Picking between PC and PS4 versions, please help

[xkeiyax]

Picking between PC and PS4 versions, please help

Hi everyone,

I'm looking forward to picking up The Witcher 3 tomorrow, and I needed some input on if I can play this game on my computer, and given my preferences, if getting the PS4 or the PC version will be better for me.

This isn't really a Console vs. PC debate (although sadly some poor souls may end up taking that route anyway), but I wanted to know what's the best choice for me specifically, given what I have, and how I play my games. So here's a bit of info about me and my hardware, so you can best advise me on my purchase:

1. I've been a console person for 20+ years, and I feel most comfortable with console because of the "plug and play aspect". In fact, I generally just let GeForce optimize my games, since the less time I spend at the customization screen = more time playing the game.

2. I'll probably be less interested in mods, but I do want to have the best possible single-player experience through the main story.

3. Also, I haven't played a lot of games with a mouse and keyboard, so for most ARPG's, and action games in general, I'm most comfortable with controllers (which, if I'm not mistaken, I can plug my PS4 controller onto my laptop). I have played WoW and FFXIV expansively on PC, though, and I feel that PC and mouse is better for those games because of the large number of spells (and macros) you have to watch out for while playing the game.

4. The higher price tag on PS4's physical disc vs. a Steam download is negligible if it means having a physical BD of the game (I think I'm too late to pick up a physical version for the PC...).

5. And last but not the least, here's what my laptop's like:

ASUS G751JL
CPU: Intel 4th-Gen i7-4720HQ 2.6GHz (up to 3.6GHz Turbo Boost)
RAM: 24GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 965M, 2GB dedicated memory
HDD: 100GB available on my SSD, 700GB available on my HDD
Windows 8.1 OS, DirectX 11 supported

I have both my laptop and my PS4 connected to a 32" TV.

Please let me know if you want me to answer additional questions, but given those factors, should I pick up the PS4, or the PC version of TW3?

Thanks a lot, guys.

 

[xkeiyax]

Alrighty, so that's 2 votes for console. Anyone else wanna pitch in?

 

[web-head91]

i'd say go for the PC version. you may not get mindblowing graphics now (your configuration's not bad at all though), but in the long run, you may update your hardware by building/buying yourself a good desktop PC, and you may wanna switch to it. heck if you wanna play like you've got the PS4 version, just play on high/medium, plug your laptop onto your TV and use your PS4 controller.
let's not also forget the mods, which is a HUGE advantage over consoles.

so yeah, go for the PC version as far as i'm concerned ^^

 

[NoBlackThunder]

if you want to save money but are most used with console you can go for the golden middle. use you laptop . connect it to tv . buy a xbox one controller and play it with that . its cheap and almost the the same =P

 

[web-head91]

if you want to save money but are most used with console you can go for the golden middle. use you laptop . connect it to tv . buy a xbox one controller and play it with that . its cheap and almost the the same =P

great minds think alike
oh and he can use his PS4 to play the game on his laptop. so why buy an xbox one controller ? 0.0

 

[GuyNwah]

Moderator: Technical questions call for serious, considered answers, NOT snap judgements. I'm going to delete all the posts that did not present a justification for their position, and we can start over.

 

[Herbert2]

I say PC Version. No doubt its the most beautifull Version by now.

http://www.gamestar.de/spiele/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt/news/the_witcher_3_wild_hunt,49062,3086027.html

 

[web-head91]

Moderator: Technical questions call for serious, considered answers, NOT snap judgements. I'm going to delete all the posts that did not present a justification for their position, and we can start over.

it was just a friendly comment, not a judgemental one and in no way with malicious intent. i'm neither trying to trying to lesser the gentleman who started the thread, nor start a PC vs consoles thread.
so please don't misjudge me kind sir, and thank you for your comprehension ^^

 

[HellKnightX88]

Normally I'd recommend PC but I'm not entirely sold on that GPU. Then again I'm not very familiar with that category of GPUs. What other games do you play on your laptop?

 

[xkeiyax]

Normally I'd recommend PC but I'm not entirely sold on that GPU. Then again I'm not very familiar with that category of GPUs. What other games do you play on your laptop?

FFXIV, World of Warcraft, and Phantasy Star Online 2. They run fairly consistent at 60fps with the recommended settings by GeForce Experience (except PSO2, which I run at "High" presets without any hitch). I can show you the WoW/FFXIV optimized settings I got if you'd like.

@web-head91: I might not do a lot of mods, but I do want to have a really good experience at the moment, given it'll be a few years before I pick up a desktop (I have to prep for a house downpayment, after all XD).

