Looking for a High-Value PC? Match Its Performance to Consoles

Deciding between a PC and a game console is a tough decision. PCs generally offer more freedom and a wider range of games, but choosing the right parts can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you can take out the guesswork by simply matching your PC's hardware to the latest consoles.

You’ll Know That Your PC Can Run the Latest Games

If you need a reason why your PC should be as powerful as the current-gen console, it's this. One of my friends told me that he prefers consoles to PCs simply because he doesn't want to worry about whether his PC will be able to run the latest games. I get it; nobody likes scrolling to the minimum specs of a game they want to play only to find out that their PC can't run it. Moreover, it takes some level of knowledge about PC hardware just to read those specs. Even tech geeks like myself rely on relevant performance benchmarks.

Now, compare that to consoles. If a game is available on a console, it generally means that the console can run without any major issues, save for a few examples, like the controversial launch of Cyberpunk 2077 on the PlayStation 4. It's a massive advantage for the average gamer who just wants to sit down and play some games after a long day at work.

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Fortunately, you can mimic this advantage with a PC by simply opting for computer parts that match the performance of the outgoing console generation. For instance, if you build a PC with the same specs as a PlayStation 5 Pro, you can rest assured knowing that your PC will be able to handle all current and upcoming games for the next few years.

The PC Is Likely to Be a Good Value

Let me preface this by saying that a PC will almost always be inherently more expensive than a console, especially when buying new parts. Consoles are often designed to be "loss-leaders," meaning console manufacturers intentionally sell them at a loss or for minimal profit, banking on subscription and game sales to make up for the initial shortfall.

Still, you can get fairly close. My PS5 Pro equivalent PC build rounded out to around $850, $150 more than the PS5 Pro at MSRP, so it's still pretty good value. You could bring the price down significantly by incorporating used parts, especially the graphics card, but then again, it's not a fair comparison. Shopping for used parts can be risky, especially if you can't test the hardware in person.

You Won’t Have to Upgrade for Years

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If history has taught us anything, it's that game consoles have rather long life cycles. Many people have been gaming on the PlayStation 4 since 2013, and it has continued receiving most of PS5's releases up until this year. This longevity means that if you build a PC with performance similar to the current-gen consoles, you won't have to spend money on upgrades for several years. If the PS5 can get 60 FPS in the latest games like Horizon Forbidden West in performance mode, you can expect an equivalent PC to get similar performance at matched graphics settings as well.

Well, the PC won't be an exact match because consoles have proprietary hardware that isn't available on PC, but it's close enough. For instance, the PS5 Pro is getting a new AI upscaler, but PC graphics cards have already had advanced upscaling technology for the past few years, and they keep getting better, even on existing hardware. Just look at AFMF2.

Why a PC Over a Console?

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While you have to pay a bit more for the PC upfront, you can more than make up for it with free or deeply discounted games available on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. Additionally, you have more flexibility with upgrades: a simple GPU upgrade down the line could extend the useful lifespan of your gaming machine for several more years. Compare that to the PS5 Pro, which is essentially just a GPU upgrade to the PS5, but you'd need to sell the regular model and buy the Pro if you wanted to upgrade to the latest and greatest tech.

Also, you might need a PC for work, school, or side projects anyway. So, instead of purchasing a separate computer in addition to the console, you could just invest that money in a powerful gaming PC or laptop. You get access to a keyboard and mouse, which consoles only support in some games. You can always hook up a controller to your PC and play on the couch if you wish to replicate the console experience. Oh, and did I mention that you can mod games on a PC?

There Are Some Downsides

I don't want to make it sound like going the PC route is all roses. PC gaming is inherently less convenient than console gaming. There's no arguing that! In exchange for getting fine-grained control of your game settings, you need to spend some time tuning your performance. Also, not all PC ports of console games run well, regardless of your specs. There's also the so-called "stutter struggle" that affects some PC ports more than others, where the compilation of GPU shaders causes gameplay stutters the first time a new shader is called in the game.

If you prefer gaming on a PC but don't know where to begin, read our guide on how to choose PC parts. Your new PC doesn't have to be an exact match of the PS5 or PS5 Pro's hardware, but aim for similar performance, and you'll be able to run games for years to come.