What is your take under this circumstance...?

[andiey]

As the whole world has experienced the shortage of all the N cards so "paper launched", are you pragmatic now and considering other options for your favorite games? The scalper spam and raised prices of these cards cause any disturbance to you?

I have calculated the total cost of PS5 and Cyberpunk 2077 along with Monster Hunter Ride and SWITCH. They total up to USD 765. To my greatest amazement, the visual quality of CP2077 is not that bad, as a matter of fact, it looks very immersive. RT effects are there and the whole experience is smooth as butter.

So with the price slightly higher than RTX 3080(MSRP) I have got two consoles and games. Above all, I don't need to worry about those settings and frame rates.

More importantly, I can get future games without worrying about how the games cope with tet hardware because they are specifically written for the devices.

What is your take/thought/opinions?

 

[elghinnarisa]

Depends on what you play and do. Even though I have a, what used to be, beafy setup with a de-lidded 8700k, 32GB ram, RTX 3070, 4TB SSD storage etc.
I have still spend way more money on my consoles (PS4/switch). Because the games are just so much more expensive, at least here.
Now I play quite a lot of games, and of many different types. So its not just one game, or two. Its 40 games, or 50 games, or 120 games I have to count with.

I could either buy the 3070 as I did, or buy 13-15 games for the PS4/switch.

I do however get a bit annoyed at my PS4, many of the games have loading screens long enough to brew a kettle of tea before you get in to them. Not to mention massive performance issues with drops down to the teens in framerate for many games and no way to do anything about it, no settings to tweak or lower to compensate. Though I am enjoying most of the games I bought for it.

Then there are other things which I enjoy having, like mod support. Which adds massive value to many games, cyberpunk 2077 have some decent mods already. Better minimap, better keybind support, better vehicle handling etc.

still think my switch is the best purchase I made in many years, I enjoy it a lot. Though I have modded the ever living crap out of it which does help performance in many games and battery life in others.

But I never did subscribe to ubisofts 30fps cinematic argument. For me, it just feels like trying to do something in a pool of honey.

 

[thesmokingman]

Consoles have their place but I don't think I could stand it if it were my only means to game.

 

[evernessince]

Many people are already aware of the advantages of PC vs Consoles so what you're really asking is what changes have impacted the decision making processes between buying a console and PC.

For starters, there's the fact that consoles now use SSDs, which should greatly improve the experience.

Second, AMD and Nvidia haven't paid any attention to the low end of the PC market. The low end cards released like the 1660 actually provide slightly worse value than cards that are 2 generation old (like the 1060).

Third, prices have skyrocketed for PC parts. Even if you exclude the pricing of this pandemic, AMD was already raising the price on it's CPUs and GPUs pricing them at around or higher than the competition. Not just their leading products but across the board, even prior value products and stripping other bonuses like the included stock cooler. Not that Nvidia isn't to blame here either, they started the increase in GPU prices with turing. Of course, all these companies are raking in the cash.

Even past this pandemic, unless AMD or Nvidia change they way they do business (which I doubt) I feel like the value proposition of the consoles is just too much to recommend people on a budget to buy a gaming PC if they aren't using it for something else. Even if you save money over time on a PC, the upfront cost is becoming ridiculous. Pricing PC parts like they are a luxury will kill the platform slowly. The budget market in the soul of PC.

 

[andiey]

Many people are already aware of the advantages of PC vs Consoles so what you're really asking is what changes have impacted the decision making processes between buying a console and PC.

Many people are already aware of the advantages of PC vs Consoles so what you're really asking is what changes have impacted the decision making processes between buying a console and PC.

For starters, there's the fact that consoles now use SSDs, which should greatly improve the experience.

Second, AMD and Nvidia haven't paid any attention to the low end of the PC market. The low end cards released like the 1660 actually provide slightly worse value than cards that are 2 generation old (like the 1060).

