick with the easy life of a console gamer?

Thanks

Al
 
1. The 670GTX Windforce 3x I have is pretty much silent but I'm not sure about the other brands, the only issue I have is the 3570k stock fan which sounds like a dying pig.

2. They are a bit more like consoles now in the way programs work which isn't necessarily a bad thing, most games nowadays are pad friendly and Steam BP is great for the living room, especially as you can boot windows to load straight into it, essentially making any desktop PC a console experience.

3. It will do as long as the developers aren't **** and can optimize their games. So not all of them will run fine, but Ubisoft have the next generation locked down completely with the best games IMO and they are brilliant with code optimisation on PC.

4. Yeah, I made the switch April 2012 and haven't looked back, PC gaming is problematic but it's worth the patience and effort, consoles are only for people with small amounts of spare time or ADD.

5. Mostly yes, but if you want mods then no.
 
I can't answer all of your questions as I don't keep up to date on all the latest technology, however for item 5) the advent of Steam means that I do barely any fiddling with config files these days and Steam keeps all of the games patched & updated.
 
Thanks both.

Not much fiddling sounds good.

How is PC gaming with a pad? Is single player BF3 OK with a pad? I like pad gaming and would use it for the most part.
 
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There's a number of games which are only available on PC, and a number of games only available on consoles.

There's no one right answer, so if you can afford to have both, then do so.
 
Confused said:
There's a number of games which are only available on PC, and a number of games only available on consoles.

There's no one right answer, so if you can afford to have both, then do so.
Click to expand...

In the long run I'll probably end up replacing the PS3 with a PS4. Certainly can't afford both this year.

i'm certainly drawn to the none console games, and indeed the other none games benefits, although my main computer is an iMac.

I guess I know there's no right answer, it's subjective after all, but all the info I can get will help.
 
I switched from PS3 to PC about a year ago to a GTX 670 i5 setup, a couple of weeks weeks back I got hold of infamous 2 on the PS3 so decided to give it a go and was shocked by how poor the graphics were. Lasted about an hour an decided to boot up the pc.

Also with the likes of steam sales and humble bundles I spend a lot less on gaming and have also moved on to playing games i would never have played on my ps3. For example playing Thomas was alone that came with the latest humble bundle and its bloody brilliant.

I have a large cooler fan on my CPU and a windforce gtx 670 and my PC is a lot (lot) quieter than my PS3 (it is the original 60gb fat PS3 so that probably doesnt help!)

I have never really spent any time fiddling with ini files to get them to work. Only time I touch them is to improve my gaming experience i.e.. turning off all the opening credits to a game etc.

A year ago I would have be dead set on a PS4 launch day now not so much.
 
Just a comment about a few of your points:

1. I do not have that card, but I have been using Twin Frozr cards for the last few upgrades, as they run very cool and are completely silent...you can not hear my graphics card at all, even in the most demanding games the fan never goes above 40%

2. I use Steam Big Picture a lot and it is excellent, you can even set it so that pressing the 'Xbox' button on your controller turns big picture on, which is useful, and from Big Picture you can turn the PC off, put it to sleep etc. I have my PC(with monitor) on a desk near my TV, and have it connected to the TV also, so I can easily switch between the two. For example, Play on the monitor for FPS, RTS etc, and switch to the HDTV if I feel like sitting back for an RPG or something.

3. Can't comment.

4. Not a switch as such, as I have always gamed on PC, but I only got a proper dedicated gaming PC about 4 years ago and now there is not a single game I would get on a console over PC given the choice.

5. Yes, far too much is made of things like this imo. Every major release for the last few years has been fine for me on release, and those that have had problems have been really easy to fix, mainly due to this forum;)...Imo If you keep a clean windows install and regularly clean it(defrag etc) you will not run in to any problems.
 
dirtybeatfreak said:
While it is possible, I would not recommend playing an FPS with a pad on PC, you will be at a MAJOR disadvantage!

EDIT: I should learn to read!! You said SP :(

Apologies
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No Probs :-). I monumentally suck at MP FPS now, in the 1942 days I could hold my own, I couldn't even find it now.
 
As an extra question, am I likely to encounter HDMI issues from a graphics card? I go through an amp and splitter.
 
Mr109 said:
I'm starting to think about coming back to PC games, I like sims (flight, space and racing) and FPS. I'm also very much liking the idea of Oculus Rift,
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Just regarding this point.....have a look at a game called Star Citizen by Chris Roberts....due out on a year or so....but Alpha and Beta will be sooner.

Space, Sandbox Flight Sim with Oculus Rift support.....if that doesnt bring you back into PC gaming, im not sure what will.

Check out the videos on google.
 
francky said:
Just regarding this point.....have a look at a game called Star Citizen by Chris Roberts....due out on a year or so....but Alpha and Beta will be sooner.

Space, Sandbox Flight Sim with Oculus Rift support.....if that doesnt bring you back into PC gaming, im not sure what will.

Check out the videos on google.
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This, along with EVE Valkyrie has played a significant part in the thought process.
 
Trust me keep a ps3 or 360 AND a pc.

Going from history since 2006 the pc versions of games just never happen or get delayed deliberately because of piracy which is fair enough a lot easier to download a torrent than hack a console.

I fully expect many good games to get the same treatment this next gen on pc.
There will be games that come out that you want to play which wont be on pc until 1 year later or simply not even on pc.

The one that really annoys me which they have done to many games is say no delay on pc then at the last minute you find out it's delayed on pc and we all know why it's because they think people will simply download the torrent rather than buy the console version.
 
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I think later in 2014 will be the time to buy a PS4 for me, I've got a lot of PC games to catch up on.

Anyone got anything on the HDMI from pc through switches?

Al
 
roccles said:
I switched from PS3 to PC about a year ago to a GTX 670 i5 setup, a couple of weeks weeks back I got hold of infamous 2 on the PS3 so decided to give it a go and was shocked by how poor the graphics were. Lasted about an hour an decided to boot up the pc.
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Ditto! I thought the PS3 was amazing until I built a PC. Now Im just spoilt.
 
I use a 7770 on my htpc in the living room, that's enough for 720p with all the goodies turned up. The PC is a hell of a lot quieter than my PS3.
 
kohlditz said:
I use a 7770 on my htpc in the living room, that's enough for 720p with all the goodies turned up. The PC is a hell of a lot quieter than my PS3.
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Mine is about the same tbh, in fact I have been very impressed with how quiet my ps3 is(only got one a month ago). To be fair though, it is the case fans you can hear on my pc, and mine are particularly loud.
 
I just sold my PC a few months back as I stopped gaming as much and I had the 360 and PS3 to play anyway.

Played them for a bit and stopped playing the 360 as I wont pay a premium to play online and I prefer MP games and I only play the PS3 now and again to see what PS+ gives me each month, graphics are poor and compared to a pc it's just rubbish in general. I regret selling my PC :(
 
This thread has made me miss PC game, has been a couple of years, but I still think of myself as PC gamer. Might upgrade my graphics card and return to the fray.
 
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