gaming computer

[funkyrobot]

Bit out of date now, but here's my thread on a self build PC from last year:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Ston]

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread, but this might be worth a read:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2...

[MarkRSi]

what the op said:

gaming computer

what people on PH think he said:

gaming computer capable of running the latest games at max detail at 4k resolution and 120FPS

Ston said:

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread, but this might be worth a read:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2...

I've got a similar spec computer - an ex-office i3 desktop with extra RAM and a 750Ti card in it and does a fine job running Ride and a few other newish games at 1080p and 60FPS at mid level details.

[mikef]

what the op said:

gaming computer

what MarkRSi thinks he said:

office computer capable of running the Sims at a push

[MissChief]

The way I see it, if you want something that will play the latest games at a resolution and frame rate that exceeds that of the XBone or PS4 then you need to spend £500+. Anything less than that and you may as well just buy the console instead. To me that's the whole point of PC gaming. Doing it faster, in greater detail and at higher resolution.

[ZesPak]

As per the above, people might be fine with a £300 pc, but that doesn't mean you can call it a gaming pc.
To call it that, I'd say you'd have to be able to run the current games at 1080p with consistent framerate at least .
Otherwise it's just a pc.

[snuffy]

ZesPak said:

As per the above, people might be fine with a £300 pc, but that doesn't mean you can call it a gaming pc.
To call it that, I'd say you'd have to be able to run the current games at 1080p with consistent framerate at least .
Otherwise it's just a pc.

Exactly. If someone says "a gaming PC" they mean something meaty that will play the latest games at full HD with no trouble - they don't mean playing Solitaire (which is a game after all).

I mean, the OP's son would hardly ask for a Games Console and be expecting an Atari 2600 !

[MarkRSi]

mikef said:

what the op said:

gaming computer

what MarkRSi thinks he said:

office computer capable of running the Sims at a push

At the end of the day we needed the OP to clarify what sort of games they'd like to play and at what details, rather than just assume they want the latest and greatest or tell them the simply not bother. As I said my 'office computer' can handle 1080p at decent framerates. Oh sure I'll be playing at mid level details for recent games but can't complain for the price I paid for it

[ZesPak]

MarkRSi said:

At the end of the day we needed the OP to clarify what sort of games they'd like to play and at what details, rather than just assume they want the latest and greatest or tell them the simply not bother. As I said my 'office computer' can handle 1080p at decent framerates. Oh sure I'll be playing at mid level details for recent games but can't complain for the price I paid for it

Agreed that the op needs to clarify. My point just is that, if you can just play them now at 1080p, you won't be able to next year. That's not to say it's a bad machine at all, and you're right, at the price you paid it's a VERY nice machine. There's of course no definition of what is a gaming computer and what's not, but I don't think that anyone would call your computer a "gaming computer".

[mikef]

Yes, it's very much about expectations. A couple of folks have suggested the EVGA GTX 750Ti SC. I bought that based on good reviews and within two weeks had moved it to my office machine and bought an EVGA GTX 970 FTW for gaming. Others will probably be quite happy with the performance it gives

[Meoricin]

My old Sandy bridge i3 & HD6950 still run anything I throw at them on middle-high settings, and monster most games that aren't brand new.

Certainly don't need £££ to build something that will comfortably play games at 1080p 30-60fps with reasonable settings. My PC outperforms my PS4 in terms of graphical quality vs fps. If I'd built it more recently then quick upgrades for much higher performance would be an option, too.

[ZesPak]

As per the above, did the research for my BiL about eight months ago and we landed on the 280X for bang/buck.

In comparison G3D Mark:
Intel HD 5500 (integrated in most i3/i5 cpus): 561
GTX 750 Ti : 3687
R280X : 5199

He can play BF 4 in everything "high" on Full HD with framerate stuck at 60. In two years, he'll probably have to start downgrading settings.