Gaming computers come in many shapes and sizes nowadays. Laptops, tablets, phones, consoles, and yes, good old-fashioned desktops can all play games. Each platform has pros and cons. This makes buying decisions tricky.
Gaming desktops have remained popular for decades thanks to their cutting-edge performance, fancy RGB aesthetics, and highly upgradeable parts. Yet modern alternatives like gaming laptops and consoles have caught up in many ways while lacking some desktop drawbacks.
If you‘re pondering a new gaming PC purchase, this guide explores why avoiding a traditional desktop may prove your best bet…
The Gaming Desktop Debate
Gaming pushes computer hardware to its limits. Smoothly rendering complex 3D graphics with high resolution, frame rates, special effects and physics requires some serious computational muscle.
Desktop PCs have always led the charge in raw gaming power thanks to their spacious cases fitting top-shelf components like high-core CPUs, potent discrete GPUs, fast SSD storage, and abundant DDR4/DDR5 RAM. Size and cooling constraints typically restrict laptops from utilizing the beefiest hardware.
However, savvy hardware optimizations on gaming notebooks, consoles and mobile devices has brought surprisingly capable gaming experiences onto smaller form factors. Integrating custom silicon like console APUs onto single chips saves space while increasing efficiency. Clever software and thermal engineering enables thin powerhouse gaming laptops.
Cloud gaming even renders high-fidelity games on remote servers, streaming compressed video feeds to eliminate local performance barriers altogether.
This rising viability of alternative gaming platforms makes buying a brand new gaming desktop questionable for many folks, as we‘ll explore through these 6 reasons:
Reason 1: Upgrading Is Much More Affordable
Hardware eventually ages…new components emerge boasting fancy improved capabilities. This tempts us into buying whole new systems every few years. But hold that credit card! Did you know upgrading parts often costs WAY less than a fresh rig?
If you already own a solid desktop, consider refreshing key components instead of starting totally from scratch:
| Part | Upgrade Cost | New System Cost |
| GPU | $400-800 | $1000+ |
| CPU | $250-500 | $800+ |
| RAM | $50-150 | $300+ |
| Storage | $100-250 | $400+ |
As this table shows, upgrading key components like your graphics card or processor saves major dough over full system replacements.
You can slot new GPUs, CPUs, RAM and storage into existing motherboards supporting modern standards like PCIe 4.0 slots and DDR4 memory. Just ensure your power supply has enough juice and sufficient cooling handles added heat.
Before shelling out for an exorbitant brand new rig, investigate upgrading parts first!
Reason 2: Major Energy Usage Concerns
Gaming desktops need some SERIOUS horsepower to crunch graphical calculations and data quickly. High wattage components like CPUs and GPUs gobble electricity under heavy gaming loads. Exact consumption varies across hardware:
| Component | Power Draw |
| Nvidia GTX 3060 Ti | ~200 watts |
| AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT | ~300 watts |
| Intel i7-12700K | ~150 watts |
| Total System Power | 500-800+ watts |
Gaming sessions lasting several hours daily add up fast across these power-hungry desktop components. Expect yearly kilowatt-hour usage between ~600-850 kWh for a well-equipped gaming tower.
At ~$0.15 per kWh average electricity pricing, you‘ll fork out $90-$130 extra yearly for a gaming desktop over an efficient laptop. And costs inflate even higher for pricier electricity or multi-GPU/CPU builds easily exceeding 1000 watts.
Gaming laptops with optimized mobile hardware draw far less power – saving big on electrical bills. Even brand new consoles like the Xbox Series X top out around ~200-300 watts under load. Consider long-term energy costs before buying any desktop demanding vast energy resources!
Reason 3: Heat and Noise Concerns
Physics can‘t be ignored – power turns ultimately into heat. Churning hundreds of watts means gaming PCs produce substantial thermal energy requiring robust cooling solutions. Multiple large fans and CPU liquid cooling radiators dispel heat and prevent temperature throttling/damage.
