7800GTX 512 in SLI > XBox 360?

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
personally CoD2 looks like crap to me on the xbox360 demo kiosks. it needs AA badly IMO.

This has been discussed to death... The game actually looks spectacular. Whether that's a poor setup on the kiosks (the HDTV switch being set to SDTV, the incorrect cables being used, etc) or the possibility that the demo in question doesn't have all the features included.

But like I said... My copy, running on my 51" RPTV, looks spectacular. Nothing like I've seen at the retail stores.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

The Xbox360 cost $399. It has graphics that are comparable to what's available on the PC right now, even besting it in some cases like PGR3. Also, developers have yet to really tap into the true potential of the Xbox360 since it is still quite early.

In a year, PC's will no doubt eclipse the Xbox360 in the graphics and sound departments. But at what cost? A freaking video card alone costs as much as the Xbox360 does these days, with prices only going up and up. Very few people can afford to keep up with the increasing costs in PC video hardware.

In the end, I think the smart choice for a gamer who can't afford both would be to grab the Xbox360.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
The Xbox360 cost $399. It has graphics that are comparable to what's available on the PC right now, even besting it in some cases like PGR3. Also, developers have yet to really tap into the true potential of the Xbox360 since it is still quite early.

In a year, PC's will no doubt eclipse the Xbox360 in the graphics and sound departments. But at what cost? A freaking video card alone costs as much as the Xbox360 does these days, with prices only going up and up. Very few people can afford to keep up with the increasing costs in PC video hardware.

In the end, I think the smart choice for a gamer who can't afford both would be to grab the Xbox360.

If you want to compare the two gaming platforms (which isn't exactly what the OP was looking for), then you need look no further than the games.

Imho... A top of the line PC with 7800 SLI could display better graphics than the 360. "COULD" being the emphasized word here, because the fact of the matter is that the PC doesn't offer it.

As Ben pointed out earlier, there is no racing game on the PC with graphics on par with PGR3. Or gameplay for that matter. And don't insult me by throwing up (pun intended) NFS:MW.
Also, there is no platformer/adventure game on the PC with graphics on par with Kameo.
There is no horror/adventure game on the PC with graphics on par with Condemned.

 

[vision33r]

Originally posted by: Noob

Originally posted by: vision33r
I look at many PC games and 360 games, while the current crop of 360 games aren't that much exciting, there are some impressive graphics that I've yet to see on the PC yet.

No Xbox 360 game has the texture detail of HL2/CSS. No Xbox 360 game has the effects that FEAR does. Not to mention FEAR, COD2, SC3's lighting and Lost Coats HDR. Sure, PD0 may have some impressive motion blur techniques. But have here seen the motion blur and a whole other bunch of similar techniques that Valve will be implimenting into the Source games?

http://www.fileplanet.com/159172/150000...of-Defeat:-Source---Film-Effects-Movie

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/12/09/source_film_effects/1.html

Looks pretty impressive to me!

Spare me the typical PC graphics rant BS, it doesn't sell with me. I play all the games you mentioned and compare to PS2/Xbox, it blows them away but we're talking 360 now and so far on my home setup with is a 42: pana plasma and 360 in Hidef, it really is very impressive graphically.

HL2 Lost Coast HDR is just an artistic glazing effect, I'm not totally sold on how amazing it looks. It does not match the detail and realism of the dynamic lighting featured in PGR3.

Any Xbox360 owner who plays PGR3 will agree that no PC game has the kind of spectacular dynamic lighting in the game.

I am really amazed at how ignorant many of the PC only gamers are.

A big PC gaming rig costs thousands and yet there is only a handful of games to play, lower return on investment compare to consoles which is cheaper to buy and own and much more games to enjoy.

 

[SSChicken]

Originally posted by: fuzzymitx
Total cost - well above 2.5k

Cost of Xbox360: 299, add in 3x wirless controllers..... 450....

Just as you wouldnt compare an Xbox360 to a computer with an SLI set of Voodoo 2's, you can't compare a 7800GTX to an Xbox360 with your local walmarts 23" boob tube. Most people in here have been saying you need to see this or that game on a 44" plasma with 1080i. All said and done the "optimum" pc and xbox360 costs aren't going to be that far off counting the easy 3000+ you need to put down for your TV.

 

[Cookie Monster]

So what was this thread about? So the console is superior to the PC because it has better visually looking games?

The real question should be, which games are better in terms of gameplay rather than graphics.

