Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Tl;Dr: UT 1 - 3 are being pulled offline and replaced with Unreal Tournament 3X which is a free to play title.

It's undoubtedly the worst entry, but they can technically fix that pretty easily.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

On the Steam page for UT3x....already this notice.... Notice - Unreal Tournament 3x is no longer available on the Steam Store

I got UT3 for the XBox 360 and for me I actually liked it and had fun. I think at the time the rip was some of it was a bit too close to Gears of War and some saw it a rip-off. I posted a video on the XBox Series x topic of someone actually playing this title...13yrs old...on a XBox Series X which frankly didn't look bad at all, not going to win any Visual Awards but it's playable and even still in the XBox Store for $10....

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

UT3X will be available soon, per the same steam page.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Should of brought the Lenovo Legion T5 26AMR when it was first posted here.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I love mine. They went out of stock shortly after I bought one.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I found an eBay listing for a similar T5 for $699, with a 2 year warranty from Allstate.

Lenovo Legion T5 26IOB6 Gaming PC: i5-11500 2.70GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD, GTX 1660 Super, Windows 10 Home
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275591103389

The CPU is Intel instead of AMD, and slightly less performance, but about par.


Lenovo Outlet also has one with a better CPU and GPU (AMD Ryzen™ 7 3700X, NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX™ 2060 6GB) for $851.57. Only has a 512GB SSD, no HDD included, although since it's likely the same case/motherboard, you should be able add one if you want:
https://www.lenovo.com/us/outletus/e...mr5/90rb000uus


Edit: note that the eBay listing may have a pic of the wrong case. From what I can find for that model, it uses the same case as the T5s shown on Lenovo Outlet, and not that really tall one with weird lip on the top back.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275615016479
https://www.cdw.com/product/lenovo-l...d-1-tb/6652397


Also, MicroCenter has a new T5 with RTX 3050 for $799:
https://www.microcenter.com/product/...waAiZYEALw_wcB

• Intel Core i5 11th Gen 11400 2.6GHz Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GDDR6
• 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM
• 512GB SSD+1TB HDD
• Microsoft Windows 11 Home

The CPU is for some reason just a little less powerful than the other two options I listed. See this link for a comparison of all 4 CPUs:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare...-Ryzen-7-3700X


Edit 2: Comparison of GPUs:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/c...GTX-1660-SUPER

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I'm still watching and waiting.....there was one of these Console vs PC YouTube Videos I watched...about 2 months old....and I responded with my comments which said PC's have several advantage with the custom configurations, price variations, software, amount of games and basic hardware like Mouse, KB, Monitors....BUT>..they fail when it comes to getting the most out of some current games...like 21604K...that you need a pretty good Video card that costs half of the total PC....plus you almost need to upgrade every few years due to the changing of visual performance demands with games...

Where as with a Console, you get the same level of performance that lasts 5-7 years, it costs less than one of those fancy Video Cards you need, don't have to mess with updates, software and hardware conflicts and basically a true "Plug & Play" experience...well the author of the video responded and generally agreed with my points while still sticking up for The PC Side..

But there were a lot on there that mentioned the Costs as keeping them from PC and mainly all centered around the Insane Cost of Video Cards.....I pointed out that as time goes on Video Games become more and more Visually Demanding....which requires a better and more powerful card. And the prices for Video cards have got way, way out-of-hand which a majority agree on. I took Atomic Heart that is coming out. They listed it will be 4K 60FPS on Consoles...great. They then listed the PC Specs. What they recommend for 21604K at 60FPS is a RTX 3080 Nivida and RX6800...right now both of those cards are around $750-$850....which proves my point. Now if one is happy at say 1440P and 1080P at 60-120FPS then more power to them but thats less "Visual Candy" that XBox and PS5 offer...so...

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

To add to your sentiments, a PC user can definitely build a PS5 or Xbox Series X equivalent PC (which are basically mid tier gaming PCs), but it will cost them significantly more than either console. This is due to both being sold at a loss, which is then recouped in game sales and licensing fees.

