Apple has done a very good job of marketing the Mac in a more gamer-friendly-than-before format. However, the Mac is still not ideal for gamers.

Outside of emulating Windows XP, Mac OS has a lot fewer games than Windows. It’s important to note, however, that Mac OS does sport a sizable collection of A-list titles.

For the games available on both formats, the PC always gets the upper hand.

PC gamers have the unfair advantage of being able to build a system from scratch. A little research can yield a high-end performance PC for little more cost than a mid-range system from a major manufacturer.

For those not fond of screwdrivers and patience, Dell can put together a well-equipped gaming rig for around $1,000. Unfortunately, the cheapest “gaming-ready” iMacs cost about 50 percent more than a similarly equipped PC.

Apple fans claim Mac OS is a more efficient format. However, the minimal requirements for games on the Mac format are often much higher than the PC requirements.

For example, the newly released game “Spore” is compatible with both operating systems. The PC version could easily run on any PC manufactured over the past five years with a minimal graphics card upgrade.

However, the Mac version requires a Core Duo processor, which rolled out less than three years ago. Additionally, the Mac version requires 50 percent more memory than the Vista version and 200 percent the memory of the XP version.

Greater system requirements coupled with more expensive hardware costs gives a Mac gaming rig a shorter lifespan than a PC gaming rig.

From at least a financial standpoint, a well-made PC slams the Mac if you are a dedicated gamer.