Let's start off with my story of how I ascended to the PCMR (warning; long and PC biased)...
Before I ascended to the Master Race, I used to be a Console Peasant. Yes, I openly admit it. I played on the Xbox (before this I gamed on various PlayStations, which I rarely played on, and when I did, only really played Call of Duty games) with mostly First Person Shooter Games. Battlefield, Destiny, and even a bit of Call of Duty were my main games. However, I also added a bit of Grand Theft Auto V and Assassin's Creed (later) in, along with various Indie games. I was quite closed with what I played. I didn't have a large variety of games and that was partly because I was playing on a Console, and also partly because my game choices were quite narrow and strict.
This was perfectly fine for me. I would play games casually- I wasn't Online too much; and when I was, I was just playing for fun. I'd purchase an Xbox Live Subscription and just enjoy playing Online with various people and my friends. Nothing was going wrong! Destiny was my favourite game at the time and Battlefield 4 was in the mist of new DLC's which would keep me even further hooked with things like the Phantom Program. One day, JackFrags (a YouTuber I had subscribed to due to his predominantly Battlefield 4 coverage) uploaded a 'How to build a Cheap Gaming PC Video'. (https://youtu.be/7WQxr59KRto) Naturally, just like any video, I watched it- the whole 26 minutes of it. Initially, I had basically no clue what he was talking about (and any knowledge I did have came from my knowledge about phones). "What's a Motherboard?" I asked "A Graphics Card- what does that do?" It was all completely alien to me.
Time passed and I eventually started getting into Battlefield 4 a lot more. I played far more competitively and started watching videos from other users regarding the game. I noticed that every single player I was Subscribed to played on PC. After this analysis, I re-watched the 'How to build a Cheap Gaming PC' video again, and concluded that since the price was so low, but the benefits were so high, I would build my own PC to work in conjuction with my Console as a Gaming and Media device.
When this all started, I was planning on just copying the exact build JackFrags had created. But, me being me, I posted on a few communities (namely XDA Developers on Google+) about the build. I got a detailed response from someone who then stated that we could continue via Email. In his comment, he said something along the lines of: "Send my your Email so we can continue this discussion further. Don't worry; I promise I'm not some random guy who is going to sell your Email Address to the NSA for 2 cents." After I had sent him my Email Address, he didn't respond for over a week (which I later found out to be genuine reasons) and so I assumed that he had done what he said he wouldn't. I then sent him various bad messages regarding this. Eventually, he responded and he stated what had been going on. Once I found out the reason, I apologised and we started talking. We discussed a bit on Email but quickly moved to Hangouts after about 50 messages. The person helped me create, what he called, 'the best build for my budget'. Which was, at the time, only about £650. After some time though, and also because I'm somewhat indecisive, my budget increased and so I had to make new part choices.
When it came to ordering them, I started off by getting 8gb of Corsair RAM, a 1tb Western Digital HDD, and a Samsung ODD. After they came, I went and bought a Power Supply- a Seasonic Platinum 660w (which I purchased after much debate). However, after that came and I was getting more familiar with PC's, I decided that I wanted more than 8gb of RAM. So I returned the Corsair RAM and instead bought a 16gb set of HyperX RAM. I then went and got my Motherboard (which was hugely delayed), my CPU, my CPU Cooler, my SSD, and my Case. After a day or so, I decided that I wanted to build my PC!
Now if you're looking at the above few specs and thinking that they aren't the most optimal- well that's because I wasn't as knowledgeable as I am now. I would have gone for slightly different parts, namely a larger Power Supply and Hard Drive, if I could re-choose now.
So I set off to work. With my antistatic wrist band and a static free surface, I placed my parts down and got them all ready to be part of my new PC. After a few hours, it was finally ready! I clicked power, and... nothing ;/. I then pushed in the power cable more, and... boom! Lights on, fans on, everything on! The excitement was overwhelming! This was a completely new thing to me so seeing this was awesome. I booted up into Windows and saw the familiar Windows desktop. I then turned everything off and relocated myself and cleaned everything up.
Time passed, and I had my drivers and updates all installed but there were a few problems. For one, I didn't have a Graphics Card! This may sound like a huge, gigantic problem for my Gaming PC, but it actually wasn't because of my second problem- I had forgot about the Monitor and so I had to use some old one I found which was at a resolution of 1024x768 with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Don't worry! Time passed again and after playing many Free To Play's for hours, whilst also getting to grips with the Keyboard (I went and bought a Corsair K65 RGB which I love) and Mouse (I will be getting a Mionix Castor) controls, I eventually ordered a Graphics Card. My 980 came (along with the separate backplate I had ordered for it) and I got it all installed. Amazing! Skyrim (which was my main game at the time) could be ran with an ENB at Ultra, with loads of Texture Mods and it was awesome, truly.