Fact is PC will have MORE variety (RTS/RPG/FPS/etc) of games to play from either they are graphically intensive(visually stunning) or not.

 

[imported_Noob]

Originally posted by: vision33r

Originally posted by: Noob

Originally posted by: vision33r
I look at many PC games and 360 games, while the current crop of 360 games aren't that much exciting, there are some impressive graphics that I've yet to see on the PC yet.

No Xbox 360 game has the texture detail of HL2/CSS. No Xbox 360 game has the effects that FEAR does. Not to mention FEAR, COD2, SC3's lighting and Lost Coats HDR. Sure, PD0 may have some impressive motion blur techniques. But have here seen the motion blur and a whole other bunch of similar techniques that Valve will be implimenting into the Source games?

http://www.fileplanet.com/159172/150000...of-Defeat:-Source---Film-Effects-Movie

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/12/09/source_film_effects/1.html

Looks pretty impressive to me!

Spare me the typical PC graphics rant BS, it doesn't sell with me. I play all the games you mentioned and compare to PS2/Xbox, it blows them away but we're talking 360 now and so far on my home setup with is a 42: pana plasma and 360 in Hidef, it really is very impressive graphically.

HL2 Lost Coast HDR is just an artistic glazing effect, I'm not totally sold on how amazing it looks. It does not match the detail and realism of the dynamic lighting featured in PGR3.

Any Xbox360 owner who plays PGR3 will agree that no PC game has the kind of spectacular dynamic lighting in the game.

I am really amazed at how ignorant many of the PC only gamers are.

A big PC gaming rig costs thousands and yet there is only a handful of games to play, lower return on investment compare to consoles which is cheaper to buy and own and much more games to enjoy.

If one has the money to buy a high end PC every couple of years then why not. And there is no game, and I mean no game on the Xbox 360 that has the texture quality of HL2 or the effects of FEAR. Not to mention that graphics run at lower resolutions so it's hard to see much detail in the textures. You should also download that video showing the cinematic effects that will be added to Source games.

 

[Enigmatic]

I've played an Xbox 360 extensively and come to the conclusion that at this point it seems about equivalent to a single 7800 GTX with a mediocre processor.

The closest thing I had to a Xbox 360 processor was a Pentium D 830, so I coupled that with a 7800 GTX and tried out Quake 4 on both. I could crank up almost all the settings to high on 1280 x 1014 resolution and play stutter-free on the computer...visually they looked roughly the same. Except for two things, textures were noticably more sharp on the computer and Quake 4's framerate tended to stutter occasionally. Which I found quite disconcerting, as a 7800 GTX would undoubtedly be held back by a PD 830 (which I would see as being inferior to the 360's processor). Also, the computer with the Pentium D was not using the SMP patch.

This could be a result from poor optimization, yet I believe Quake 4 was designed with the console in mind. Also, Dead or Alive 4 is quoted by Cheat Code Central as being, "Easily the best looking console game ever." The graphics are good without a doubt, but seeing it in high-definition first hand I can tell that it does not look that much better than DOA2:Ultimate, let alone the exponential increase in graphical prowess that Microsoft was promising from the Xbox 360. Also, there is Perfect Dark Zero, which IMO does not look as good as F.E.A.R. and is comparable more to Half-Life 2, which can run fairly well on dated hardware. Even though it is touted as being a top-tier 360 game.

Anyways, the Xbox 360 in the end does provide near PC equivalent graphics for a $400 tagline, which isn't bad by any stretch. Though I can't say the same 6 months from now.

 

[cronic]

Originally posted by: Enigmatic
I've played an Xbox 360 extensively and come to the conclusion that at this point it seems about equivalent to a single 7800 GTX with a mediocre processor.

I agree completly with this statement. The 360 looks great for a console but can NOT match a high end pc with latest and greatest video cards. We can all debate the price difference and there is no question that the 360 is a better value. I have spent a ton of money on my pc and really enjoy it. As i stated earlier i had a 360 hooked to a 34" hdtv crt, and was impressed for a console, but it does not compare to my pc. Half Life 2 Lost Coast is very impressive. Below are some screenshots of it with everything maxed out. At those settings it belted out 110 FPS in the video torture test, and this is with 2 gt . This topic has been debated alot and most everyone who understands what they are discussing comes to the same conclusion. PC graphics are unmatched by consoles period.

