I'm going to say console gaming is still cheaper, assuming you're just using one console.

I've spent far more money on games for consoles, whereas most of the money for the PC just goes towards software and hardware customization and upgrades (on a brand new box no less). The customization, sourcing components and hardware tinkering are a part of the enjoyment of a PC if you're into that, but most AREN'T.

While I appreciate the flexibility of the Wintel box as well as its scalability, for a $1k PC, I'll just end up replacing the whole thing when it is no longer a mid-range (mid-range by today's standards) performer with a custom job built to my personal specifications, by myself. Most likely before we see an Xbox 3 or PS4.

I wouldn't consider a $500 budget PC something I'd be okay with to use as a gaming PC.

If the main allure of gaming on a PC platform is performance, you don't do it on what most gamers with decent budgets would consider a complete POS.

Console would only be cheaper if you were referring to PSP or DS. Maybe Wii, depending on your budget.

Put into perspective, a 40GB PS3 only costs $150 more than a Wii.

It's still more than most are willing to pay for a console, but once you have the console, the only thing you're paying for are games.

Even at $10 more per title on average, you'd have to buy ten games to even add up to a $100 difference.

Truth is, the vast majority of console owners don't even buy ten games over the lifetime of the console. And that total typically includes discounted games. By the time most consoles go to mass consumer pricing, there are budget priced titles as there are with the 360 currently.

And that brings up the other aspect of console gaming; the consoles themselves become cheaper, which not coincidentally is when sales figures for hardware tend to pick up.

When I can pick up another PS3 for under $300, or a 360 for $200, that won't buy me a PC; it will buy me a decent video card.

1.- Unpack the computer case and remove the sides.
2.- Unpack the power supply, put it on it's place on the case and screw it in place.
3.- Set the screwing points for the motherboard on the case, unpack the motherboard, screw the heatsink clip for the CPU, put the motherboard on it's place on the case and screw it in place.
4.- Unpack the processor, put it on it's socket on the motherboard and lock it in.
5.- With the processor comes the heatsink, remove the film from the thermal paste, put it on top of the processor and lock it in. Connect the fan to the motherboard.
6.- Unpack the RAM and put them on memory sockets 0 and 2 on the motherboard.
7.- Unpack the hard drive, put it on the case and screw it in place, then connect it to the first SATA port on the motherboard. Connect it to the power supply too.
8.- Remove one protector from the back of the case so you can put in your videocard.
9.- Unpack your videocard and put it on the first PCI-Express slot on your motherboard. Screw it to the case and connect a PCI-E plug from the power supply to it.
10.- Unpack the DVD burner, put it on the case and screw it. Connect it to the IDE port and to the power supply.
11.- Connect the ATX and the 12V cables to the motherboard.
12.- Connect the power and reset buttons to the motherboard. Also connect the LEDS.
13.- Close your PC's case.
14.- Connect it to electricity, to the monitor, to the mouse, to the keyboard and to the LAN.
15.- Unpack your Windows CD and have it ready.
16.- Turn the switch on the power supply to on, then push the power button on your monitor and on your PC.
17.- Hold "delete" and it will enter to the BIOS. Under the basic settings option, you'll find the boot-up priority list. Choose your DVD as first and your Hard Drive as second.
18.- Push the eject button on your DVD, put the Windows CD on the tray, and push the eject button again to close the tray.
19.- Hit F10 on your keyboard to save the setting on the BIOS and reboot.
20.- When the "hit any key to boot from CD" appears on your screen, hit any key.
21.- Let the Windows installer load and choose to install Windows.
22.- Quick format your HDD to create a partition and install Windows.
23.- Follow the on-screen steps and fill all the boxes you come by.
24.- Windows will now start. Remove your Windows CD from the DVD.
25.- Install the CD's that came with your motherboard and video card.
26.- Download Firefox and post on VGChartz to share your results.

...

Anyone who reads that post will know how to basically build a PC. Now all to blame is laziness.

cant wait to get this

I pray you didn't actually waste your time typing that. let me just take a random one as an example.

>7.- Unpack the hard drive, put it on the case and screw it, then connect it to the first SATA port on the motherboard. Connect it to the power supply too.

hmmm, First SATA port??? where's that?? Where's the power supply? Where's the port located on mother board? and how do you connect it?

There are a MILLION question a normal computer user would ask when it comes to building a PC, that's why 99% of people (if not even higher) choose to buy a retail version instead?

The typical person doesn't want to do that. Not even the typical gamer. It has nothing to do with the process of mapping out a build, sourcing the parts or putting them together (it's only a remedial job for the tech inclined).

Anyone can do the research on the details of the process, assuming they know how to use a web browser. Does that mean they'll do it or that they feel capable of doing it themself? Probably not.

That's not a bad 5 minute lesson though.

The step by step process he outlined makes MANY assumptions about the person doing the build. Considering most people can't even swap out internal HDDs or memory, they're not going to be able to do the whole job without help.

Really only useful to someone who already knows what all that terminology means, and if they did, odds are they already knew how to build a PC from parts anyway.

I was being generous by saying low single digit % of computer users were capable of building a PC from scratch. You're probably closer to the reality.

Games that are 10$-30$ more expensive than PC games, not forgetting the fact that PC games drop their prices much faster than console games.

Do you only buy 10 games every generation? If you do, then just build a decent $500 PC and tadaaa, it gets cheaper than PS3/360!!! And many great PC games are released with a lower price than $50 (Crysis Warhead for example, Sins of a Solar Empire, Sam & Max, etc...).

The Average PC gamer also doesn't upgrade and only buys $10-$20 PC games.... so where does lead us?

If you think you need $200 to buy a decent GPu, then it just shows how you don't know much about PC gaming.

PC usually is cheaper in the long run if you buy a decent amount of games, and will be used for a longer period than consoles, especially today. My brother still uses the same PC to play games after 5 years and has played several recent and great PC games.

Consoles are getting more expensive, PC's are getting cheaper, and life goes on.