How will PC be improving graphics to compete with next gen consoles?

Yeah I know PC has better graphics. To each his own though. The question was out of curiosity.

Is it true that PC does not make games that consoles cannot support? I've heard this before.

I think what most people don't realize is that it is much easier to develop games for consoles, especially when it comes to optimization. You have one set of hardware to deal with, that is all.

When it comes to PC games there is a sheer endless number of configurations, graphics drivers, sound drivers, options, screen setups and DirectX versions to consider. It makes optimizing code much more difficult which is why usually the requirements for a PC game, even if it's the same one, are much higher.

In regards to your question; a game has to be specifically developed for one or the other, or ported. The decision is ultimately the developer's. I'm pretty sure there is no game that could not work on one or the other, but depending on whether you create a game for a console or a PC, you may have to add/remove/modify features to match the hardware possibilities and control options.

I am still somewhat new to PC gaming so my next question is what besides the graphics card effect gaming performance.

I have a AMD FX 8350 CPU
A corsair V Mb
8gb corsair dominator platinum ram
An EVGA 660 3 GB g card

An OCZ SSD with windows 7 U installed

I have been installing my games on a HDD which has been running pretty fast. I just bought a samsung SSD which is considerably faster than the OCZ. Will installing the games an SSD improve gaming performance? Ie load times and FPS?

Thanks

I think you definitely have a good setup for the time being. You also have an SSD. If anything in games, the hard drive is the bottle neck if everything else checks out, and with an SSD that's pretty much nullified.

If you install your games on the SSD it will definitely improve loading times quite a bit which will reduce potential in-game "stutter" should data have to be loaded again. This will not improve the FPS though. That is entirely up to the CPU/graphics card. I don't think you should have much in terms of FPS issues though. If you do, try and reduce the resolution by a notch or two first, and maybe turn down AA from the highest to x4 or x8 etc. It won't really affect the visuals that much.

I remember playing PC games back in the late 80s and early 90s, so I guess I'm a little more lenient when it comes to graphical settings.

Most games do not require more than 2 GB RAM these days, so your 8 are absolutely OK.

You have a great setup comparable with the current consoles coming out. Not up to that level maybe as it takes a few thousand dollars of a graphics card and top processor to get there, but with the next upgrade or two you will surpass them as most gamers will.

Well your cpu sits at a 77 FPS. If you want to improve that you will need to upgrade to a intel board.
Here's a good read, http://techreport.com/review/23750/amd-fx-8350-processor-reviewed/5

I'm pretty happy with the way that my PC performs. I upgrade it every year or so just for fun. Now, I have a bunch of old PC parts that i no longer use from past upgrades. AMD's processors are more bang for the buck. That's why I prefer them.

Maybe with the new games ad better graphics coming out I will make a serious investment in building an intel powered PC.

Upgrading is part of the fun of being a PC gamer that most console gamers don't get to experience.

Thanks for the answers. Huge help