http://tinypic.com/jj7otk.jpg
http://tinypic.com/jj8mpx.jpg
http://tinypic.com/jj8cqc.jpg
http://tinypic.com/jj8di0.jpg
http://tinypic.com/jj8nkg.jpg
http://tinypic.com/jj8pok.jpg

 

[thegimp03]

That looks pretty crazy good. I'll still stick to my Nintendo Entertainment System playing Duck Hunt on my Sony 52" LCD Rear Projection and leave the real gaming to my PC. 😀

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: cronic
need for speed most wanted looks great with everything turned up to the max at 1600 x 1200. what do you think that 360 will look like in 12 months compared to high end graphics cards at that time? i guess you think consoles will still look better. right.
uber pc kicks consoles a__ any day of the week.

eh..... $ 299.99 console vs $ 1000+ sli comp?

figure it out :roll:

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Fact is PC will have MORE variety (RTS/RPG/FPS/etc) of games to play from either they are graphically intensive(visually stunning) or not.

That is anything but a "fact"... RTS/RPG/FPS (and sims) is pretty much all that the PC platform offers.

You aren't going to find anything of much quality (on the PC) from any other genre... Platformers, sports, racing, adventure, fighting, etc. I'm sure you can find an example here or there, but for the most part, the quality games in those genres are non-existant on the PC.

Also, if you look at GameRankings.com, the overwhelming majority of highly ranked games are NOT on the PC. Of the top 50 games released in the last three months, the PC holds just 7 of the slots... And only two in the top 20! (Oh yeah, and every one of those 7 are in the three genres mentioned above.)


But this is why I think console vs PC debates are so stupid. If you ignorantly choose to isolate yourself strictly to one or the other, you are going to miss out on some great gaming experiences. 😎

 

[compgeek89]

Ya know whats really funny? If Lost Coast and FEAR were just about to come out on 360 (Having never come out on PC) these console fanboys would be gloating and shouting "PC OWNAGE!" But since they're on PC... meh.


The 360 and PS3 will be a much better value no doubt, but will never have the best looking and most immersive gaming experience.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
The 360 and PS3 will be a much better value no doubt, but will never have the best looking and most immersive gaming experience.

"Best looking"? Name a racer on the PC that is better looking than PGR3? Name a platformer that is better looking than Kameo. (Don't get me wrong, the PC has it's share of better looking games, as well... But "never" is not an accurate description in the least.)

Most immersive is definitely owned by the 360. It doesn't get more immersive than playing Condemned: Criminal Origins, while sitting on your couch, in front of your HDTV, surrounded by 5.1DD.

Or playing PGR3 online with each player having voice chat.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.


(And yes, I realize I can hook up my PC to my TV... But it's still not the same.)

 

[compgeek89]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: compgeek89
The 360 and PS3 will be a much better value no doubt, but will never have the best looking and most immersive gaming experience.

"Best looking"? Name a racer on the PC that is better looking than PGR3? Name a platformer that is better looking than Kameo. (Don't get me wrong, the PC has it's share of better looking games, as well... But "never" is not an accurate description in the least.)

Most immersive is definitely owned by the 360. It doesn't get more immersive than playing Condemned: Criminal Origins, while sitting on your couch, in front of your HDTV, surrounded by 5.1DD.

Or playing PGR3 online with each player having voice chat.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.

(And yes, I realize I can hook up my PC to my TV... But it's still not the same.)

Racers aren't big on PC because you have to buy a controller or racewheel to play them well.

As for platformer, im not the SLIGHTEST bit impressed by Kameo's graphics or gameplay... so ah... you can have it if you like it so much.

PGR3 doesn't look that great either actually. I was expecting more considering the cars cant even be damaged :S

 

[compgeek89]

Take that back PGR3 looks good, but theres no world interaction. You're there... in a car... driving... in a solid indestructable world in an indestructable car.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
Racers aren't big on PC because you have to buy a controller or racewheel to play them well.

So what? You have to spend how much in hardware to play F.E.A.R. well? Way more than a controller, that's for sure.

As for platformer, im not the SLIGHTEST bit impressed by Kameo's graphics or gameplay... so ah... you can have it if you like it so much.

Actually, I'm not a fan of platformers at all. But I know that many people are, and I'm not naive enough to think that my own tastes are all that matters. 🙂

PGR3 doesn't look that great either actually. I was expecting more considering the cars cant even be damaged :S

Yeah, the damage modeling could definitely be better... But to say that "PGR3 doesn't look that great", is simply not being truthful. It is nothing short of the best looking racer in the history of video games, no matter the platform of choice.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: compgeek89
The 360 and PS3 will be a much better value no doubt, but will never have the best looking and most immersive gaming experience.

