Just buy the axe man, that way you can play games AND play guitar. I don't think your PC is bad at all.
Epiphone make good guitars (I have a Les Paul Standard), and whoever said that Gibson would "never allow Epi to get close to the real thing" is wrong, it's actually right the other way around. Epiphone is the only company that is allowed to recreate the Les Paul shape, because guess what, Epiphone is owned by Gibson.
You buy a guitar for life (imo), but computer parts have to get replaced after a year or two.
Option 4: ...and a cheap prostitute.
A hand made Carvin will most likely smoke any Jap Les Paul Copy. Just look at the components like Sperzel Locking tuners. Things like that signify quality.
I mean if you folks buy guitars because of how they look... be my guest.
Gold Plating Shiny!
But he cannot afford a $3500. Les Paul, and The Epi's are sub-par. IMO.
Sound is more from construction, components, and neck & fret work anyway. You can get a guitar from a custom shop like Carvin with whatever pickups you want, I like the humbuckers with the switch to make them single-coil. Ace.