PC Build

[RuickRoss]

Ok i was deciding on getting a ps4 or a gaming PC. For $400 would i be able to build a great gaming pc that can run games like battlefield on high graphics and still get 60+ FPS? Main reason i want one is to run Fallout New Vegas on ultra Graphics or at least high with ENB and be able to run Fallout 4 very smooth on high graphics and game slike GTA 5.
I have $400 to work with is that possible?

[DoctorKaizeld]

 

For $400 would i be able to build a great gaming pc that can run games like battlefield on high graphics and still get 60+ FPS?

after asking several credible sources i will tell you that this is a big no

 

you can get something decent, but i would save up to at least a grand for a gaming PC.

[RuickRoss]

ok thank you

[obobski]

Agreed, for $400 that's a bit of a stretch unless you have existing hardware you can re-use (and even then you'd probably still need more than $400). Something to consider before grabbing the PS4, however, is Microsoft's announcement that Xbox360 games will be coming to Xbox One in the fall. This may get you closer to "Fallout New Vegas on Ultra" than playing it on PS3/Xbox360 would allow. Just something to think about. I'm not aware of a similar announcement for PlayStation 4 with PlayStation 3 games, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sony does something similar in response. Both consoles will offer Fallout 4 from what I've seen, and both do offer GTA5 and other current games.

[AeroModss]

Mate,I agree with the guys.You can only buy some really budget PC for 400 $,so I would rather buy PS4 or same upto 1000$ to buy a good PC.

[iXenite]

I don't think you need a $1000 PC to play Battlefield 4 on Ultra settings at 60+ FPS. I'm pretty sure a $700+ PC would do you just fine. I mean, an MSI GTX 960 2G will get you 60+ FPS on BF4 and that's only a $214 card on Newegg. If you don't know anything about making PC's I would look at YouTube channels like JayzTwoCents, TekSyndacite, LinusTechTips, or JERMGaming for some info.

 

I suggest watching the videos in this playlist. It should help you get to know more about the potential of PC's. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a solid PC without having to go as high as $1000.

 

"The Potato Masher" (A $356 Custom Built Gaming PC), by JEMGaming

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbCPWtOQp0FoY_-7GwWSErWP2j7--Hh5

 

Also, maybe taking a look at PCPartPicker would help get an idea for what kind of builds you can get for price range:

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/guide/#X=39717,41367&T=2

[obobski]

I don't think you need a $1000 PC to play Battlefield 4 on Ultra settings at 60+ FPS. I'm pretty sure a $700+ PC would do you just fine. I mean, an MSI GTX 960 2G will get you 60+ FPS on BF4 and that's only a $214 card on Newegg. If you don't know anything about making PC's I would look at YouTube channels like JayzTwoCents, TekSyndacite, LinusTechTips, or JERMGaming for some info.

 

I suggest watching the videos in this playlist. It should help you get to know more about the potential of PC's. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a solid PC without having to go as high as $1000.

 

"The Potato Masher" (A $356 Custom Built Gaming PC), by JEMGaming

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbCPWtOQp0FoY_-7GwWSErWP2j7--Hh5

 

Also, maybe taking a look at PCPartPicker would help get an idea for what kind of builds you can get for price range:

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/guide/#X=39717,41367&T=2

 

That machine on YouTube is comprised of a variety of parts that are no longer in production and would have to be purchased used at potentially volatile prices and with unpredictable availability (even in December 2014). None of the prices for items are realistic and almost everything in that system was either purchased used or is otherwise unavailable. It is an entirely unrealistic quale.

 

Most of the PC Part Picker builds also rely heavily on rebates or discounts which are not a constant, and they all cut corners in one way or another (e.g. no monitors, speakers, keyboards, mice, optical drives, cheap PSUs (in some cases dangerously so)). Again, an unrealistic quale.

 

In both cases the reliance on used hardware and corner cutting is not something I'd suggest for a novice builder, especially as a first PC or for someone who doesn't have the capacity to test hardware and components. It's also very important to remember that these are all bottom-of-the-barrel configurations even today, and likely will not age as gracefully as a quality build as a result.

[iXenite]

I'm aware of this. Building a PC at console prices isn't easy, and probably wouldn't do you well in the long run (as you said). But, you don't need to spend a $1000 to make something really nice. Besides, it's not like the games the OP wants to play are some super high end games. Aside from BF4 and GTA V, but you don't need a $1000 to play those games on higher settings with good FPS. However, getting GTA V to run on Ultra at 60+ FPS you'll probbaly need a $1000+ PC, but I don't see the point in building something that expensive just to play GTA V on it's highest settings. Seems like a waste to me.

 

Edit: Also, most people have a TV they can plug their PC's into by the way, it's not that hard, and a keyboard and mouse are not that expensive (unless you like to waste money on Razer stuff or something). Most entry level PC gamers (as in, former console gamers) aren't going to need the ultra fancy accesories (like speakers, if you're that much an audiophile, you'd already have them for your home theater setup anyway).

 

For that matter, any 360 or PS3 controller can easily be used on PC as well (if your keyboard and mouse challenged or like to sit on your couch), Steam Big Picture mode is essentially made for that in mind.

 

Optical drives, while nice to have for older games, all the newer games don't really need them. I mean, most PC gamers download their games from Steam anyway right? Although BF4 you'd need to download from Origin, but you get my point. Right?

Edited July 10, 2015 by DaddyDirection

[Vagrant0]

Seems like a waste to me.

While it might start at one or two specific games, the reality of a good PC is that you can end up playing almost every other game at a similar level. Given the fact that both consoles have a very limited library currently (even the XBone will play old games thing only relates to a handful of titles)... Meanwhile PC has no such limitations. While it is true that a $600-800 PC can potentially play older titles, like Battlefield 4 on high settings, the problem comes in when new games come out with higher demands and large portions of those playing switch over to those new games. Currently, custom assembled PCs in the $1200-1500 range would give you that kind of performance to just jump to the next game when it comes out in addition to almost everything else that will be released within the current console generation.

 

Hooking up a PC to a television, like you would a console, tends to be a lackluster experience from most of what I've seen of it. While it can potentially give you a sort of super-console or media server, it can suffer greatly from resolution issues. Either you end up having to use the small resolutions supported by the television (720p or 1080p unless you are bleeding money), but you often lose some of that definition just by having the screen farther away.

 

The main benefit to a media drive currently is that it doesn't require you to download the 30-40gb of data to install a game. In cases where internet is unreliable or where you have a bandwidth cap, this is often a necessity. Beyond that, you can even burn games downloaded through Steam to disk for future installs, bypassing the need to download. While having a backup drive available to be plugged in can essentially do the same thing without being as limited to capacity, the transfer rates are often slower due to needing a usb interface. It would also let you play more of those pre-2009 games without needing to re-buy/re-download them from Steam.