This 2020, in addition to going down in history for Covid-19, is also the year of the new generation of gaming consoles with the release of the new Play Station 5 and Xbox Series X; these two new consoles will fully embrace 4k, being equipped with the new technologies and features currently (and not yet) available.
However, gaming consoles aren’t the only way to enter the next generation of video games, gaming computers can provide the same, if not (and very often) even better gaming experience. So let’s compare these two different ways to approach gaming more closely, choosing the PS5 as gaming console.
Table of contents
PS5: Technical specifications
The PS5 has an impressive list of specs that come together to create a formidable system; all for the modest price of $499 for the version with Blu-Ray player, and $399 for the digital version.
Equipped with a custom 8-core AMD Zen processor, and a 3.5 Ghz GPU; the system has one of the highest levels of processing power ever seen in a gaming console. The RDNA 2 graphics unit runs at smooth 10.28 TFLOPS across 36 CUs, giving the PS5 the ability to run titles up to 8K resolution with 120 FPS and a guaranteed 4K experience at a stable 60 FPS. Paired with a state-of-the-art 825GB SSD, the console will be able to run 5.5 GB/s of raw data which greatly reduces load time and lag. As additional features, however, we have 3D audio, and the ability to ray tracing which is destined to drastically change the world of modern videogames.
PCs for the next-gen
As far as PCs are concerned, we don’t have the same clean and definitive specifications, but we do have the advantage that they can be completely customized and adapted to a specific individual. Unlike consoles that become obsolete after a few years, PCs can always be upgraded to accommodate the latest technologies and features available. In general, a high-end gaming PC will cost a bit more than a gaming console, but it’s arguably a better long-term investment; furthermore, since a PC is not just for gaming, consumers will have a versatile machine that can be constantly updated to improve its capabilities.
Going further into the matter, if someone is looking to create a PC that roughly mimics the PS5 in terms of specs, or is simply capable of supporting the next generation of videogames, a possible hardware configuration could be the following:
| Type | Nome + Amazon Link | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT | $380-400 |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz | $78-95 |
| Motherboard | MSI X570 MPG Gaming Edge WIFI | 170-180€ |
| Power supply | Corsair TX650M Semi Modular 80 Plus Gold 650W | $135 |
| Hardisk | Samsung Memorie 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB | $90-130 |
| Case | Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L | $60 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro | $3.5 (on Aliexpress) |
| Graphics Card | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 2080 Super 8GB GDDR6 | $850 |
| Total | $1766.5-1853.5 |
Commenting on the table above we see that:
- We compared the PS5 to a Ryzen 7 3800XT + 16GB of RAM + RTX 2080 Super.
- We added an M2 SSD, and we chose a top motherboard capable of ensuring good compatibility with future processors thanks to the X570 chipset.
- Basically we have an $1000 PC + the addition of the graphics card which alone costs $850.
Comparison
Comparing the two solutions, a substantial difference in price immediately emerges: we have $500 against $1800, i.e. assembling a PC would cost us more than 3 times the cost of a PS5 … but how is it possible??? It seems impossible considering the cost of the individual components.
It’s not impossible at all; as Sony will order millions of those components, they will have a huge discount for buying in massive bulk compared to any person building a PC, or even any retail chain. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sell them at cost or even at a loss, because they know that if they can get people to buy, they’ll make a fortune on sales of games, PS Plus memberships (mandatory for online multiplayer), PS Now and whatever else related.
So, when it comes to value for money at launch, no contest; but we must at least consider $60 a year for online multiplayer and a higher cost of video games.
AMD RDNA 2
It should be noted that the AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, which we find in the new PS5, does not yet exist in the PC market; AMD has focused on the PS5 (and Xbox X), and is only now about to debut for PC; the official date is October 28.
A new era of leadership performance across computing and graphics is coming. The journey begins on October 8. pic.twitter.com/58I288iN30
— AMD (@AMD) September 9, 2020
Considerations
In the long run, the PC is much better value for its price, but for gamers who have no interest in buying a more expensive machine or customizing one on their own, the PlayStation 5 has a lot of promising features.
What I just said is generally valid as a “Console vs PC” argument; but there is no worse time than now to assemble a gaming PC (which rivals the PS5) as, at the moment, the value for money of the PS5 is at its peak as we are at launch; and it would be wise to wait for other next-gen graphics cards to come out (the current ones that can compete with the PS5 are few and very expensive), and I’m sure that on this front the release of AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture will give the gaming on PC.
In the end, the decision comes down to convenience, cost, exclusives (especially if you have to choose between PS5 and Xbox X), and personal gaming preferences.
See also
Cyberpunk 2077 - It's finally happening, are we about to witness a revolution in gaming?
After 8 years and several postponements, finally in this 2020 to be forgotten, the most anticipated video game of recent years is about to come out, promising a revolution of the Open-World genre
External graphics card (eGPU) via Thunderbolt 3 to play videogames on the laptop
Is an eGPU worth buying in 2020?