Fast forward to now, and I'm using a 720p screen- so I am planning on either getting a 1080p one or a 1440p one (either the Dell U2414H for 1080p or the Dell U2515H for 1440p). I'm also playing more games like the Witcher 3 (BEST GAME EVER- GOTY), Skyrim (I played this for over 250 hours with a heavily modded setup but it has since been abandoned since I got the Witcher 3), Sniper Elite 3, Insurgency, Left 4 Dead 2, Portal (one, two, and MEL), Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (which was gifted to me, so I played it even though it was older than BF4 but it was still really fun), also some of my console games like Battlefield 4. Along with this, I played some other F2P's like Dirty Bomb and Warframe. Very fun- PC Gaming had definitely opened up my Gaming experience.
So now you know how I got into PC Gaming and my background, yes, that was the intro. Below are my main thoughts about PC Gaming...
So now- what are my thoughts on PC's and PC Gaming as a whole coming from a Console with an open mind? Well, the short version is; it's epic!
I can't directly comment on resolution, but the games just look better. PC's can definitely run games at higher frame rates than Consoles and 60fps was insanely different to the 30fps I was previously playing at. It is a night and day difference and anyone who says that it isn't is just drunk. This frame rate increase completely changed everything for me! Playing competitively felt different; it felt great! Games could also run at higher settings- everything looked just... better! Ultra was ultra- it meant the best. I could witness the full graphical fidelity of which the developers of the game had wanted everyone to experience. This is only possible on PC. End of. Games just run brilliantly (when the Devs get it right) and it's so good to experience.
Next, was the sheer amount of Games, and the negatives that comes with this. There are more games on PC than there are from every Console combined (or so I have been told- and do believe). And so whilst I still am quite strict with my choices, PC opened my mind up immensely. I started playing various different games, but my Wishlist on Steam also looks like this: http://steamcommunity.com/id/ryanjtombs/wishlist/ so I'll have to get around to purchasing all these games eventually ;(. It's just insane with what you can do on PC from a gaming perspective and if anyone ever says they are bored on PC, just punch them in the face. Truly! I can't emphasis this enough- PC's gives gaming a whole new name.
These games are also way cheaper. Our Gaben Lord blessed us with Steam which gives us exceptional deals on games and allows you to enjoy things at generally lower prices. Shame EA had to create Origin. I love having everything in one place and then when I go to play BF4, I have to open up that other, bloody launcher! On Consoles, you have to pay for the overpriced game (which you are not even getting the full experience of because you're on a Console in the first place) and you even have to pay for the online service! What!
Then there are the communities. For some games, they are bad, but for others, they're amazing! Developers also seems to respond more on PC (I had an amazing conversation with CD Project RED over an issue I was having with the Witcher 3. They couldn't fix it on my current save but apologised immensely and were so nice). Communities aren't also full of arrogant ****holes who just want to troll you. They're instead full of fellow Master Race Members who want to be friends and enjoy the brilliance of playing Games on a PC. But it's not just this- it is not just 'playing Games on a PC'. No. It's different. A new world. A new experience.
Then there is the hardware and the tweaking and the upgrading and the addiction that comes with building your own PC. I am now always checking my case, cleaning it, looking at it, adoring it. I love my PC. I nurture it like it is my child.
Interaction is also better on PC. Full Windows (in my case- you also have the option of another whole Operating System which shows how open it is) support means you can install various programs to interact. Just use Steam, or use TeamSpeak, do what you want- you're on PC- you can do that (https://youtu.be/98nNpzE6gIs). It means you have freedom. You don't have to live by what others say. Do whatever the ** you like!
I can't think of what else to say really, so I'll just write a block of text summing up everything with more thoughts...
PC Gaming is the Master Race. This is final. No matter what stupid console peasants say (http://imgur.com/tYzQno2), PC Gaming is the past, present, and future and leads all. I can't think of any negatives that effect me that could possibly make Consoles a better choice. PC's are more open! Don't want a Mechanical, lighting up Keyboard or Mouse? Go get a controller (which are absolutely not exclusive to Consoles). PC's are faster- no making dinner whilst games load for you! PC's are better. Conclusively. Definitively. Absolutely.
Thank YOU, PC's. You are beloved by me. I will stick with you forever, and defend you until I die.
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Also, you can always add me on Steam if you want: Username: Ryanjtombs Steam Name: Prynox
CPU: Intel Core i7 4790k CPU Cooler: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo Motherboard: Asus Maximus VII Hero RAM: HyperX Savage 16gb Storage: Western Digital Black 1tb HDD, Samsung 850 Evo 250gb SSD GPU: EVGA Superclocked 980 Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro PSU: Seasonic Platinum 660w
Links: How to Build a Gaming PC: https://youtu.be/7WQXR59KRTO My Steam Wishlist: http://steamcommunity.com/id/ryanjtombs/wishlist PC- You can do that; https://youtu.be/98nNpzE6gIs Peasants: http://imgur.com/tYzQno2
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So that's me and my story! I hope you enjoyed reading it and I'm happy to be a part of this seemingly very kind and awesome community!
Also, I'm new here so please inform me of any mistakes...
