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Intrinsic on 02 November 2014
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Anyone that remotely know how I post will have gathered that I am strongly against this very type of comparisons. Thats primarily because I believe they are usually always done unfairly and unrealistically. So I made this thread to explain exactly why. Now I am invitng all the PC guys here and the console guys to agree or disagree with my reasoning. This will not stop some from still making such comaprisons but I hope this thread or post would serve as a very good way to put things in perspective. So onto the points.

 

  1. HARDWARE
    Ignoring the display. Lets start with what is in the box. For consoles, you go out and spend $350-$400 for a box that comes with a console, an OS, a controller, a HDMI cable, power cable, disc drive and a headset (and maybe a free game). Then you connect that box to your TV. If anyone will be comparing a PC to a console, shoudn't it only be fair to compare a PC that cost just as much and will give you the exact same things in the box? A PC that will come with at least a mouse/keyboard or a controller, a video cable, disc drive and an OS. For the exact same price of $350-$400.

  2. PERFORMANCE
    This ties directly into the above point. If I spend $1000 on a GPU alone. It sure as hell will out perform a GPU that costs $400 or even a GPU that costs $200. I think this is something any PC gamer can relate with. It would be a special kinda stupid to expect a $200GPU to perform as well as a $1000 or even a $3000 GPU. So if screenshots of PC games are put up for the sole purpose of comparing them to consoles, shouldn't the PC in question generating the in game screen shot be at least similarly priced to the console in question. Cause at the end of the day the real comparison is what you can get for your money. If you are comparing the performance of something that costs 4 times more than a console then doesn't that defeat the purpose? Thats like trying to drag race a honda civic with an enzo ferrari.

  3. CONSUMER TYPE
    There is a very very big difference between a hardcore PC gamer and a console gamer. Put simply, a console gamer just wants ease of access. A box they just buy and plug into their TV. A box that will do everything for them that needs to be done to run the game. So if a PC gamer is going to argue with a console gamer, shouldn't they at least consider that that console gamer is most likely not willing or interested in doing all the things that you may have to do to get a great PC rig at the afore mentioned $350-$400. Like scrounge for used/refurbished parts.. basically build your own RIG. These are ppl that wanna just go and buy a box that works. What sense does it now make to start a PC argument by "you can BUILD a system better than that with teh same amount of money if you are willing to get a little creative or resourceful".

    I also think that some PC gamers can be obnoxious. Cause they act like a consumer wnting to spend what he/she deems is all they need to spend for their gaming is stupid. Some people want to spend $350-$400 for a console. Some people are willing to spend way more for a PC if need be. Whats wrong with any of that?
Thats it. These are the things I think in all fairness needs to be considered. Its like the PS4 vs XB1. I am sure most will agree that the XB1 should at least be $50 cheaper than the PS4 because its less powerful hardware and it does not perform as well (even though this performance delta is mostly hard to see with the naked eye unless they are pointed out to some). What I don'tt understand is that if this applies to practically identical hardware in their function and pricing, why doesn't/shouldn't Pcs  follow suit. Shouldn't a $1000 PC naturally perform much better? So how in anyones right mind would comparing way more powerful and expensive hardware to something cheaper make any kinda sense.
And whats funny is that every year this price:performance argument gets steeper. Last year, the question was can you walk into a store and buy (not build) a PC for $400-$500 that performs just as well or would outperform a PS4/XB1. This year its for $350-$400 (and don't forget that theer are games even thrown in there too). Next year it could be $250-$350 and so on.... Cause at the point, for the spending floor in question, thats what you can get with a console. And the millions of people that buy consoles clearly shows that thats all some are willing to spend for their gaming needs.