As for video cards, those prices boil down to the stranglehold Nvidia has on the market. Even though AMD has proved they can be more than second banana on the processor side of things, they've never been able to best or even equal Nvidia. And Intel's graphics cards aren't really a thing yet, so Nvidia is essentially without competition and can set prices as they please.

As for a console-like experience on PC, the closest we have is the Steam Deck. It has its quirks, but it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully it leads to a resurgence of what Valve attempted (and failed) to accomplish with the Steam Machine. We need a proper baseline like how consoles have for plug & play compatibility. But with some games optimized for Nvidia and others for AMD (or Inel vs AMD on the processor side), you're always bound to stumble into some annoying compatibility issues.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

The gap has definitely closed this generation, especially for those that are good with 1080p gaming or no ray-tracing (4k @ 30 fps offered for most Series X / PS5 games in "Quality" mode looks spectacular but the lack of FPS is super noticeable, especially in the feel of the game). Last gen still had struggles with framerates, that is seemingly gone now.

And yeah the Steamdeck is a very impressive piece of kit. The things being done with Proton were unimaginable to me just a few years ago.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

The problem is that getting "the most" out of games is a constantly shifting target with PCs, because they're constantly developing to allow for higher performance using the latest hardware. The people that spend thousands on their gaming PC setup want to be able to see the effect in games, and sometimes with things like resolution and framerate, it's a relatively minor thing to leave them uncapped so even future hardware that didn't exist when the game came out can get higher performance out of it.

So the question isn't "can this gaming PC run all new games at their highest settings?" which isn't going to be true for any gaming PC build probably a month or two out from purchase, but "can this gaming PC run new games at the level that I'm happy with?"

This is different than with consoles, where due to the mostly fixed hardware per generation, it's a "take it or leave it" situation. The developers only have to target one set of specs, so they can tweak all the settings until they get something they like, and the consumer can purchase the game and play it at those fixed settings and level of performance, or not play the game on that console.

That said, consoles can look good compared to similarly priced PC hardware due to developers being able to optimize for that specific hardware, where on PC they have to make sure the game generally runs well on nearly and hardware, which is a near infinite combination of dozens to hundreds of CPUs, GPU, RAM capacities and speeds, HDD/SSD seek and throughput, etc. PC just isn't a platform where you're going to ever find one piece of hardware that plays all games at best performance for any extended period of them.

If you're waiting for the "perfect" PC, you're never going to buy one.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Also, worth noting - you don't have to upgrade every few years, graphic cards last much longer than people give them credit for - they just won't offer some bleeding edge features, and neither will their console counterparts.

Otherwise, you can still play modern games on a GTX 980 that was released 8 years ago.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I think that perfectly sums up the quest for the ideal gaming PC.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I agree and this is one area where performance& price point can be within reach of almost everyone....as long as they truly know and understand what the hardware CAN and CAN NOT Do.....there's plenty who are content with1080P and 60FPS with near max settings...some at 1440P...but others are wanting 4K but don't know or realize you'll have to sacrifice something in settings to get near that. I guess that's what a lot of side-by-side comparison YouTube videos with various video cards showing the FPS, memory and Power Consumption are popular. Seeing numbers on paper is one thing but that subject, "Can my rig run _____ Game" is near the top always and seeing it action is something else.

I play my PS5 thru a ASUS 32" Gaming Monitor at 2160 and can flat out tell the difference between it and my old PS4 at 1080P. I have not seen anything at 1440P so no comment there. To me, the 2160 at 60FPS is a sweet spot for a majority of games out there. I personally don't see me going back to playing anything at 1080P...might as well just fire up the PS4. I don't look for anything on the High End nor low end but right in the middle. But as noted, the High, Middle, Low is constantly changing and evolving with both Hardware and Software so there is No Perfect Time To Buy...

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Atomic Heart will have “Dynamic” 4K 60 on consoles which means probably only 4k 60 in dungeons and the resolution will shift down when in the open world. Very few modern games can run in 4k 60 on Series X or PS5. You either take 4k with low framerate or you get reduced resolution to hit 60 fps. The recommended PC specs would give you a solid 4K 60 through all areas of the game which the consoles cannot do.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Consoles are built for one purpose only and are sold at a loss even years after they release. NVidia can't do that because they don't have software sales to make their profit (same with manufacturers of any PC components).

