Same here. The thing is though, eventually it does break down. When mine breaks down I'm out about $500-600 for say... 10 year period? And that's being optimistic. Even if you are using a $4000 computer, it will still break down in 10 years tops. And for a large part of those 10 years, you are running into the issue of not being able to reliably run new games simply because tech moves so fast. Newer is almost always better than quality in the computer world.
My first computer was top of the line, simply because in those days that was required for even a simple game. But now a weak i3 can run decades worth of games without issue. Once I got my second computer it was many times better than my first top of the line rig, and I could run everything pretty well. Invariably I would get into a game that was a little too good for my computer, and then everything would be "Awesome!" once my old one broke down and I got a new one, but lately I haven't even run into that since I simply don't bother with minimum settings and bad framerate due to all the older games available (that are also, pardon my grampa, better).
About opportunities offered by a better rig, these have a large investment required with no guarantee. Saving and investing will allow you to learn valuable skills for a much lower cost, that actually have a very good chance of return (if you take the time to learn). The only reason to buy a better rig due to opportunities is if you already have the skills and the clients and you just need the better computer (If you have some business idea that requires a top of the line computer). In all other instances it's just gambling away money for a small amount of enjoyment.
Edit: forgot to mention that many new games these days can also be run by any computer since a huge market is mobile gaming, and game makers are making sure they can include these people in their playerbase. So you can still play new games, although unfortunately most mobile games are crap money grabs. There's still some quality to be found in those swamps, though.
Eh, I'm not worried about tech moving too fast.
I've been running gaming-rig PCs since... er.... the DOS days, I guess. In the 90s / early 2000s, it was much harder to get things running, specs often didnt match, games/programs were more picky about what you have or dont have though. But now.... yeah, not so much.
Even on my previous PC, which still sits next to me, it'll run damn near anything with no true hit to the framerate. Some settings may have to be turned down slightly, but their effects arent easy to even notice. The new PC is crazy because it's a VR setup. There's alot of potential issues (and literal headaches) that VR can have, so a rather absurd amount of power prevents any of that. Technically, I could have kept the previous PC running for another couple of years, probably. And heck, I might just take it over to the other house so there can be one there. It's still fully useful, despite being "outdated".
Also yes I agree with you on older games often being better. Well, sort of. It depends on what type of game we're talking about. If we're talking "big" games, like the AAA stuff, then holy heck yes, the old stuff is better. I dont bother with AAA games anymore (usually) though, I mostly do indie games. Which can vary wildly in terms of how much power they need/want (though the VR stuff *always* wants alot of it).
Now as for opportunities, I bring that up just to make a point.... I'm not saying you need to blow $4000 in order to make that happen. In my case, for the new machine it was done simply because there wasnt any reason not to, is the best way to put it. It's just like any other form of buying computers or parts: You just gotta make sure you not only know what you're buying, but WHY you're buying it. And hell, if you're buying the right thing. If you're an artist for instance, perhaps a full PC isnt the right choice; maybe one of those tablets (not a Wacom, I mean the sort that's similar to an iPad) that you can directly draw on the screen might be the right tool for you to use. Stuff like that. Either way, opportunities can be had IF you go about things the right way. As it is, my previous PC was about... $2000, I think? And the opportunity I got, to do some game development, would *not* have happened with a weaker machine. I would have indeed missed out on it if that was the case. Not to mention other things that have happened in that time. Game development is very resource-heavy in many cases. But then, that's part of why these things are so pricey in my case.
As for the idea of saving and investing, well, it depends on the individual's situation. Me doing that would accomplish nothing. At all. I wont go into why, but.... there's no practical reason for me to do that. So, I dont. However, were I in a position where that made sense to do.... I still would have ended up simply saving up for a $2000 rig. I mean, even if someone goes out and does, say, college classes (which I have indeed done) to learn the skills, you STILL need a machine actually capable of doing what you need to do. In some cases, people will work from an office and such, using their machines, but.... it's becoming increasingly more common that you do some or all of your work at home on YOUR machine, and you'll be expected to have one that will produce zero problems. I dont work a job, but if I did.... I'd need that high-end machine. Just not the ridiculous one I'm currently using.
Though, also, opportunities take different forms. The word doesnt always translate to "a job". I know society likes to think it does, but... no, it doesnt. I mentioned the VR thing, and art, right? That wont lead to a job. I mean theoretically someone can indeed use it for that, but in my case, that's not the point. It's just a chance... an OPPORTUNITY... to dive into that hobby in a new way, with a new approach. Doing something like rendering 3D objects/scenes with normal tools is.... difficult. And slow. But with this thing, I can do it with an interface and setup that makes it dramatically easier and faster. Less time wasted (and less confusion over) the technical aspect of it, and more time spent actually doing the bloody art aspect. Nobody making art of any sort wants to have to sit there arguing with the program half the time, or get lost in a program that's just freaking confusing (as many 3D rendering programs are). I mean, it's one thing to sit there and poke through 20 freaking menus to get one little aspect of a model changed. It's a whole other thing to literally just reach out and yank on it, accomplishing the same thing in 2 seconds. That's the sort of thing I mean. It's not a "work" opportunity. But it's opening up a whole new way to do things, and specifically, a whole new TYPE of thing I can do. Computers are good at that. Hell, I got into game/program testing the same way. Got into that years ago, still doing it, but all on a volunteer basis. And again, cant do that without a PC that can fully handle whatever is being tested. May not be a "work" opportunity... but it HAS accomplished stuff. Hell, I"m currently helping an indie dev I know, who is making a VR-capable game, in testing it as development continues (and let me tell you, THAT is a surreal experience). It's not "work"... I dont get paid for this. But it does accomplish something useful to someone.
Aaaaanyway. Sorry for rambling on so much. But I find topics like this to be just fascinating. Yet I see so few such discussions on this forum.
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