Maximizing your Skyrim experience. : V - Skyrim

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:34 am

PC.
I like to sit close to my computer screen, with my big head phones on, in the dark.
...and I am building a new PC this year, because the one I have is 5 years old (the best thing about that one is the 9800gt, but i want to get the 460 gtx)

Gah! Those GTX 460's are sixy. But Now there are the new 560's, which are only ~$50 more. Hmm what to get...?

By the way for all those wondering how to upgrade for Skyrim, for video cards a GTX 460 is probably one of the best options. For $200 you get one of the best cards on the market.

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:02 am

I'll also be building a new PC later this year in preparation for Skyrim. Mods are my primary reason for going this way over console. I imagine it shouldn't cost more than $1000 to build a pretty nice gaming rig, a little more if I go with the GTX 580.

I've never thought about connecting it to my HDTV and just laying back on my couch with a gamepad or wireless kb/m, thanks for the idea whoever mentioned that!

» Tue May 17, 2011 4:33 am

You're mostly right.
Ok so after reading some replies I find myself leaning toward upgrading my computer.
I'm guessing Skyrim is going to be like that game Crysis graphics wise.

So for those of you who are computer savvy answer me this:

Ball park estimate of how much I'd probably be spending if I wanted Skyrim to run smoothly with lots of mods and on the highest graphic setting?

Probably 800-1100 that will give you a good computer that you can upgrade over time, but for skyrim hell a 600-800 rig will do you fine and that has future mods in mind.

Remember the most important parts are

MOBO
PSU

also no the game wont look like crysis the devs have stated "all versions will look alike" with the exceptioin of AA and higher resolutions.

this is crysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shZzYkpl5Nk

That is straight stupid ^

» Tue May 17, 2011 8:07 am

Sell console, buy video card, plug PC into HDTV, use console controller on PC.
And that's why I don't really see the point in consoles.

Yes, that would take the best of both worlds. (anolog controller, bigass screen, best graphics, mods...)

If you like racing simulators you don't have much choice other than to buy a console.
No PC game gets anywhere near GT5 and Forza3. That's a sad reality.

» Tue May 17, 2011 6:42 am

PC version -without- mods, as always.
Cozy as well.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:17 pm

Even if it runs like absolute [censored], I'll still get it on PC for the ability to use and create mods. If I need to buy a new laptop (desktop is not an option for me at the moment.) then so be it, though if Skyrim takes advantage of multicore CPU's I should get by fine if I lower the graphics somewhat, I can easily play most 360 ports though they tend to be terribly optimized.

» Tue May 17, 2011 11:50 am

PC, of course. I built a new PC last year which I should get a good few years out of. A lack of new consoles is providing a welcome constraint on PC games' hardware requirements just now, and PC is the only way to go if you really want to "maximise" the experience.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:41 am

Anyone thinking of updating their pc you can pick 4gb of Corsair RAM up on Amazon for about 70% off, only about 35 quid. Just ordered some extra ram for my machine so I'll have a quad core and 8gb, but my PS3 is supposed to be arriving today. I think they'd have to really botch up the PC release (or make me need another GPU, only got a 1gb 5770 atm) to get me to buy it on console however.

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:48 pm

PC will get you mods, which could very well increase how much time you spend playing, if mods for previous games are any example of what's to come.
Slightly OT: I'm hoping to save for a computer, but have never bought one before as I've had to rely on hand-me-downs, could anyone give me an estimate (in UK pounds) how much I should save in order to get something at least half decent? Thanks in advance for any advice.

» Tue May 17, 2011 2:30 am

Will the fact that the PS3 is now cracked enable to the possibility of mods, perhaps?

» Tue May 17, 2011 2:26 pm

My advice would be to buy an office DELL for about ￡400 to ￡700, as they come with awesome new powerful Intel multi-core processors. Then spend another ￡120 to ￡250 on a decent GPU. Spend a few weeks researching and finding the best deal on GPUs as you'll probably regret it you you jump straight it there and buy one on a whim.

» Tue May 17, 2011 1:34 pm

I spent ~￡350 on mine, with a Phenom II X2 555 (2@3.2GHz), 4GB of RAM and a GTS 450, and it's doing just fine. It's nothing special, but you don't need anything special to run video games anymore.

While I didn't use http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/The_FalconO6/CurrentLogicalPCBuyingGuide/Guide.png, it is very good and I agree with the words contained within.

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:34 am

Will the fact that the PS3 is now cracked enable to the possibility of mods, perhaps?

No.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1160482-console-mod-dlc-possibility/page__st__40

We like seeing the mods that are made by the community, but we have no plans to make them available as official releases.

Similar to Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fallout 3, the tools for Skyrim are PC only. There's no plans to release a version of the Creation Kit on consoles. If you're into modding, we suggest you go for the PC version.

» Tue May 17, 2011 1:03 pm

Thank you all for your input.
1000 is quite pricey.
700 seems to be my mark, but if the need arises 800 is the most I plan on spending.

Hopefully that amount will be sufficient enough for me to enjoy a smooth Skyrim on Ultra High.
If anyone has any website recommendations regarding parts, please let me know. All help/opinions are valued.

