$130 will match or beat any console in terms of graphical fidelity.

[theRepublic]

Sqrl said:

It would cost about $650 to build a rig with an E8200, 9600GT 512MB, 2GB DDR2, CD/DVD Burner, 320GB Hard Drive, Case and 400W-500W PSU.

 

So you get; Excellent CPU, Excellent GPU, Excellent Ram, Mid-Range mobo, Excellent Hard Drive, Typical Burner, and Typical Case & PSU.

 

Quite frankly I think anyone who buys a console and doesn't have a PC already has spent their money poorly. And anyone who is into gaming and doesn't buy a gaming capable PC has also spent poorly. Owning a PC is becoming a mandatory part of life, and buying a console over a PC is about as silly as it gets when you consider just how many things a PC makes easier. Now, if you're buying a PC as a gamer and not making it a gaming capable PC you've missed the fact that the difference between a PC you will would buy anyways and a gaming PC is almost certainly less than the cost of ANY current generation console.

Honestly the only two reasons, that I can think of anyways, not to spend the extra money to make your PC "gaming capable" is either ignorance of the actual cost difference or a dislike of PC games.  Outside of that I would chalk it up to fanboyism or just plain stubborness.

The problem with this argument is that Average Joe Consumer does not buy individual computer parts and then assemble them.  Average Joe goes to Best Buy, Circuit City, or Dell's website and buys a whole computer.  It's more expensive this way, but it is also some much easier for most consumers.  When trying to buy a gaming rig from one of these places, you end up paying even more of a premium.  You can go from paying $350 for a basic computer for the internet and word processing to paying $1000-3000 for a high end gaming rig.  That's why its just so much easier and cost effective for the vast majority of gamers to just go the console route.