Should I download games to hard drive?

I was wondering if a game would be potentially faster if I downloaded the game from fileplanet to my hard drive instead of buying the CD? Any ideas?

 

what do you mean by "potentially faster"?
Are you referring to the game installation speed or the game performance?

IF game installation speed, obviously it will be faster, (really depends on how slow your dvd or cd drive is), how fast your hard drive spins.

IF game performance, then no. Everytime you pop in the cd to play game (or use no-cd or no-dvd crack) has no effects on the game performance. It's simply to check whether you've purchased the game or not.

Hope this helps.

 

I was referring to performance. Thanks for the quick reply

 

Most newer games don't really read any data off the cd while you're playing; so it wouldn't have an effect. Many old games (like 5 years +) would see a performance increase though.

 

It would not be faster performance-wise it would be the same as the CD version except if you have a slow Internet speed it might take a while to download the game.

 

also consider that many of the new games you can download require a constant internet connection to play. if your internet goes down for any reason you will not be able to play some of them.

 

I find downloaded games to be faster, but usually when it needs to update, you can't just go to the game's website to patch it, you instead have to go fishing around for the downloaded version patch. unless you get the game from Steam, in which case it auto updates, but you do have to start the program with an internet connection, otherwise most games wont play.

 

Ok call me old school here, but I need to have the DVD or cd man!!
If you're only worried if it's going to be faster just read tomtom post, he's rigth.

 

same here i like to have a real copy that i can hold in my hands

 

lol i like the excitement of going out and picking up the game! I always use a cd/dvd crack or image to protect the cd

 

I agree with tphilly. I keep all my games as images on my hard drive, and use Daemon Tools to mount them when I want to play them, use a SafeDisc hider or something if the game complains. Makes it much easier than lugging a bunch of discs with my computer, uses less power than powering up the optical drive, and keeps the discs from getting scratched or lost.

 

Yea, I like having the CD too. Especially with all the reboots, reinstalls, etc that I do. A CD is handy!