I adore my PS3, but TES was meant to be played on PC.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:21 pm

No.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1160482-console-mod-dlc-possibility/page__st__40

When a console is hacked, it compromises all of its files, making them subject to change. So any installed data on the HDD can be changed, models perhaps, things like that, whatever's installed really.

It's been done with Gran Turismo games, it's called hybriding. They change the vehicles' stats, making a VW Lupo have a thousand horsepower or whatnot.

» Tue May 17, 2011 1:26 pm

No.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1160482-console-mod-dlc-possibility/page__st__40

Mods also tend to increase strain on your system, so adding anything significant could give performance issues.

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:17 am

I find using a lap top on the couch to be awkward.

I do have a PC connected to a 50" screen but, tbh, sitting at a comfortable distance I find the screen fills my field of vision less well than my 24" monitor when sitting at my desk, the 24" also has a slightly higher resolution. Comfort is the biggest issue, I can happily sit for 10, 12, 14 hours at my desk. ￡50 on a decent chair is a good investment.

So, PC here. I'll see how things pan out towards the end of the year. Win7, new graphics card, latest CPU generation are all possible and I am due an upgrade but I doubt Skyrim will need it.

Slightly OT: I'm hoping to save for a computer, but have never bought one before as I've had to rely on hand-me-downs, could anyone give me an estimate (in UK pounds) how much I should save in order to get something at least half decent? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Rough and ready UK pricing

￡30 Case: will probably come with a power supply that will do the job.
￡20 DVD drive
￡40 Main board
￡40 4GB Ram
￡50 to ￡100 CPU : ￡50 is not a bad start

￡30 Hard disk
￡80 Windows 7
￡100 Graphics card

￡390 total for all new parts.

A ready made system can be had for about the same the price, sometimes less if you get lucky with old stock

» Tue May 17, 2011 10:34 am

PC for me.

I'm damn glad I built this rig when I did. My cheap rent living situation is coming to an end this summer and I'll be paying twice what I do now when I move.

» Tue May 17, 2011 5:34 am

I've got a 800$ laptop and I've just enjoyed Crysis on "very high" settings on native display (1366x768). Pity it can't run the same on FullHD TV, but I don't have one actually. And as I'd need a 400-500$ PC for my study anyway, buying a console would be a silly and pointless waste of money for me.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:16 am

I'll be on my PC which can run crysis on high had it for two years now probably get another three out of it, not bad for $800 if you ask me

I remember doing the math before when comapring PC gaming to Console gaming and which turned out cheaper over three years

turns out it was PC by about $500

edit: here's my math

Not so

In Australia I can buy a brand spanking new PC game for $80 I can buy that exact same game on the 360 for $120
On average i'll buy 5-6 brand new games a year this will cost me $480 compared to $720 I have already saved $240 right here.

Now I might upgrade my graphics card once every three years and even them i'm not going to go all out I can pick up a decent card for about $186 http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=gtx%20460&start=61&links=20&showadres=1&pos=1
so that's the amount of money i've saved($240) x how many years i've been saving this money (3) - price of card ($186) which equals $534
So after three years i'm $534 better off than a console gamer and I can still play with a fairly powerful card

edit: or the total sum after three years
PC:
Buying games: 480 x 3= $1440
Upgrade Card: 1440 + 186= $1626

Xbox 360
Buying games: 720 x 3 = $2,160

i'm not bashing your choice of gaming platform like you said different strokes for different folks, i'm just debunking that Console gaming is on the whole cheaper

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:00 pm

Anyone thinking of updating their pc you can pick 4gb of Corsair RAM up on Amazon for about 70% off, only about 35 quid. Just ordered some extra ram for my machine so I'll have a quad core and 8gb, but my PS3 is supposed to be arriving today. I think they'd have to really botch up the PC release (or make me need another GPU, only got a 1gb 5770 atm) to get me to buy it on console however.

I've got an i7 CPU and 8GB in my laptop, upgrading really isn't an option for me though and the GPU is medium range, got 1GB of PGU memory if I remember correctly.

» Tue May 17, 2011 11:44 am

PC all the way. I play console when the game is only available on it. Or was particularly designed for it.
TES, despite the new way Bethesda is taking, are and will always be PC games for me.

» Tue May 17, 2011 10:46 am

PC.
I like to sit close to my computer screen, with my big head phones on, in the dark.
...and I am building a new PC this year, because the one I have is 5 years old (the best thing about that one is the 9800gt, but i want to get the 460 gtx)

I think playing with PC is kinda uncomfortable because you have to be near the monitor and all the keyboards and the mouse.

With consoles,you can just sit on a couch with only one thing on your hands.Also,you dont have to worry about upgrading stuff all the time.Playing with consoles IMO is much more relaxing.

» Tue May 17, 2011 7:26 am

i just cant seem to decide whether to get it on console or pc

i played morrowind on pc, and oblivion on console - both worked fine. but ive had some issues with this computer, some rare bluescreens, and i dont want that the first time i play skyrim. also, i really like playing on a big tv, in a sofa and with an xbox controller. got an all new 46" led tv, so that'll work. i might just get the game for both platforms :/

» Tue May 17, 2011 5:21 am

I'm probably gonna be playing Skyrim on my PC and 360. And when I do play it on the PC I'm gonna use mods for the 1st time ever. :celebration: