Decision to make, help needed!

[Hanky]

OK, I have been away from the hardware and gaming world for a while due to various reasons, but now I want to re-start gaming. I guess I have three choices:

1) Buy a new PC. My current PC (Athlon 800, G400 Max) doesn't cut it anymore, so I have to spend quite a lot of money to be "competitive" again (Mainboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, HSF, maybe even HDD).
2) Buy a X-Box when it comes out here in Germany (Early 2002). The downside is a X-Box will cost MORE than US$400 here(based on current exchange rates) and games are expensive as well.
3) Buy a PS2. The good aspect of the PS2 is that prices came down recently, but I'm not sure about picking up a PS2 now that the X-Box is out (or soon to come out in Europe).

Well, to sum it up, all I want to do is play some nice games (especially sports games), for all the "serious stuff" I have to do with my PC, my current one is still enough. I also want a solution that lasts for a while, I don't want to start all the hardware craziness again...I was buying new hardware at least once every month. It was almost an addiction and I spent WAY too much money.

So, what's the best choice?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Alex]

get a new pc so much more worth it... ya can use for everything not just games...

any investment in a pc is a wise thing... unless ya buy intel, in which case ill have to slap you

 

[ojai00]

If you're old computer is good enough for your applications, then I think you should go with the PS2. People that have bought the X-Box have said it's just like a computer, and that it would be better off getting a new computer. You can do a search for "x-box" in Off-Topic. There are a few posts there. Many people enjoy the PS2 more because the price has just went down, and the games are still nice. Soo...hope this helps.

 

[Tomek]

get the PS2, it's still very good and probably the cheapest solution... besides, personally, I've never liked playing sports games on a computer; I think a PS2, XBox, etc. is much better suited for that game genre

 

[Hanky]

Thanks for your thoughts...because I don't need a faster PC for anything else (besides games) I was also leaning towards a PS2...maybe I'll pick one up for X-Mas...