"Best looking"? Name a racer on the PC that is better looking than PGR3? Name a platformer that is better looking than Kameo. (Don't get me wrong, the PC has it's share of better looking games, as well... But "never" is not an accurate description in the least.)

This is due more to a lack of any decent racers or platformers on the PC platform, not the PC having worse graphical capabilities (at least at the high end). 😛

I can't argue that certain game genres are better on one platform or the other. I wouldn't want to play an FPS, RTS, or MMORPG on a console, nor would I really want to play a platformer on the PC (although you can usually manage it with a good gamepad).

Most immersive is definitely owned by the 360. It doesn't get more immersive than playing Condemned: Criminal Origins, while sitting on your couch, in front of your HDTV, surrounded by 5.1DD.

FEAR on a 2405FPW with 7.1 surround? Or, hell, hook it up to your HDTV and surround sound system?

"Immersiveness" is really more a function of the display setup than the game IMO, although some games are definitely more 'immersive' than others.

Or playing PGR3 online with each player having voice chat.

Just about any PC game can have voice chat with TeamSpeak or similar programs. An increasing number have it built into the game.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.

Get a 24" widescreen monitor and some better speakers?

(And yes, I realize I can hook up my PC to my TV... But it's still not the same.)

Well, graphically it's going to be better, and the sound is going to be the same. I'm not quite sure what you mean (although consoles are definitely better for having multiple people playing in the same room, if that's what you're getting at).

But this is why I think console vs PC debates are so stupid. If you ignorantly choose to isolate yourself strictly to one or the other, you are going to miss out on some great gaming experiences.

:thumbsup:

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
Take that back PGR3 looks good, but theres no world interaction. You're there... in a car... driving... in a solid indestructable world in an indestructable car.

I'd consider playing online with everyone on voice chat to be very interactive.

And if you want to destroy things, Full Auto will definitely satisfy that appetite. 😉

 

[compgeek89]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: compgeek89
Take that back PGR3 looks good, but theres no world interaction. You're there... in a car... driving... in a solid indestructable world in an indestructable car.

I'd consider playing online with everyone on voice chat to be very interactive.

And if you want to destroy things, Full Auto will definitely satisfy that appetite. 😉

Well, full auto is too unrealistic. Im a looking for a game with police chases like need for speed with PGR3 graphics and totally realistic destruction to environments and cars.

Guess I'll be waiting a while....

Burnout for the 360 might give me some of what I want, but Im waiting for PS3 before I make a console decision.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
This is due more to a lack of any decent racers or platformers on the PC platform, not the PC having worse graphical capabilities (at least at the high end). 😛

That's very true... But that doesn't change the end result... The PC doesn't offer the best games in all the genres. (Neither does the 360, for that matter.)

I can't argue that certain game genres are better on one platform or the other. I wouldn't want to play an FPS, RTS, or MMORPG on a console, nor would I really want to play a platformer on the PC (although you can usually manage it with a good gamepad).

Amen! 🙂

FEAR on a 2405FPW with 7.1 surround? Or, hell, hook it up to your HDTV and surround sound system?

"Immersiveness" is really more a function of the display setup than the game IMO, although some games are definitely more 'immersive' than others.

I think we agree that "immersiveness" is a function of both the game AND the environment. (And yes, FEAR is an awesome game, no doubt.)

Just about any PC game can have voice chat with TeamSpeak or similar programs. An increasing number have it built into the game.

Incredibly few have it built into the game, and an incredible few of those playing that game use it. TeamSpeak/Ventrillo/etc don't work anything the same, because you have to organize people to use it. It's not like if I jump into an online game on the PC right now, I'll be able to instantly chat with my teammates/opponents. So, it's really no comparison.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.

Get a 24" widescreen monitor and some better speakers?

It's just not the same. Not at all.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: compgeek89
Im a looking for a game with police chases like need for speed with PGR3 graphics and totally realistic destruction to environments and cars.

Guess I'll be waiting a while....

And take out the stupid "nitrous boost", the ricing, and things like that. Then we'd have a phenomenal game! 🙂

 

[compgeek89]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Matthias99
This is due more to a lack of any decent racers or platformers on the PC platform, not the PC having worse graphical capabilities (at least at the high end). 😛

That's very true... But that doesn't change the end result... The PC doesn't offer the best games in all the genres. (Neither does the 360, for that matter.)