Also, I was wondering if there are framerate drop issues on PS4 that I should be aware of. I play FFXIV more on PC's even with my older laptop because framerate was more consistent on PC than PS4. I don't mind giving up a few little tweaks here and there if it means the whole experience isn't marred by stuttering visuals.

Edit: Yes, my GPU's a 965M, with 2GB dedicated memory.

 

[web-head91]

@xkeiyax
hello sir, could your GPU happen to be a GTX 965M ?
because if so, then your graphic card is pretty damn good !
i found this benchmark: http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-965M.134120.0.html
and i think you may get to play the game at high/Ultra on your laptop, and at a good framerate too.

Also, I was wondering if there are framerate drop issues on PS4 that I should be aware of. I play FFXIV more on PC's even with my older laptop because framerate was more consistent on PC than PS4. I don't mind giving up a few little tweaks here and there if it means the whole experience isn't marred by stuttering visuals.

i heard multiple times on reviews that the game on PS4 has framerate issues and can be somewhat laggy sometimes.

so i think the best for you is to get the game on PC.

 

[Chri2Kng]

FFXIV, World of Warcraft, and Phantasy Star Online 2. They run fairly consistent at 60fps with the recommended settings by GeForce Experience (except PSO2, which I run at "High" presets without any hitch). I can show you the WoW/FFXIV optimized settings I got if you'd like.

@web-head91: I might not do a lot of mods, but I do want to have a really good experience at the moment, given it'll be a few years before I pick up a desktop (I have to prep for a house downpayment, after all XD).

Also, I was wondering if there are framerate drop issues on PS4 that I should be aware of. I play FFXIV more on PC's even with my older laptop because framerate was more consistent on PC than PS4. I don't mind giving up a few little tweaks here and there if it means the whole experience isn't marred by stuttering visuals.

Edit: Yes, my GPU's a 965M, with 2GB dedicated memory.

Get a Playstation 4 without a doubt. Witcher 3 on your laptop will overheat like crazy, and pretty much the reason why I will never buy another overprice gaming laptop again. I spend more than 2K on mind and it die within 3 years.

 

[HellKnightX88]

Any very demanding games like Crysis or Black Flag etc.? Being able to run MMOs isn't a good performance measure because most of them are not very taxing on your hardware when you ramp up the graphics to full. Or heck, download a benchmark program and run it. Those are usually a good indicator of how strong your system is.

And Chri2Kng makes an excellent point, heat can be an issue.

 

[xkeiyax]

Any very demanding games like Crysis or Black Flag etc.? Being able to run MMOs isn't a good performance measure because most of them are not very taxing on your hardware when you ramp up the graphics to full.

And Chri2Kng makes an excellent point, heat can be an issue.

This is the first time I picked up a computer with these kind of specs, plus I haven't had a month with the laptop, so I haven't played any of the "demanding games" yet.

If it helps benchmark my laptop/figure out if I can run the game, I don't mind picking up one of the games on the Steam/Origin store for cheap. Otherwise, are there other programs I can run to benchmark my system?

As for heat, I have a laptop cooler and ample ventilation for my room, whose temp generally hovers somewhere between 60-70F without air conditioning. Would that be enough to help with the heat?

 

[NoBlackThunder]

great minds think alike
oh and he can use his PS4 to play the game on his laptop. so why buy an xbox one controller ? 0.0

i know there is support on windows for the xbox one controller with usb .. i dont know about the ps4 controller .. thats the reason i say xbox one .. but if he has a ps4 he can just go with the ps4 game

 

[HellKnightX88]

You can get the 3Dmark demo from steam for free. Keep in mind that this thing is design to push your system to its limit. Then go online and compare the results to other system configurations and see kinda where it places compared to desktop systems.

 

[BurningVigor]

Oh my comment was deleted.

Let me explain why.

From my experience laptop gaming has problems with intensive games like Witcher. Mainly it starts overheating and the games start stuttering a lot / freezing. My laptop died so fast compared to my desktop.

It's not just me either, many friends and family had issues with heavy intensive games on laptops. They always have heating problems when gaming.

 

[GuyNwah]

Thermal problems are always a concern with laptops. They are especially a concern with a game that is going to push the GPU to 100%.

They are also a risk that anyone who owns a gaming laptop should be familiar with, and have a plan for dealing with. So a blanket "no" is not by itself a constructive answer.

 

[xkeiyax]

Tried to use 3DMark 11 to benchmark my laptop, and here are the results:

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9826134

I'm not too sure what the "P" at the start means, but the score's at around 6000-7500. Thoughts?

 

[GuyNwah]

The prefix letter is the "preset" in use. "P" = Performance.

By way of comparison, GTX 660 stock clock, about 6700. You're in good shape.