PS3 or computer

[implosion]

so i have some money on me now that i've been saving for a bit, i really want a ps3 as well i really want a new computer. but i'm not sure what to pick. my computer right now is really crap.. i'm using the on board video card which is 32 bit and sometimes i can see the white lines going up/down on my lcd monitor. and i have a 1.86 dual core processor running on xp pro media centre edition, i download cpu-z and it shows my processor maxxing out at 1.86... but if its dualcore it should have 3.72Ghz .... so its either buy a ps3 now... or save up some more and go to bestbuy to buy a new computer. and if i were to buy a ps3... what would you guys recommend ? 60G ps3 (used), 80G MGS4 (used[harder to find]) , or the new 80G which isn't backwards compatible.. i figure if i get a new computer that i could run a ps2 emulator on it ?... so what do you guys think ??

thanks

[saltpro15]

60gb ps3, because a computer doesn't need to be pretty to be functional, and resistance 2 kicks ass

[TheFerret]

Computer hands down... Computers can do everything a PS3 does and it does it better...

[DemonWasp]

Definitely computer. Your computer can do a thousand-and-one things that you can't do on a PS3 without serious modding.

For games, the computer again wins hands-down. The sheer number of PC games is far in excess of any console, ever, and the number of people playing on them is (I believe...) larger. Most of the games designed for simultaneous release between PC and console are better on the console (Halo and Gears of War don't count, because Microsoft really wants you to buy their XBox, not just play it on your computer).

Best of all, I'm still waiting for the console that can manage 60FPS at 1080p in any game, whereas I've got a computer that's been doing that for nearly 2 years now.

Side note: just because you have two cores doesn't mean that your CPU is clocked at twice as fast. It doesn't even mean that your computer will be twice as fast. It means it has two processors, and if you're very very lucky, you'll get nearly double the speed. If not, then you'll probably get only a marginal speedup over a single-core machine.

[saltpro15]

@DemonWasp, what computer do you have that can handle 60fps at 1080p? just wondering, I'm looking at an upgrade, and I like Crysis :p

[implosion]

haha yeah =P... so basically i got ripped off when i bought my computer ?


http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/prodinfoCategory?lc=en&cc=ca&dlc=en&product=3262025〈=en

and for gaming, all of my friends have ps3s and i'd like to play online with them =P
and for the 1080p... i just have a big old fat CRT TV haha and my computer monitor is only 500:1
and for a computer, could anyone recommend something that is under 1000$ that is good and that i could possibly run a ps2 emulator on ?

oh and check this out, my friend just sent me this...
http://gear.ign.com/articles/957/957243p1.html

[Tony]

a PS3 on a CRT is a waste of potential. Actually, some games will simply be unplayable (as I found out when I tried to hook my Xbox360 up to one, once).

[rdrake]

implosion @ Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:37 pm wrote:

i download cpu-z and it shows my processor maxxing out at 1.86... but if its dualcore it should have 3.72Ghz ....s

No.

I second (third, fourth?) the computer. There's just so much more you can do on it. Personally I don't enjoy gaming on the PC, but that's just me.

If you need a console, buy an Xbox.

[DemonWasp]

@saltpro15: It can't do 60FPS in Crysis, but manages it just fine in CoD4 (which generally looks just as good if not better, in my opinion). It's a Q9450 on an ASUS P5N-32e SLI motherboard with 6GB DDR2-800 and an 8800gtx. The memory and CPU have been upgraded since I originally bought them; the old CPU (e6600) went into my server.

The most effective way to buy a computer is to build it yourself, after buying the various components from an online seller. I happen to be a fan of NCIX.com (Canadian), but there are a variety of other e-retailers that supply parts much cheaper than Dell/HP/etc will. You need to do your research for this, but it's not particularly challenging, and it's getting easier.

The first place to start is to figure out exactly what you want to do on the computer - program, game, experiment with new operating systems, etc. Second, determine your budget, then immediately subtract $100 for shipping and handling and insurance on the shipment (it won't be that much, but better to stay under your budget than go over). From there on, it's just choosing components; you'll find that there's a price-vs-performance curve where the high-performance parts cost proportionally more per unit of performance than moderate-performance parts.

To remember:
- Don't bottleneck. If you buy a budget CPU and blow everything on a super-duper graphics card it may not work out.
- RAM can be upgraded easily, so skimp there early on if you think you'll have money for upgrades later. Don't buy less than 2GB in any case.
- For the love of all that is holy, make sure your PSU can handle the load you're putting on it. Most graphics cards are quite demanding now.
- Rely on benchmarks rather than the company's claims or model numbers. Benchmarks tell the truth, the others are filthy liars.

[rdrake]

DemonWasp @ Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:48 am wrote:

- RAM can be upgraded easily, so skimp there early on if you think you'll have money for upgrades later. Don't buy less than 2GB in any case.

Also remember that any 32-bit OS cannot see more than 4 GB of RAM -- something to keep in mind if you're planning on upgrading in the future.

DemonWasp @ Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:48 am wrote:

- Rely on benchmarks rather than the company's claims or model numbers. Benchmarks tell the truth, the others are filthy liars.

Remember that benchmarks can be conducted in such a way as to highlight a certain product's strong points while ignoring its weaknesses.

[saltpro15]

thanks DemonWasp, wish my school offered Computer Engineering, I would have no idea how to put this together if my dad didn't sell comps for a living

[Zeroth]

Don't forget, buying a pre-made computer means you'll get a very under-powered power supply. Thats where they save the money usually.

[Euphoracle]

You're on a computer science forum. What do you expect us to vote!

[Dan]

DemonWasp @ 26th February 2009, 12:48 am wrote:

The most effective way to buy a computer is to build it yourself, after buying the various components from an online seller. I happen to be a fan of NCIX.com (Canadian), but there are a variety of other e-retailers that supply parts much cheaper than Dell/HP/etc will. You need to do your research for this, but it's not particularly challenging, and it's getting easier.

If by most effective you mean most uneffective and uneffecent way then yes.

If you buy your computer in parts you are going to pay significantly more then you would for the same specs from a PC manufactor but you get the added benfite that your computer will likey have more bottel necks and run slower as you matched the hardware your self well the PC manufacors can make the hardware with the other hardware in mind or at least put some research in to the best hardware combinations to provied the best performance.

Build your own computer can be fun, educational and get you exctaly the compoents you want but it's not the cheast option and it won't get you the fast posible computer (unless you do some crazy cooling mods).

Zeroth wrote:

Don't forget, buying a pre-made computer means you'll get a very under-powered power supply. Thats where they save the money usually.

I would say more that the power supply is picked just for that configuration so it works fine untill you start adding parts that need more power. It does not make much sence to pick a powersupile that would be bigger or cost more when your clients don't need it. Also the savings noramly comes from them buying there parts in bluk.


Personaly i voted for computer but it realy is dependent on what kind of games you want to play.

[andrew.]

saltpro15 @ Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:46 pm wrote:

60gb ps3, because a computer doesn't need to be pretty to be functional, and resistance 2 kicks ass

I would normally say computer, but Resistance 2 is really good. If you have friends with a PS3 then definitely get the PS3 over the computer. You can always save up and build a computer for cheaper.

BTW, get the 60 GB, it's the best version with all the card slots, 4 USB ports, and a nice trim with full PS2 compatibility. If you want a bigger hard drive, head over to Tiger Direct and buy an ol' 2.5" SATA HDD. Just unscrew the old one and pop in the new one.