Third, prices have skyrocketed for PC parts. Even if you exclude the pricing of this pandemic, AMD was already raising the price on it's CPUs and GPUs pricing them at around or higher than the competition. Not just their leading products but across the board, even prior value products and stripping other bonuses like the included stock cooler. Not that Nvidia isn't to blame here either, they started the increase in GPU prices with turing. Of course, all these companies are raking in the cash.

Even past this pandemic, unless AMD or Nvidia change they way they do business (which I doubt) I feel like the value proposition of the consoles is just too much to recommend people on a budget to buy a gaming PC if they aren't using it for something else. Even if you save money over time on a PC, the upfront cost is becoming ridiculous. Pricing PC parts like they are a luxury will kill the platform slowly. The budget market in the soul of PC.

The rationale behind my choice for console is rather the unreasonably rising cost of N cards and the scalper prices.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Say NO to consoles!

consoles are for tetra and ms.pacman!

 

[windwhirl]

PC-only is still the way to go for me, so no changes.

I don't want to have another set of devices and games, and I don't even care about having a TV (I literally don't own one because I never saw the point past my childhood years), so that excludes consoles entirely.

And for my gaming usage, I don't really need high-end stuff. So I can wait out scalpers, availability and other issues.

 

[sam_86314]

PC is the only way for me. The PS3 was the last good console, IMO. Nowadays, they all require paid subscriptions for everything and are too limited overall.

My GTX 1070 can handle everything pretty well except CP2077. I don't need an upgrade for the foreseeable future. I'd like to get an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 XT for CP2077 at some point, but it's not necessary (and not really possible given the current situation).

IMO, the games industry has been going downhill for a while now, and fewer new games look appealing to me. I always find myself going back to older games like Skyrim and even Minecraft.

Lemme tell ya, modded Skyrim and modded Minecraft have given me hundreds of hours of entertainment, and will probably continue to indefinitely.

 

[Frick]

I will not hesitate recommending a console over PC for gamers on a budget who still want to play AAA games.

 

[efikkan]

Finding good deals might be tough, but not impossible.
I recommend finding a service offering price notifications in your country, and put notifications on various parts you're considering, even a few above your budget. This way you can grab good deals when they arrive.

The "cost" of a PC vs. a console is not what you should focus on, these are not comparable products. If you want a PC, you should buy a PC, and likewise for consoles.

 

[nguyen]

If I can install Win10 on PS5 or Xbox Series X then I might consider console LOL

 

[Devon68]

Well I still have not considered consoles. But wont pay scalpers the ridiculous price either. I can play the waiting game, even if I have to wait 2+ years

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

This is my thought, the only reason low end/budget PC gaming isn't dead yet is because Microsoft doesn't require native KBM support for games on Xbox. I will never expect Sony to do the same but since MS is a stakeholder in both Windows and Xbox I can see them doing it. Just think,

* with the adevent of crossplay, no multiplayer game will feel empty
* no fucking degenerates we call cheaters in online games
* no driver problem, BSOD, random CTD to worry about. All the worries will be on MS or dev's side
* not forced to handicap yourself in shooters with controllers
* strategy, RTS, MOBA and shit (that needs heaps of keys a la keybaord) will finally be playable on consoles
* play games cheaply with Game Pass
* play unoptimized shit via xCloud and/or whatevet streaming service
* all of the above for just $500 or under

Seriously, Intel, AMD and Nvidia are on a ticking time bomb and they don't even know it.
I'm not saying PC market will shrink overnight. PCs are still jack of all trade and top of the line PCs can do almost anything and everything. But with ARM processors (and competitors) in the future catching upto in the low end and game streaming attacking the need for expensive PCs at the high end (see Cyberpunk 2077 Google Stadia review on DigitalFoundry), I foresee fun times ahead for consumers and not so fun for the big 3.

 

[milewski1015]

Not just their leading products but across the board, even prior value products and stripping other bonuses like the included stock cooler.