I can't argue that certain game genres are better on one platform or the other. I wouldn't want to play an FPS, RTS, or MMORPG on a console, nor would I really want to play a platformer on the PC (although you can usually manage it with a good gamepad).

Amen! 🙂

FEAR on a 2405FPW with 7.1 surround? Or, hell, hook it up to your HDTV and surround sound system?

"Immersiveness" is really more a function of the display setup than the game IMO, although some games are definitely more 'immersive' than others.

I think we agree that "immersiveness" is a function of both the game AND the environment. (And yes, FEAR is an awesome game, no doubt.)

Just about any PC game can have voice chat with TeamSpeak or similar programs. An increasing number have it built into the game.

Incredibly few have it built into the game, and an incredible few of those playing that game use it. TeamSpeak/Ventrillo/etc don't work anything the same, because you have to organize people to use it. It's not like if I jump into an online game on the PC right now, I'll be able to instantly chat with my teammates/opponents. So, it's really no comparison.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.

Get a 24" widescreen monitor and some better speakers?

It's just not the same. Not at all.

Actually, all the new games have VOIP. COD2, CSS, DOD:S are all the ones I play online... but mny more do.

Also I always turn VOIP off, theres always too many guys swearing and whining on it.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Matthias99
This is due more to a lack of any decent racers or platformers on the PC platform, not the PC having worse graphical capabilities (at least at the high end). 😛

That's very true... But that doesn't change the end result... The PC doesn't offer the best games in all the genres.

Nor would I try to say it does. Of course, neither do game consoles. 😛

Just about any PC game can have voice chat with TeamSpeak or similar programs. An increasing number have it built into the game.

Incredibly few have it built into the game, and an incredible few of those playing that game use it. TeamSpeak/Ventrillo/etc don't work anything the same, because you have to organize people to use it. It's not like if I jump into an online game on the PC right now, I'll be able to instantly chat with my teammates/opponents. So, it's really no comparison.

If you're playing a game that has it built in, you can at least talk *to* them (even if they can't talk back). Also, on the PC, you generally have a legit option to use the keyboard (but I can see how you couldn't really do this in something like a racing game 😛). And if you're playing against people you know, setting up voice chat is not hard at all.

I'm also *really* not sure I would *want* to hear voice chat all the time from random strangers that I'm matched up against. The last thing I need is smack talk from some 12-year-old who just got an XBox360 for Christmas and thinks he's the next 'Fatal1ty'. 😛 I get the same thing in a lot of public CS:S servers; unless the people you're playing with/against are actually serious, voice chat can just be really annoying.

Sitting at my desk in front of a 19" monitor is not the same experience.

Get a 24" widescreen monitor and some better speakers?

It's just not the same. Not at all.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. In terms of display/sound setup, I feel you can get a top-notch setup either way for single-player use.

 

[Wingznut]

Actually, all the new games have VOIP. COD2, CSS, DOD:S are all the ones I play online... but mny more do.

Also I always turn VOIP off, theres always too many guys swearing and whining on it.

Just about any PC game can have voice chat with TeamSpeak or similar programs. An increasing number have it built into the game.

Incredibly few have it built into the game, and an incredible few of those playing that game use it. TeamSpeak/Ventrillo/etc don't work anything the same, because you have to organize people to use it. It's not like if I jump into an online game on the PC right now, I'll be able to instantly chat with my teammates/opponents. So, it's really no comparison.

If you're playing a game that has it built in, you can at least talk *to* them (even if they can't talk back). Also, on the PC, you generally have a legit option to use the keyboard (but I can see how you couldn't really do this in something like a racing game 😛). And if you're playing against people you know, setting up voice chat is not hard at all.

I'm also *really* not sure I would *want* to hear voice chat all the time from random strangers that I'm matched up against. The last thing I need is smack talk from some 12-year-old who just got an XBox360 for Christmas and thinks he's the next 'Fatal1ty'. 😛 I get the same thing in a lot of public CS:S servers; unless the people you're playing with/against are actually serious, voice chat can just be really annoying.

If I were to hop in a 16 player COD2 game (on the PC) right now, how many of those could I instantly communicate with via voice chat? MAYBE a couple, if I'm lucky?

And yeah, the l337 12-year old player is most definitely annoying. And the 360 online world does have its share of those. More or less than the PC... I doubt that can be defined.

Overall though, voice chat is a good thing, and makes the gaming experience more immersive... Less solitary.