sOny’s PlayStation 5 has been selling like pancakes since its release in 2020. With a whopping 10 Tflops of Raw Compute, the PS5 is a game beast that produces amazing visuals with current generation releases, both first and third parties.
There has always been this notion that consoles are a much cheaper alternative than game circle PCs, but how large is that margin? To answer this question, try to build a PC as powerful as the PS5 to find it.
Note: Prices listed are subject to change at the time of writing.
Ryzen 5 5600X
Starting things on the CPU, the PS5 comes with a CPU based on a Zen 2-based architecture that runs on 8 cores and 16 threads at variable frequencies that can reach speeds up to 3.5 GHz. The last generation of consoles really struggled with having strong single-threaded performance, but Sony responded to this criticism and gave developers a more balanced experience with solid performance on all parameters.
AMD’s advances in this space also extend to the PC sector, and the Ryzen 5 5600X is a perfect example. There are fewer cores with six physical units and 12 logical units, but the frequency increases up to 3.7 GHz and the boost clock up to 4.6 GHz. The Ryzen 5 5600X is based on the new Zen 3 architecture, so the core is more efficient than Sony’s offering. This choice will allow you to expect comparable performance and overclocking will also help you create deeper-solved chips for the future. It’s on sale for around $202 on Amazon.
RX 6650 XT
The GPU is the heartbeat of any gaming system, and the PS5 has a great GPU integrated with the CPU, rendering truly amazing results. The PS5’s graphics core, built on the RDNA2 architecture, has 36 computation units running at 2.23 GHz, with a total of about 10 Tflops of raw calculations. One of the biggest advancements over the last generation of consoles is adding hardware-accelerated ray tracing and upscaling solutions to make rendering at higher output resolutions easier.
Our system uses the RX 6650 XT. It has 32 computer units running at up to 2.2 GHz, paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. It’s slightly below the PS5 in some areas, but it offers hardware-accelerated ray tracing and supports FidelityFX super resolution for improved performance. It’s on sale for around $286 on Amazon.
RAM: Kingston Fury Beast 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz CL16
The PS5 comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 RAM, and resources are shared between the CPU and GPU depending on the game’s requirements. It’s not very common in modern standards, but the combination of hardware and software optimization results in some solid performance in a wide range of scenarios.
In PC builds, this kind of optimization is not possible on this platform, so we dedicate 16 GB of DDR4 memory to the system. Ryzen CPUs generally use a 3200 MHz kit, as they deliver much better performance when paired with high-speed RAM. This should also help with cases. According to Walmart, the Kingston Fury Rum Kit costs $42.
SSD: 1TB WD SN770
One of the biggest upgrades the PS5 has offered in its last generation is necessary from a storage standpoint. Replacing the HDD in favor of the PCI-E 4.0 SSD gives you a big jump in load times, significantly reducing the load-based friction in the game, paving a new path for developers to use SSDs instead of storing everything on RAM.
To match the performance of your PS5, we will utilize the PCI E 4.0 WD SN770, which offers comparable results to ensure maximum compatibility with current games. You can opt for a drive with a slower or lower capacity (even if you have a tight budget), but for reliability, you don’t compromise. For just $70 on Amazon, SSDs are worth a lot for money.
ThermalTake Smart BX1 650W Bronze
One of the most important aspects of a PC build must be the power supply. It comes from a well-received brand with enough juice to power the components while always making sure the power supply is rated bronze or gold, and while keeping some watts available for room, there is enough juice to power the components. ThermalTake Smart BX1 650W checks all these boxes without breaking the bank. That’s why it’s on the list. You can find Thermaltake Smart BX1 Retailing on Amazon for around $67.
NZXT H510
The NZXT H510 is perfect for the case simply because it is compact, refined and stylish, and most of all, it’s extremely affordable. You can always stand up for a better looking or more spacious case with better lighting options, but we like to prefer functionality over form. This will be our choice for now. It’s available on Amazon for around $85.
ASUS TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WIFI
The ASUS TUF Gaming B550-Plus WiFi houses all components. Like power supplies, it is also important to invest in motherboards from reputable brands that guarantee compatibility with all components. It supports the AM4 slot and Ryzen 5000 series out of the box, has PCIE 4.0 slots for storage, and has three memory channels to ensure future proof if you want to add another stick later. Asus Tuf is available on Amazon for $149.
LG WH14NS40 Internal Blu-ray Drive
If you are building a PC that matches your PS5 with media support, this drive will complete the job. Plays Blu-ray discs, supports BDXL and M-DISC, and easily fits any standard case like the NZXT H510. It retails on Amazon for USD 92. If you’re choosing a digital-only library, you can obviously skip this.
PlayStation 5 Dual Sense
For controllers, you simply use PlayStation 5 DualSense to replicate the play experience on your PC. In addition to being a solid controller in itself, DualSense also has an enhanced tactile sensation, which helps to significantly improve the player experience. There are plenty of great games that support dual sense and its touch, and it’s obviously a must-have item for reliability. Depending on the color options, it will be available on Amazon for around $75.
OS: Windows 11 Home (64-bit)
Additionally, your system will also require a copy of Windows 11 64-bit. It comes at $139 and requires a lot of investment in the operating system, which greatly expands the gap between PC and console prices and consoles, but you have to do what you need to do.
Keyboard and Mouse: Redragon S107 Gaming Keyboard and Mouse
And of course, you also need a keyboard and mouse to play games that are not suitable for daily operations or controllers. The Redragon S10 gaming keyboard and mouse combo helps you build a complete gaming aesthetic with RGB lighting, and the quality of these individual components is also very decent at the price. Overall, it should offer your purpose very well for just $34 on Amazon.
HDMI cable: Monoprice 8K certified HDMI 2.1 cable 3.
The PlayStation 5 also comes with an HDMI 2.1 cable with 8K supported, so you should consider comparable costs. For our purposes, we use Monoprice 8K Certified HDMI 2.1 cable, which is about $10 on Amazon.
Conclusion
Going back to the original point that was originally created and building your own PC would be much more expensive than buying a console. Even manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft sell their hardware at a loss and direct profits through subscription services and software sales. The total cost of this setup is $1,159 for a digital-only library or $1,251 if you need a Blu Ray player. In context, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition retails for 450 USD, while the Disc Drive version costs 500 USD.
What many viewers may be curious is the fact that this is considerably more expensive than the build from 2023, and for several reasons. We also included the exact price for Windows 11, Dualsense controllers, Blu-Ray players, and better keyboard and mouse combos that allow you to quickly add and spike the total cost.
It’s definitely better than the PS5 in certain scenarios, but it will often continue to deliver comparable performance as developers move towards the second half of the generation and start to truly narrow down the calculations for these consoles.
(TagStoTRASSLATE) PC (T) PS5