I assume you're talking about the price bump from a $200 3600 to $300 5600X? A non-X 5600 is likely coming at some point. Historically, at MSRP, the X-series CPUs from AMD (at least the lower end ones) have been completely pointless to buy. $200 for a 3600 compared to a $250 3600X that performs at best 3% better? No thanks. I think AMD wanted to put out their higher margin products initially. They knew how well Zen 3 was going to perform and wanted to milk the early adopters by making the 5600X the cheapest option available. If a 5600 had been around for $250, I think the 5600X would've flopped pretty hard (although without a 5700/5700X to bridge the gap between a 5600/5600X and the 5800X, maybe the 5600X wouldn't have failed as much as I think it would, idk). As for not shipping parts with a stock cooler, I don't think that's a crazy choice. That started with the (pointless) XT refreshes, where the main focus was basically the fact that they were better binned. There wasn't much reason to buy an XT refresh aside from better silicon lottery/better potential OC performance. In that case, if you're overclocking a $400 3800XT/$500 3900XT you need (and can most likely afford) something much better than the stock cooler anyway. Shipping those parts without a stock cooler prevents it from just sitting in the box unused and wasted.

Back on topic, my rig still handles everything I want to play just fine. By the time I need an upgrade in a few years, I'd like to think prices and availability will have settled by then. I don't foresee myself picking up a console. I think the gaming experience they offer for the price is extremely difficult if not impossible to match on the PC side of things, but at the same time, you pay more for a PC for greater versatility in usage (workstation, server, gaming machine, etc), greater ability for tweaking and customization, the build process itself, etc. Without dipping into the used hardware market (which even now is relatively expensive given the price increases on everything), a console is a great alternative for someone that just wants to play games that aren't specifically for PC and doesn't want to shell out around $1,000. @efikkan said it well:

The "cost" of a PC vs. a console is not what you should focus on, these are not comparable products. If you want a PC, you should buy a PC, and likewise for consoles.

 

[blobster21]

I can sum it up in 2 words :

GAME OVER

 

[freeagent]

For me it’s just a hobby. Sure it would be nice to have one, but this has turned into a massive shit show. I have a hard time believing these shortages are production related or human malware related. And if they are it’s probably done internally to drive up prices, or there are some back door deals going on with miners. And by miners I mean people who make real money from it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a daily run has someone’s name on it each day of the week. Pre paid of course..

Because let’s be real, anyone else involved in manufacturing a product has problems keeping up with demand would simply increase production by adding the equipment needed to do so if the demand is there. Looks like demand has been there for months upon months yet nothing is stocked. I call B.S. and this whole thing stinks.

 

[HD64G]

New gen consoles are for sure great in value for casual gamers and will be for at least 2-3 years on since new games will be optimised for those and have great graphics comparable to high-end PCs, just playing at 60FPS instead of 100-144. Price, exclusives, ease of use and OS stability (especially with the mess win10 were until now with the broken updates) are their main pros.

 

[jboydgolfer]

i bought a 2080ti & a 2060 8Gb JUST before things got silly. so i could easily sit this release out with no problem, but my nephew wanted a new GPU, & although he is PC savvy, he is not hardware savvy, so he was confused why he couldnt find a replacement GPU. i felt bad, so i gave him mine for now, & i started looking for a modern card to give him permanently. in that sense, this BS has affected me, & it makes me aggravated with scalpers & miners, & worst of all, those who buy from scalpers. i also have a special chunk of hate in my heart for nvidia , as well as amd , they both flopped this market in to the situation its in now. ultimately, i can sit & wait it out, hoping these parasites end up broke, because it boils down to 'Wants' & not 'needs' so i & others will live.


i used to love PC building, that feeling you get when building & ordering parts, putting together the PC in your mind while selecting parts, it was always something i loved. scalpers, miners, & those who promote consumers leeching profit from the retail industry by blocking legitimate buyers have taken that from me & many others, & i hope they get what they deserve. we all know wrong when we see it , this it is wrong. how is a guy who can afford to buy an entry level GPU going to proceed, when that entry level GPU is only available at $999? is it still entry level? yes he can wait, but the reason he has to is so scumbags can make money based off a product shortage they created. all these fools on ebay paying suckers prices arent getting a warranty, i wonder do they know that? these are the situations that create those posts we see on TPU & other forums, 6-12 months after a release, where a guy is asking how he can solder this chip to that wire to fix an issue, while everyone is saying 'just RMA it' , but for some reason he wont...now you know why he wont.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

I don't want to have another set of devices and games, and I don't even care about having a TV (I literally don't own one because I never saw the point past my childhood years), so that excludes consoles entirely.

