Curse

Toxage · Jun 17, 2008, 01:43 AM // 01:43

I don't understand how a gaming desktop costs so much more than a console (Xbox 360, PS3).

Is there a reason for this?

Kerwyn Nasilan · Jun 17, 2008, 01:51 AM // 01:51

They use much more hardware than consoles.

The Meth · Jun 17, 2008, 01:58 AM // 01:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerwyn Nasilan

They use much more hardware than consoles.

+ consoles are mass produced by the millions, + console manufactures are losing money on the consoles themselves and making it up in bought games.

If you make sure to buy computer parts on sale and put it together yourself, a full computer won't be that expensive if you are ok with not being able to crank out 100 FPS at max detail on the newest games. When you add in the fact that a good computer has a multitude of other uses its a pretty good deal.

Why_Me · Jun 17, 2008, 03:15 AM // 03:15

Yes, but it costs far less to buy, lets say, a new video card or cpu than it does to buy a new console.
Plus you can do more on a pc......
Its justified, with prices atm anyone who already has the barebone components can pick up an e2180, p35-ds3l, and 8800gt for like $300, less than a gaming console, yet it will completely destroy it in power.

moriz · Jun 17, 2008, 03:30 AM // 03:30

the main determining factor is public knowledge. or rather, the lack thereof.

it's easy for us to distinguish between a good gaming system and a POS. however, for the average computer user, they can't. the main strength of the console is that they are all the same, and their games will run well no matter what. you simply can't do this with PCs, since the average pc user can't differentiate between my new custom PC and my old P4.

there's nothing more frustrating for the end user, when he found that his PC version of assassin's creed won't run on his C2Q with integrated graphics. it's much easier for him to pick up the xbox version, because he knows that it will work.

MisterB · Jun 17, 2008, 03:33 AM // 03:33

The same reason a car costs less to buy on a lot than the sum of all the individual parts: mass production. Consoles are also generally behind the market in technology, so parts become cheaper the longer the console is out. Other reasons have been outlined above.

@Meth: Nintendo makes money on every console they sell. Sony and Microsoft have been selling theirs at a loss.

Lord Sojar · Jun 17, 2008, 03:48 AM // 03:48

The only console that current has any technology that competes with PC technology is the PS3. Why?

The Cell Processor and Blu Ray drive. The PS3 uses the world's most powerful single CPU solution. It will outlast the XBOX360 for that same reason.

But... do you guys want to know the real reason consoles are cheaper than their PC counterparts? Fabrication error and yields.

The 360, PS3, and Wii all have very stable fabrication processes, and they have very high yields (meaning most of the chips produced are in perfect working order) The Cell Processor has the highest chance of being malfunctional, but in a genius move, Sony has intentionally disabled one of the 8 SPEs (the small simple processors that do most of the number crunching on the Cell), ensuring that even if a few of the processors from the batch don't come out working perfectly, they can still use a 7/8 SPE Cell in the PS3, thus reducing overhead costs. The PS3 initially cost Sony over 1,000 USD to produce, and they lost a lot of money making them. As processor fabrications become smaller (i.e. move from 90nm to 65nm to 45nm to xxnm) the cost is far lower because you can fit more processors on a platter. The more processors per batch that can be fabbed, the greater production is per unit of energy invested. More bang for the buch if you will.

The XBOX 360 has seen a fabrication shrink to 65nm on both the CPU and GPU, and the PS3 has seen a fabrication shrink on the Cell Processor from 90nm to 65nm and now to 45nm, while its GPU has gone from 90nm to 65nm, and soon to 55nm. That means it costs significantly less money to produce a unit with each shrink, which means the companies can sell the units for less. Sony is still losing money on each unit, but once the 45/55nm shrinks are complete, they should break even or perhaps turn a TINY profit on each system sold. Microsoft finally started making money on each 360 sold when the CPU was dropped from a 90nm process to the 65nm fab.