PC or Mac? The age-old debate between gamers and brand-techies has been going on for almost a decade now. Windows PCs and Apple’s Mac computers are always at loggerheads. Both have their advantages over the other. But when it comes to something as specific as gaming, the debate becomes far more intense. After all, you can watch movies and shows in much higher quality on a 4K TV with Charter Spectrum cable. What value does a PC or a Mac offer for a niche interest: gaming? If you’ve been looking for an answer to this question, look no further. You have arrived on a blog with all the right answers. Read on to find out once and for all, which rig you should go for if you’re a gamer.
The Verdict
Let’s save you some time. PCs and Macs both have very loyal fanbases. Both are in wide use in homes, workplaces, and even learning institutions. Both offer very specific advantages when it comes to certain types of work or features. However, for the consummate gamer, uninterrupted and smooth gameplay is very serious business. “Business” is not a colloquialism here. Professional gamers rely on good hardware and internet speeds to be able to do what they do. And when something like the Dota2 Majors hangs in the balance, you can be sure most gamers will go with only one option: a Personal Computer.
But why? After all, Apple is a tech giant in its own right. Why wouldn’t a Mac be just as good as a PC in terms of pro-gaming, if not better? We’re glad you asked because there are several key reasons that motivate gamers down the PC route. Here are three of the most important ones:
More Room for Upgrading and Modification
One reason PCs are a better option for hardcore gamers than a Mac is the room for customizability. While tech hardware tends to become obsolete within a year or two, you don’t have to buy a new PC every time. You can simply upgrade components within the same casing to keep your PC up to the standards you expect. However, a Mac is typically not as upgradeable as the average PC. Even if you do have the option to make mods or upgrades, they’re limited to the storage drive size and device memory.
More Hardware Manufacturers
Apple has made a huge name for itself using a closed ecosystem. This has done wonders to boost its sales since users prefer the privacy Apple offers. However, when it comes to gaming, the closed-system philosophy becomes a limitation. Apple has a select few high-quality vendors for its components. But PCs don’t have that limitation. There is a large number of manufacturers who make motherboards, processors, hard drives, SSD drives, graphics processing units, RAM memory cards, and even audio cards. As a result, you can not only modify your PC but you can also choose from a range of modification options.
Compatible With More Hardware Types
Most of the components listed above are designed to work with Windows PCs. Therefore, all you really have to consider is if the new hardware is compatible with existing components. As a whole, PCs also offer more ports and connections for peripheral devices. When gaming, extra screens, gaming mouses, gaming keyboards, speakers, and even Bluetooth audio devices will often be in use. Macs may not have enough ports for all of them, but a PC usually does. Therefore, you can connect most hardware that enhances your gaming experience much better with a PC than a Mac.
Backward Compatibility is Not a Problem
Backward compatibility is not something you commonly come across outside gaming circles. After all, who wants to keep using an older clunkier app than the latest updated version? Or an old smartphone when you have a brand new one?
For gamers though, it is all about nostalgic value. You would be surprised how many people still play Age of Empires or Starcraft, even though both are decades old. Many older gamers started off with these or similar titles. Many new ones subscribe to the retro-gaming fad as well. But when you want to play a much older game that runs on an older OS, it won’t be possible on a Mac. On the other hand, Windows PCs generally have better backward compatibility. Meaning you can install older games, older software, and even older operating systems for an authentic gaming experience.