Consoles with HDMI ( since 2006) can be hooked to PC monitors without problems

Buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X is a more compelling option than a budget PC which is well north of 500$ for a comparable performance to PS5.
Unless you are buying a PC to do other things aside from gaming, get a current gen console.

 

[windwhirl]

Consoles with HDMI ( since 2006) can be hooked to PC monitors without problems

I'd have to get and HDMI to DVI adapter first of all (which isn't expensive, so that's not really a problem, just an extra step) and plug/unplug the monitor every time I switched whatever device I were actively using, and knowing me that would happen at least three or four times a day, if not more, so it would quickly enter the realm of annoyance.

Buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X is a more compelling option than a budget PC which is well north of 500$ for a comparable performance to PS5.
Unless you are buying a PC to do other things aside from gaming, get a current gen console.

I agree with this.

If the device is just for gaming and there isn't much budget to throw around, I'd be very inclined to just go with a console and call it a day.

 

[ThrashZone]

If I can install Win10 on PS5 or Xbox Series X then I might consider console LOL

Hi,
xbox likely already has win-10 on it lol

Only take on this op is wait it out.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

You do you.

I'll do both, at some point/eventually.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

I'll do both, at some point/eventually.

Absolutely, why not ?
PC for the performance, consoles for the exclusives = best of both worlds

 

[evernessince]

i bought a 2080ti & a 2060 8Gb JUST before things got silly. so i could easily sit this release out with no problem, but my nephew wanted a new GPU, & although he is PC savvy, he is not hardware savvy, so he was confused why he couldnt find a replacement GPU. i felt bad, so i gave him mine for now, & i started looking for a modern card to give him permanently. in that sense, this BS has affected me, & it makes me aggravated with scalpers & miners, & worst of all, those who buy from scalpers. i also have a special chunk of hate in my heart for nvidia , as well as amd , they both flopped this market in to the situation its in now. ultimately, i can sit & wait it out, hoping these parasites end up broke, because it boils down to 'Wants' & not 'needs' so i & others will live.


i used to love PC building, that feeling you get when building & ordering parts, putting together the PC in your mind while selecting parts, it was always something i loved. scalpers, miners, & those who promote consumers leeching profit from the retail industry by blocking legitimate buyers have taken that from me & many others, & i hope they get what they deserve. we all know wrong when we see it , this it is wrong. how is a guy who can afford to buy an entry level GPU going to proceed, when that entry level GPU is only available at $999? is it still entry level? yes he can wait, but the reason he has to is so scumbags can make money based off a product shortage they created. all these fools on ebay paying suckers prices arent getting a warranty, i wonder do they know that? these are the situations that create those posts we see on TPU & other forums, 6-12 months after a release, where a guy is asking how he can solder this chip to that wire to fix an issue, while everyone is saying 'just RMA it' , but for some reason he wont...now you know why he wont.

Yep. Just like the gaming industry, thirst for money is sucking the soul out of PC gaming. Can't even get excited for launches anymore as it's the "in" thing for companies to release a product with very low stock (pandemic or otherwise). Everything is designed to extract maximum profits, not to improve the gaming experience. Screw Nvidia and Intel for setting the example and AMD for perpetuating it.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep. Just like the gaming industry, thirst for money is sucking the soul out of PC gaming. Can't even get excited for launches anymore as it's the "in" thing for companies to release a product with very low stock (pandemic or otherwise). Everything is designed to extract maximum profits, not to improve the gaming experience. Screw Nvidia and Intel for setting the example and AMD for perpetuating it.

Hi,
Yeah now I don't even care until 10 months after releases lol