Gaming on a Budget.

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So this is just a general overview of how you could get into PC Gaming without breaking the bank.

I'll start with my current specs and then my recommendations.

Intel i7 2600K CPU
1TB 7200 HDD
GTX670
8GB DDR3 RAM
Windows 10 64bit

Recommendations:
At least 16GB RAM, DDR 4 preferred
A GPU with More than 3GB RAM

What I'm able to play, without any issues (examples):
NFS Heat
CP2077
Days Gone
SW Jedi Fallen Order
Tomb Raider Series
Any RTS
Most RPGs

What I can't play, due to insufficient GPU RAM:
HZD, Hitman 3

I've checked bidorbuy and a PC with those specs would be around R5K to R7K. Cheaper if you find a deal somewhere. Like Carbonite or the Classifieds here.

So any game that is ported from PS4, and any PC Game in the past is playable.
I won't be able to play any more current games and no PS5 games (ported).

I can't play Switch Emulations either. Probably due to RAM once again.

Short and sweet. I've made peace with it.
I'm getting into Days Gone, Saints Row 4. Older Games I wasn't into a few years ago. There's a ton of Games that I'm heading back to.

I've made a choice not to spend on hardware and upgrades. I'm Gaming now for the fun of it. Not to compete, but to be entertained.

Hope this thread helps someone.
Ps. I'm referring to AAA, high-end and immersive 3D Games. Not Candycrush ;)
 
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At that point you're better of buying a console honestly.

Unless you're playing competitive games at low settings for max FPS a console is going to be a better experience.
 
At that point you're better of buying a console honestly.

Unless you're playing competitive games at low settings for max FPS a console is going to be a better experience.
Games are more expensive on a console. Cost and data transfer (bandwidth). I don't like hacking/modding consoles either.

As I said. I have no performance issues on the games I play. So there's no issues with getting max FPS. Not that I care about it either.

Don't have uncapped. Don't have Fibre.
Don't have the dosh for a gazillion games.

I won't pussyfoot. Many games are sourced on the high seas.
 
Nice Post.

Although I think you might get more value from a console at that price range, the downside the games are pathetically overpriced.

But yeah, you can still get lots of value from 5-8 year old tech.

Current technologies are highly inflated, out of stock and mostly just unaffordable.
 
How many FPS do you get in Cyberpunk?
Unsure TBH.
I ran it from the initial build and had no issues. I only decreased population density which stopped most glitching:lag.

I haven't played it for a while. Think I removed it recently (drive space).
 
Games are more expensive on a console. Cost and data transfer (bandwidth). I don't like hacking/modding consoles either.

As I said. I have no performance issues on the games I play. So there's no issues with getting max FPS. Not that I care about it either.

Don't have uncapped. Don't have Fibre.
Don't have the dosh for a gazillion games.

I won't pussyfoot. Many games are sourced on the high seas.
Steam has plenty 80% discount games, winter, summer, spring and autumn sales where you spend 100-200 max. Epic Games have also given some great games away for free. So there is almost no reason to pirate anymore. Sure, the latest games you gonna have to wait a bit.

But an outdated pc doesn't really matter.
 
I suppose on PC you do have the "free" game aspect but you can buy second hand console games for cheap as chips.

I checked on Carbonite and I saw a PS4 Pro with 20 games for 6k that will keep you busy for a long time and the games will look nicer and run better than with a 10 year old GPU.

You didn't mention the resolution but some of the games you listed I doubt very much saw much more than 20FPS.
 
I suppose on PC you do have the "free" game aspect but you can buy second hand console games for cheap as chips.

I check on Carbonite and I saw a PS4 Pro with 20 games for 6k that will keep you busy for a long time and the games will look nicer and run better than with a 10 year old GPU.

You didn't mention the resolution but some of the games you listed I doubt very much saw much more than 20FPS.
Yeah, it is actually not worth it. Lots of PS4s and games on sale now as well. Makes actually no sense to throw 7K on a PC just for gaming. And then you still need the monitors etc. Although with console you need one as well I guess, or a TV.
 
I suppose on PC you do have the "free" game aspect but you can buy second hand console games for cheap as chips.

I check on Carbonite and I saw a PS4 Pro with 20 games for 6k that will keep you busy for a long time and the games will look nicer and run better than with a 10 year old GPU.

You didn't mention the resolution but some of the games you listed I doubt very much saw much more than 20FPS.
I'm not a PS/Xbox fan.
I've always been a PC guy.
I've got a Wii and actually buy games for it. Like I said. I don't like Homebrew etc.
I'd rather jam Guitar Hero or DJ Hero and play the odd Game.

There's way more I can achieve on a PC.
I don't want to enter the piracy debate.
Each to his own on that front.

I don't have a FHD monitor. So standard 1366 x 768 resolution. I would have a better one if I could afford it. I'll get one in future. FPS and being 'on par' with specs and speed isn't an issue for me. As long as I can play without lag/stutter. Which all my games do fine.

Even FC New Dawn runs like a baby's bottom :)
 
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Yeah, it is actually not worth it. Lots of PS4s and games on sale now as well. Makes actually no sense to throw 7K on a PC just for gaming. And then you still need the monitors etc. Although with console you need one as well I guess, or a TV.

Didn't you just post elsewhere you were done. or some such?
 
Would wait till end of year and see what the prices are at, crypto has started to burst as of last week, you're now waiting for the rest of the market to catch up.
 
R7K for a PC including monitor.
How you source games is up to you. Buying, obtaining, what e v e r.

A Console Game retails for R400 plus. Extending to R1000 and above for new releases.

Take into account the folks like me that live in the sticks without uncapped Fibre can't subscribe to and use Gaming subscription services like EA Play or Microsoft etc.

Data is money to me.
 
You can pirate PC, you can pirate Console I believe.

Console will just give more value for money in that price range, with gaming in mind.

BUT

If your main focus is not just gaming, a PC might have more value and you can still do some gaming on it as well, agree.

Lots of awesome old games out there.
 
R7K for a PC including monitor.
How you source games is up to you. Buying, obtaining, what e v e r.

A Console Game retails for R400 plus. Extending to R1000 and above for new releases.

Take into account the folks like me that live in the sticks without uncapped Fibre can't subscribe to and use Gaming subscription services like EA Play or Microsoft etc.

Data is money to me.
Take into account folks that are technically challenged.

Tech support is going to be a lot of money for them.
 
Take into account folks that are technically challenged.

Tech support is going to be a lot of money for them.
Yep.

I'm thinking of the young peeps though.
Those starting a job. Leaving school. New WFH guys that might need a break over a weekend.

My PC Gaming journey started on DOS in the 90's.

Bought GPUs as a teen for my own builds. Did the whole shebang like many others out there. The journey is worth it. The learning, troubleshooting and fixing too.
 
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