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I've always been a console gamer, from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo 64, my childhood was defined by these classic consoles.
As technology advanced, so did my gaming platforms – progressing from the Xbox to PlayStation 2, and through five generations of gaming consoles. Today, consoles boast unprecedented power, with lightning-fast loading screens and hyper-realistic graphics.
Yet, many overlook the fact that PCs have been delivering comparable experiences for years. In fact, PCs have never been more accessible than they are today.
Data released last year from IGEA revealed that in Australia, four out of five people play video games in some capacity. So it's no surprise that more people are dabbling in the PC and console gaming market.
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Gaming PCs are specifically designed with enhanced graphical capabilities and processing power to handle the demands of modern video games, which often require more resources than your typical everyday computing tasks.
While a regular PC or laptop might be more affordable, they may not have the necessary hardware to run the latest games smoothly — or at all.
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I've been hands-on with some pretty spectacular gaming laptops, most recently the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16, but I'm admittedly out of my depth when it comes to hardcore PC gaming.
Knowing the ins and outs of a PC can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, with hundreds of technical terms and PC parts.
To shed light on navigating the complexities of PC gaming, I spoke with Luke Fletcher from Allied Gaming, a company that has been at the forefront of the Australian gaming scene for two decades, stemming from the renowned PC gaming brand Alienware.
What kind of PC do I need to play the latest games?
There's an endless number of customisations for modern gaming PCs, with dozens of different kinds of graphics cards, motherboards, RAM, fans and power supplies (just to name a few). There's no one size fits all approach.
A gaming PC's graphics card is likely the most expensive component. Take the GeForce RTX 4090 for example, this is the top tier card and will set gamers back thousands of dollars.
But Fletcher says gamers don't need the latest and greatest to have the best experience. The RTX 4060 range will more than do the job and at a fraction of the price.
"It's going to play 1080p and 1440p PC gaming. It's going to play all those games at high frames and great quality, especially with the new tech that's coming through in the graphics cards these days," he told 9news.com.au.
Fletcher says the team loves a challenge and gets a kick out of helping a new PC gamer find the right gear for them.
"What's going to get me the best result? What's going to get maybe the best bang for the buck? That's our bread and butter – that's exactly who we speak to and that's exactly how we do it. It runs right through our DNA," he said.
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Fletcher says gamers should expect to pay about $1500 for a powerful gaming experience, a step up from a PlayStation 5, on PC.
What is an affordable gaming PC in Australia
Affordability is a key consideration in the current PC gaming market, with Fletcher highlighting his team's commitment to making PC gaming accessible to everyone.
"We really want to make PC gaming accessible to everyone," he said.
"There are definitely layers of information that are relevant and there are loads of information which are confusing or overwhelming," he said, but he says it doesn't have to be that way and there are plenty of ways to navigate buying a PC.
The first step is to seek advice. Though, there's a myriad of pre built gaming PCs on the market, many starting from around $1000.
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How long is my new gaming PC going to last?
One common concern among prospective PC gamers is the longevity of their investment. Fletcher stresses the importance of transparency regarding a PC's lifespan and capabilities, given the rapid pace of technological advancements in the PC landscape.
"We get a lot of parents buying PCs for their kids, you know, the kid says, I want this PC. The parents go to the website, they follow the flow through. They can see the frame rates that they're going to be getting," he said.
"They can see the expected lifespan of the PC. And we're pretty upfront about that because, hey, PC tech changes and things do go out of life."
Do I choose a PlayStation or a PC for gaming?
It all comes down to what you want to play, though Fletcher says PC gaming has always been generations ahead of the console market.
"In terms of performance and the spec of the machine, you know, a high tier graphics card in a PC can well outperform those which you're finding in a console, but of course, has a much higher price tag associated with it," he said.
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What else can I do with a gaming PC?
Unlike a gaming console, there's so much more functionality on a PC.
Whether you're working from home, studying, an aspiring streamer, video editor or content creator — a gaming PC will look after you in all aspects.
Navigating the world of gaming PCs requires a blend of knowledge, guidance, and personal preferences.
By leveraging expert advice and understanding the options available, gamers can embark on their PC gaming journey with confidence.