But these fans generate lots of audible noise measured in decibels:
| Component | Noise Level |
| 120mm Fan | 32-52 dB |
| Liquid Cooler Pump | 20-40 dB |
| GPU Fans | 40-55 dB |
Multiple loud fans inside a desktop case produce plenty of ambient noise pollution. And expelled thermal energy directly heats your room – transforming an enclosed den into a sauna during marathon gaming sessions!
Laptops deal with less total heat thanks to optimized thermals and lower TDP hardware. New consoles like the PS5 also utilize special cooling technologies enabling quiet operation. Carefully consider desktop heat and acoustic impacts beforehand.
Reason 4: Zero Portability Whatsoever
Unlike gaming laptops, desktops remain fixed in place wherever your desk sits. These spacious tower cases definitely won‘t fit onto airplane tray tables! And we haven‘t even discussed external peripherals yet…
Gaming desktops demand attaching a monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset and speakers at minimum to utilize the machine. Transporting all this equipment to gaming lounges or friends‘ places proves difficult.
Let‘s crunch some approximate numbers:
| Desktop Gear | Weight |
| Tower Case | 15-30 lbs |
| 27” Monitor | 10-15 lbs |
| Keyboard + Mouse | 2-3 lbs |
| Total Equipment | 30-50 lbs! |
Those weights add up fast! Lugging a desktop setup around challenges even gym rats. Whereas even budget gaming laptops bundle the computing hardware and display together with built-in keyboards.
If your gaming space is limited or you want the flexibility to play different places, portability could outweigh raw performance. Consider a notebook system instead.
Reason 5: Gaming Consoles Provide Strong Value
Modern gaming consoles offer surprisingly robust performance at affordable prices below custom desktop builds. The budget-friendly Xbox Series S costs just $299 yet effortlessly handles 1080p/1440p gaming. Sony‘s PlayStation 5 with its fast PCIe 4.0 SSD proves future-ready for next-gen titles.
Let‘s examine how new consoles like the Series S and PS5 compare spec-wise against equivalent gaming desktop setups:
| System | GPU Power | Resolution | Starting Cost |
| Xbox Series S | ~RTX 2060 | 1440p | $299 |
| PlayStation 5 | ~RTX 2070 Super | 4K | $499 |
| RTX 3060 Gaming PC | RTX 3060 | 1440p | $900+ |
As we can see, both the Series S and PS5 provide commendable 1080p/1440p gaming performance on par with ~RTX 2060 or better graphics. Yet their costs undercut equivalent gaming rigs by hundreds. And unlike DIY desktops, consoles work instantly out-of-box.
Additionally, major game releases from titles like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, MLB The Show appear on PlayStation and Xbox first – sometimes remaining exclusive. If you want guaranteed access to the latest cutting-edge games, consoles deserve consideration.
Reason 6: Intriguing Alternatives Exist
The Steam Deck and cloud gaming services present additional options for ditching towers while retaining PC gaming flexibility.
Valve‘s $399 Steam Deck is essentially a compact Linux gaming PC with robust AMD Zen 2 / RDNA 2 hardware squeezed into a Nintendo Switch-like form factor. It provides real desktop-class gaming power anywhere – natively running Doom Eternal at 60 FPS high settings! Cloud syncing also enables Steam Deck progress transfer between rooms or big-screen gaming via the Dock accessory.
Cloud gaming platforms like Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now and Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming function differently. Instead of rendering graphics locally, they stream gameplay video feeds from remote data centers. This permits playing latest titles at max settings on underpowered devices like phones or tablets since remote servers handle processing. Latency can vary depending on internet speeds however.
Either way, exciting alternatives exist going beyond traditional clunky desktops for serious gaming!
The Verdict
At the end of day, gaming desktops still offer unmatched performance potential…for a price premium. Their expansive cases accommodate the beefiest graphics cards, CPUs and cooling to push crazy high framerates. Aesthetics like RGB lighting and custom water loops also appeal visually. Upgrading parts down the road helps extend lifespan too.
However, gaming laptops and consoles keep getting better and more affordable while avoiding desktop pitfalls like electricity usage, noise and mobility issues. New options like the Steam Deck and cloud gaming also enable high-end experiences minus mammoth tower builds.
Before dropping $1,000+ on a shiny new gaming desktop, seriously weigh whether more convenient alternatives may actually suit your needs better!