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Anyone have opinions, experience with these cards....as of now, I would pick one of these and so far what I've seen, depending on Game and Settings, these are all close to each other....

RTX 3060Ti, RTX 3070, RX 6750 XT and RX 6800...I'd say for a card my Budget/Build Idea is about $600 Max.......with MB and CPU I'm more open and have several in mind with both Intel and AMD...

I found this video from 9 months ago comparing specs. Not paying attention to the cost factor since in 9 months it's changed a bit.....



This is a Setup I have looked at seriously (with RX 6700 instead)....I can see myself doing 1440P with close to max settings....

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I have zero personal experience with those cards, but for a general AMD vs Nvidia comparison:

https://www.tomshardware.com/feature...vs-nvidia-gpus
https://reviewed.usatoday.com/gaming.../amd-vs-nvidia

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Ray tracing looks cool, but the performance hit... I want my games to look good, but I also want them to move smoothly. 4K/60fps would be the goal for me. Sure 4K/120fps sounds amazing on paper, but I don't think we're really there yet. Anyone who knows better, feel free to correct me.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I've been watching a lot of videos showing comparisons between 1080P vs 1440p vs 4K all with Ultra Settings....with various cards and CPU's in the mix. While the FPS Numbers fluctuate between all three options, one thing I have noticed though, 1080P Ultra seems to hold it's own visually. Of course it depends on the game itself in terms of type like Fortnite is not the same as say Destiny in terms of details. And some games no matter what will and can stress the card/CPU no matter what...like in the video below Red dead Redemption and Cyberpunk put this setup...a RTX 3060Ti with Ryzen 5 5600x to the test at all three settings while others not so much.



After posting this early this morning, had to go do grocery shopping, came back and this story popped up on the side that caught my eye....a pretty good long read. And I started to think about because with some games I'm playing, I read reveiws and all and there's several there mention...PC Performance Issues and Bugs....being part of the Con & Negative...... PC gamers are getting fed up with one shoddy port after another | PC Gamer

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

That was a really good article. Thanks for posting the link.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I know he was making point but I do have to say the ports of God of War, Returnal, Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite were really well done.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

i've been back looking at CPU and Motherboard combos....I'm almost set on the CPU...AMD Ryzen 7 5700X. However on the MB's I've narrowed it down some but...can someone tell me just what is the difference with the last letter attached to the number means? In other words I'll see a B550-F...B550-P...B550M....B550-A.....I remember seeing a Review Video on various AMD Boards and they said don't get the "M" for whatever but I simply don't know what these letters at the end mean on the B550/B650 Boards mean?

As of now...if I had to pick it's this one...it doesn't have a letter after the B550...just curious asto what they all mean....
I was looking at cards and nowonder everyone is shaking their hea at the insaness......I looked at a RTX4070Ti for about $890.00....and right below it was a RTX3080 for $900.00....good grief...

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

This is the board that I went with on my build a couple years ago, and it was a really well recommended board after doing a lot of research. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/JXB...-b550-f-gaming

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

From what I can find, those aren't "official" AMD codes, but what manufacturers used to distinguish models, and for each manufacturer they may have different meanings. I think you'll just want to look at the features to make sure it's got everything you want.

The "M" designation, however, most likely means a Mini or Micro-ATX board, so not what you want unless you want a compact PC build.
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1429...rd-names-mean/

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Is the actual percentage of shoddy ports up, or are there more shoddy ports (at least on initial release, before bug fixes, etc.) due to there being more PC ports overall?

