Thing is if you're computer config is stuffed, then games will suffer.  On a console, you don't get these stuff-ups - it's like how Mac OSX fans say that things "just work" without viruses and stuff since you can't get them there.
It's certainly a valid point I guess - though I'd say a few simple tricks could get around these issues - such as having two OSes - one a "gaming OS" and the other for work.  Will be more difficult to set up and may not suit your tastes I guess.

I think the reason for the issue in this thread would be the OS/installed applications causing problems.  If Hellgiver has a clean spare install of Windows, he could confirm it.


Games definitely shouldn't get slower on newer processors, at least games made later than around 1996.  It would most likely be software or perhaps newer platforms causing problems.
For some reason, for example, FEAR seems to cap itself at 15fps on Windows 7 at various places.  Runs perfectly fine on Windows XP though (have tried the latest patch to no avail).