The eternal fight between console and PC gaming often comes down to one thing: performance, customization, and price. That leads to the next question then, with the PlayStation 5 Pro due to launch soon – how much would you have to spend to build a gaming PC of equivalent power? As one of the biggest tech experts asked: The answer might surprise you.
In fact, Richard Leadbetter of Digital Foundry recently held a live chat where this topic was brought up and although things are obviously still very much in the realm of speculation right now when talk turned to propositioned constructing a PC with similar performance potential as the PS5 Pro, it seems that such pursuit would cost far more than the $700 price point Sony’s console.
Indeed, says Leadbetter: ‘Spec for spec matching a PS5 Pro on the PC side would be expensive – that’s even before we take into consideration the reduction in costs to manufacture those parts. The GPU required at current prices is nearly as much as the cost of the console itself.
PS5 Pro vs PC: A More in Depth Look Into Pricing
Naturally, the PS5 Pro vs. PC debate roots in what could be more beneficial platform in terms of performance wise. Leadbetter told IGN why creating a PC equivalent of the PS5 Pro would be significantly more expensive.
He says this is as powerful as the closest thing in the GPU world, and that right now “that works out to be an RTX 4070.” The RRP of this GPU is approximately $540 (or £480), which would be one of the priciest parts in a like-for-like gaming rig.
With the GPU being just one part of the story, this is certainly not helping. PCs need numerous extra parts to be up and running as opposed to consoles. Leadbetter explained that gamers would also have to think about the price they’d pay for a CPU, motherboard, memory (RAM), storage and power supply as well, plus perhaps other peripherals related to input like mouse, keyboard or even monitor if they don’t already have them from an older setup.
“When you add up all these costs,” Leadbetter continued, “a gaming PC equivalent in performance to a PS5 Pro — forget about the must-have exclusives offered by Sony and its partners — would go substantially over and above PS5 Pro money.”
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Key Aspects of Second-Hand Pieces
While true, to some gamers out there it isn’t difficult to argue that you could build a used Gaming PC and cut the price in half. While this is true to a degree, what Leadbetter wanted to highlight was that there is much more to the picture. You may pay slightly less for used parts, however, these are often available with a limited warranty and have lower general lifecycle.
What is more, the PS5 Pro should eventually trickle down onto the second-hand scene at a discounted price, probably still for less than it would cost to build an equivalently powerful PC either new or even by salvaging for used parts. One of the benefits to buying a brand new console is that you will receive a product designed specifically for gaming, with your warranty being covered by manufacturer – something not always promised when dealing with second hand parts.
Also Read: Could Sony Be Working On A Wireless PS VR2 Headset?
Why PS5 Pro Offers More Value
In conclusion, the PS5 Pro is a better value proposition for console gamers than any gaming PC build you could put together from scratch. Leadbetter points out that what PlayStation fans are procuring is “more than just brute force” on the money, but… What they are paying for is a tailored gaming experience with proven working hardware and heavily optimized for performance in Sony’s ecosystem.
To that end, you can also factor in the PS5 Pro’s Access to Sony’s game library — all games made within the PlayStation ecosystem will run well on the console compared to a PC which might need some tweaking and custom settings configurations and driver updates for maximum performance. Consoles have the clear advantage here with the seemless integration, owners will be able to rest easy knowing their machine of choice is always running at its best.
However, looking at overall subscription costs, is a PC the only edge you can have?
The other angle being one might argue that PC Gaming has a financial advantage in the long term by skipping all of those extra fees for online charges like PlayStation Plus etc. Scorbvy/inverse Leadbetter, 2021 “The problem with subscriptions is that they do increase over time,” concedes Leadbetter. Yet he argues that this is missing the point.
Leadbetter then replied: ‘You’re missing the point of what PS5 Pro is and where it’s going to sell. The PS5 Pro – More Than a Gaming Console, an Investment in a Consumer Entertainment Ecosystem As someone who works in the gaming industry, shifting from a standard PS5 to the PS5 Pro is essentially just about better performance of sorts over your existing library without jumping ship.
Which is to say that PlayStation momentum means PlayStation players can carry on without having to buy any new hardware, or worry about compatibility.
Gamers and the Console vs. pc
This brings us back to where the PC versus console gaming argument dominates, namely, costs. Leadbetter also says that the idea of telling PlayStation owners to build a PC instead of getting a PS5 Pro is mostly nonsense.
You can’t get away from it, the PS5 Pro might be outflanked by a high-end PC,’ confessed Leadbetter. “;Azza also looks at you can just play games on a custom PC. The PS5 Pro is a gaming console, and it is that functionality where this device offers value.
Additionally, lots of console gamers are locked into their digital library and moving to PC would mean re-buying games which again, would be more expensive. They can’t use the game library they’ve already built up from years of purchasing games on a PC, which means they would have to shill out more cash than just building a comparable PC, since them must buy games all over again on this system to play their old games.
PS5 Pro remains king in value
In conclusion, in terms of pure raw value for most gamers, the PS5 Pro is a better deal than even PC gaming despite all the benefits PC gaming can bring in customizability, flexibility and performance potential.
Leadbetter’s take illuminates just how much value you’re getting per dollar between making your own gaming PC that gets even in the ballpark of these specs and just buying a PS5 Pro.
That streamlined, optimized experience, coupled with the improvements that can be achieved in gaming when developers know exactly what hardware a game will be running on – because console games are guaranteed to run well on Sony’s hardware – means that PlayStation owners get nothing but priority access to the best possible experience.
Therefore, if you are a Playstation fan and are debating whether to make your own gaming PC or continue on to the PS5 Pro, then it appears the answer is simple — Sony’s mid-gen console upgrade provides much better value for this price and building a comparable machine will set you back far more.
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[…] Read also: PS5 Pro vs. PC: Why Building a Comparable Gaming Rig Will Cost You Much More […]
[…] Read also: PS5 Pro vs. PC: Why Building a Comparable Gaming Rig Will Cost You Much More […]