It's not like PC-exclusive releases aren't known to have major bugs and issues upon release too. It's all about how much time and effort the developers/publishers want to put in the product, and whether they're aiming to meet a particular release date, and how much QA they do. However, PC releases are always going to be trickier and more bug-filled due to the complexities for releasing a product that's going to run on thousands to tens of thousands of PC configurations. Like, the game could run fine on all the PC configurations the developer had on hand to QA test on, but once released into the wild it's going to be run on PC configurations they hadn't thought of, and those could potentially reveal issues previously unseen.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Are Alienware PCs still considered overpriced, or is this actually a good deal?

https://deals.dell.com/en-us/product...HtswyomkrrgPaO

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I don't know if things have changed in recent years, but historically Alienware has always been VERY overpriced.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

A long time ago when Alienware first came out, they were considered Top Notch....many feel when Dell took them over, the uniqueness and brand started to go down. It might have changed, I can't say....some areas might be great like their Laptops and Monitors...BUT...after I saw this video from Gamers Nexus doing a review on a $5000 Alieware PC...I'll never even consider one....from 9 months ago...





Which with that, I saw this story the other day and hts the nail on the PC gaming Coffin....the insane prices on High End Rigs, Cards, Boards... Ultra-enthusiast hardware is strangling PC gaming | PC Gamer

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Alienware is fine when there are sales for their mid-level rigs. You can get a Gen 12 core i7 with a 3060 TI from them for under a grand which isn't bad and the performance is great on that particularly setup. But no, they are no longer a viable option for high end configurations (and frankly never really have been).

I don't particularly agree with the high end rigs/boards complaint, since bleeding edge has always been absurdly overpriced - that article even says as much. You can buy a sub $400, generation old graphics card and still reap most of the benefits.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I'm just 7 minutes into the first video and... Yeah, Alienware is still overpriced. Might even be worse $/performance than I remember it being. -ohbfrank-

I'd normally build my own, but was feeling lazy this generation. Hell, I might just get a Steam Deck to tide me over until I decide what I wanna do. I'm currently saving for a new AV Receiver, so I guess I got time.

EDIT: Here are two articles that should be of interest. Best PC Builds for Gaming: From Sub $500 Budgets to $3000+ (for the DIY'ers) and Best gaming PC in 2023: the top systems today (for anyone looking to go prefab).

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Thanks for the links....and I tend to look for something like these and videos since it's constantly changing. However, I was surprised on the $1500 Build saying you can get a RTX-3080 and RX-6950XT for $700...I don't think so. In fact last I looked maybe a RTX 3070.
Curious on the Power Supply Choice but guessing price wise. Corsair PS seem to be always rated high. I have them, EVGA, Cooling Master, Seasonic and another that's some are high on...XPG
Other day when looking at MB's I went over to Best Buy and saw where they had a MB and CPU Combo up...and also noticed that the newer model MB & CPUs Combos costing $700 to $900...all Sold Out...

Saw this article that pretty much sums up what everyone else knows...and one primary reason why PC gaming has got expensive.... Shocking but not surprising: The average price of a GPU at retail has doubled since 2020 | PC Gamer

And this site here is a good one on Video Card Stuff...plus they cover Ram, CPU's and other parts but mainly Cards..... VideoCardz.com - Home of Graphics Cards, Video Cards, GPUs

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Once again...as the old saying goes....More $$$$ doesn't always buy happiness or in this "CASE"...better quality....just posted 10hrs ago....

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Prices have come down a lot recently, although they're still artificially high. Just has a quick look at Best Buy - 3060 = $399, 3070 = $550, 4070Ti = $829. A 3060 or 3070 will easily see you through the next several years of PC games.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Once again another great video from Gamers Nexus...who this time went out and bought a very expensive PC...this from Origins at the tune of $6000+....this video is more of indepth of the teardown inside. the original review is ...well interesting on all the stuff they found.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

$2k markup? Sheesh! -ohbfrank-

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Looks like they overall liked the Maingear VYBE.

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Here's a Review of this Air Cooler but they show a ...How to Install as well. They talk about some other Air Coolers. Pretty good video....

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

I haven't had a chance to check all their videos. Do they have any where they list their best pre-builts for a given year?

Re: PC Gaming Thread
 

Saw this early this morning and thought "what the fuck...?!" until a split second later I realized what day it is today. :lol: