If you’re wondering whether buying a PS5 is a good deal or not, this performance review is for you. We’re going to go over the technical performance comparisons and specs when pit up against a gaming PC, which can easily cost 2x the amount if you take all peripherals in account.
Note that the PS5 Disc version offers 120Hz, 4K and 8K, 16GB DDR6 memory, and 825 SSD at $525. There’s also a Digital Edition that sells for about $100 lower which isn’t recommended. So, let’s say $500 for a PS5 and $1200 for a decent mid-range gaming PC that can run AAA titles.
This is a complete guide based on hours of research and years of experience. You will find every aspect considered here from the premium subscription prices of the PS5 that can take your net investment to $1100 in 5 years, pretty much the cost of a good gaming PC (which can function for 5 years easily), to modding, the PS5 user experience, and a no-nonsense pros and cons section in the end.
- Game Differences
- Price Difference
- FPS
- GPU & CPU
- Gaming Performance
- High-End Gaming
- User Experience
- PC Advantages
- PS5 Advantages
- FAQs
Game Differences
Now, if you’re comparing between a gaming PC and the PS5, or coming from a PC, it’s important discuss the games before we discuss the specs or performance. If you’re clear about the big difference between what games you can play on PC vs. on PS5, just skip this section altogether.
Games either run on the PS5 or the PC mostly. Only a few popular games offer cross-play, meaning they have a version for both devices. PS5 has its own set of exclusive games (not even available on the Xbox, only on the PS ecosystem) such as the Spider-man games, Final Fantasy 16, Helldivers 2, Ratchet & Clank, Returnal, The Last of Us, etc.
On the other hand, games that you cannot play on PlayStation include the majority of games in the world. Some games have limited cross-platform play (such as Ghost of Tsushima’s Legends mode). This includes all those games you have on Steam, Epic Games, etc.
Note that PlayStation has its own game library and dashboard. You cannot install a distribution platform like Steam on it (even if you could work out a deal, I don’t think publishers will find much profit in paying commissions to Sony and Valve both).
- A lot of game franchises are PC-only.
- Many popular and good games today always have a PS5 version as well, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Skyrim, Elden Ring, Fallout 4, It Takes Two, Monster Hunter Rise, The Witcher 3, Hades, GTA V, Fortnite, Resident Evil Village, Outer Wilds, Baldur’s Gate 3, PUBG, Assassin’s Creed games, the upcoming Black Myth: Wukong, etc.
- Some games are a little older and had a PS4 version – but have no PS5 version, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Minecraft, Overwatch, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Sekiro, Dark Souls III, Max Payne, Call of Duty Warzone, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Portal 2, etc.
- Many critically acclaimed games are exclusive to the PlayStation, such as the Uncharted series, God of War series, Marvel’s Spider-man series, The Last of Us series, Gran Turismo, Bloodborne, Horizon Forbidden West, Persona 5, etc.
Note that a lot of games are what I consider “PC-first” in that they have a Windows release date earlier than the PS5 release date. These games are “ported” to the PS5 crowd, not being made with console in mind from the beginning. For the most part, a port is just as good, but some types of games (especially those that require a lot of controls) don’t do so well after being ported.
Also, there are entire genres that have no presence on consoles at all (are PC-only) simply because a console lacks the number of controls for these games:
- MOBAs like Dota 2, League of Legends, and SMITE.
- MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, EVE Online, Guild Wars 2, Old School RuneScape, Albion Online, the now-fan-run Warhammer Online, etc. Exceptions include Elder Scrolls Online, Black Desert Online (no PS5 version, only PS4), and Amazon’s New World (which is coming to consoles in October after ~3 years of PC-only development).
- Strategy games like the Age of Empires or Civilization series are also PC-only because they require many micro-interactions that feel comfortable with a mouse-keyboard combo and not with a console controller.
A lot of people buy a PlayStation just for the exclusive games. Up until the PS4 age, the exclusivity angle was much more pronounced, but today, any major AAA game will try to release a PC version down the line anyway.
PS5 Performance vs. Gaming PC
The bulk of PC gamers who throw shade and criticize console players actually have an entry-level or mid-range gaming PC (cheaper GPU) which gives them 1080p@60 experience at best. A good deal of PC gamers enjoy 1440p gaming at 60FPS. And a very small segment can comfortably play AAA titles at 4K monitors at 60FPS with all the bells and whistles.
Price
If you were to buy a prebuilt gaming PC (not including the monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.), it will still cost you much more than a PS5. A budget 1440p graphics card like the AMD RX 6750 XT or a mid-range one like the Nvidia RTX 3080 will cost you $300-500. That’s like most, if not all, the full cost of a PS5.
Basically, on a $500 PS5, you’re guaranteed to get a machine that can play well-optimized AAA games that feel amazing. On a PC, you don’t have that guarantee. Two of my older PCs used an RTX 580 and then a GTX 1660 Ti, and hardly needed any money spent on them. My latest PC has an RTX 4060 and I’ve had to take it to the shop for various issues twice in the last 1.5 years. You just never know.
But the cost isn’t just about the initial purchase here! Yes, the PS5 is cheaper, but 30% of its users subscribe to the Plus tiers (Essential, Extra, or Premium) according to Sony’s reports (PDF). And they’ve been pushing this subscription since 2022 a lot. And I mean a lot. This number is increasing at 10%+ per year – and the whole world is moving toward a subscription-based model. I’d strongly suggest you to take this into consideration because even if you don’t plan to right now, you might be a PlayStation Plus subscriber next year this time.
Buying games is actually cheaper on PCs in my opinion, especially with frequent Steam sales and Epic Games giveaways. No subscription either. Over the long run, a $1000 more expensive gaming PC will help you save $10-18/month on subscription and much, much more through Steam/Epic Games sales. I’d say a typical gamer will recover the $1000 in a year’s time.
The PC’s maintenance cost is fairly cheap, whereas the PS5 has no such cost pretty much. But once you go console, there’s a good chance that you will need to spend more on various accessories that make gaming better. And then the $10 x 12 months x 5 years = you’ve spent $600 anyway in 5 years, the average lifetime of a mid-range gaming PC, taking your total to $1100. In this price, you will be able to build a powerful gaming PC that can also do other tasks apart from just gaming. If you don’t need to, you can also postpone upgrading altogether. I know gamers who are still using a GTX 1080 and having a good experience. This is only true for those who don’t chase the best AAA experience every year.
FPS
Consoles cannot sustain 60FPS, especially given how the majority of players are connecting the console to a big TV (more screen real estate/higher resolution = harder to render). The majority of PS5 games are actually capped at 30FPS. To a PC gamer, that might sound too low, but these games are designed with 30FPS in mind from scratch. There is absolutely no problem in playing a PS5 game like Miles Morales at 30FPS, the web swinging is still amazing.
Some games run at 60FPS and some even at 120FPS (only recently, whereas 120FPS has been realized on gaming PCs like 10 years ago). 120FPS games include Asphalt Legends Unite, Atomic Heart, Borderlands 3, Warzone 2.0, Destiny 2, DIRT 5, DOOM Eternal, F1 22, God of War Ragnarok, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 7, Rainbow Six: Siege, Uncharted, etc.
GPU & CPU
The PS5 uses an AMD Oberon chip. This is a custom chip made just for PlayStations. Still, if we were to compare it with a desktop GPU, I’d say it’s closer to an RTX 2070. The non-XT AMD RX 6700 is the closest in terms of architecture. The CPU is an 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor that can go up to 3.5GHz.
Gaming Performance
If you have a $1500 gaming PC packing an RTX 3080, let’s say, you clearly have a superior machine than the PS5. The games will use the better reflections, shadows, textures, foliage, everything. But here’s the thing – the PS5 version of the same game will be optimized for a 30/60FPS gaming experience and it will feel just as good and smooth.
So, in raw terms, yes you have more CUDA cores, higher clock speeds, more hi-res textures, and all that. But in a real-world situation, it hardly matters.
High-End Gaming
The PS5 can output a 120Hz signal and even getting a 4K monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate is no biggie. The real issue here is that not many titles actually support that FPS. PC games are uncapped, on the other hand. If you have a good enough GPU and a monitor to support it, you can hit 120FPS (or 200 for that matter) in almost every game.
If you have the money to spare for the parts and the need to play high-end games, a PC is the way to go. A PS5 will be more akin to a mid-range PC in this case. The actual in-game experience at 20FPS on a PS5 will still be good. See the section on FPS for this.
User Experience & Quality of Life
The PS5 is a gaming machine. From quickly resuming your gaming session to launching games in seconds without going through a complex installation process – the experience is buttery smooth. PCs run on the Windows 10 or 11 operating system, which has a lot of functionalities. Overall, you can see where I’m going with it. It’s harder, more cumbersome, and more time-consuming to get up and running on a PC. And God forbid if something goes wrong with your game, monitor, or GPU. The troubleshooting to fix games will take up a lot of time.
BIOS updates, driver updates, hardware compatibility of different parts, background processes, blue screens of death, headphone/mic troubleshooting, syncing refresh rates, fixing frame drops, ensuring good cooling for high-end gaming, and the list goes on. The troubles never end on a PC. But in the defense of the fellow PC gamer, most of this stuff becomes easy to deal with over time. The more seasoned a PC gamer is, the better he/she is going to be as a PC mechanic as well.
On the other hand, you can literally use a mobile app to install a new game on your PS5 from work, and have the game experience ready for you when you get back. There are other benefits as well. All this is so convenient that you have to own both things to actually know the difference. A lot of console gamers I know have stopped using their PC to play games altogether or don’t want to get a PC for all the additional hardware/software hassle and maintenance.
Personally, I’ve never had the need to troubleshoot games, hardware issues, or software conflicts more than 2-3 times a year. The regular dusting off is a super-easy chore. Yes, cleaning the internal components can be a bit demanding, and stuff like adding more fans or repasting your processor might need a mechanic or a lot of time watching videos. But I tend to think of those things as life skills.
And one point where PCs take the win for convenience is mods. PS5 will never allow you to run a mod. Windows games can be easily modded. It’s also one of those things that you need to try to get a true feel. Once you go mod, you never go back, and the console is completely out of the question.
PS5 vs. Gaming PC: Final Verdict
I will not give you one answer because as you must’ve realized so long into this debate, it depends on a gazillion factors. There are arguments to be had on both sides. I’ve tried my best to offer practical knowledge on all aspects so you can make up your mind. If you still cannot decide, here’s a brief summary of the whole thing:
PC Advantages
It’s a budget question. If you can buy or build an entry-level gaming PC, then the PC is better. Why?
- A PC isn’t just for gaming. It’s a multi-purpose machine that can be used for work, content creation, browsing the web, and countless other tasks. If you need a device that can do it all, a PC is the clear winner.
- Everything from typing in games to aiming/shooting is better with a mouse-keyboard combo.
- The overall performance in terms of FPS, resolution, graphics is better. Even a mid-range gaming PC can outperform the PS5 in terms of raw power and graphical fidelity. You can enjoy higher frame rates, better visuals, and even features like ray tracing that are limited or unavailable on the PS5.
- PC gaming boasts an enormous library of games, including not only PC exclusives but also most console titles. You can access games from multiple platforms, including Xbox Game Pass, and even emulate older games.
- Unlike PS5, you hardly ever have to worry about the backward compatibility of your games.
- A gaming PC is also upgradable, meaning you can improve it with more RAM, better GPU, more storage, better mouse, etc. over time, so your initial investment can actually be lower. You have complete control over your hardware. You can customize your rig to your liking, upgrade components as technology advances, and even build it yourself for a truly personalized experience. If you want a rainbow puke machine spilling RGB all over the neighborhood, or a sleek, all-black minimalist look – you can have it with a gaming PC setup.
- Unlike PlayStation Plus, online multiplayer on PC is generally free. This can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
PS5 Advantages
On the other hand, the PS5 has a lot going for it:
- Many users, including those with high-end PCs, praise the PS5’s plug-and-play simplicity. It’s designed for gaming and requires minimal setup or technical knowledge.
- hile Sony has started porting some exclusives to PC, the PS5 still offers a unique library of games you won’t find anywhere else, at least not for a few years. If you’re a fan of franchises like God of War, Spider-Man, or Uncharted, the PS5 is the only way to experience them at their best.
- The PS5, with its $500 price tag, is significantly cheaper than building a comparable gaming PC. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious gamers who want a powerful gaming experience without breaking the bank. No additional peripherals like mechanical keyboards or upgrades like a $1000 GPU down the line needed either.
- The PS5 is designed for living room gaming, allowing you to relax on the couch and enjoy your games on a big TV. While you can technically connect a PC to your TV, it’s often not as seamless or convenient.
- Racing games feel much better on PS5.
FAQs
Let’s solve some common queries about the PS5.
Is PS5 worth it?
It depends on your needs and priorities. If you want a convenient, plug-and-play console with exclusive games and don’t mind 4K/60FPS as the primary target, then the PS5 is worth it. However, if you prioritize higher frame rates, better visuals, upgradability, and a wider variety of games, a gaming PC might be a better investment.
Is PS5 better than Xbox Series X/S?
It’s a subjective question. Both consoles have their own strengths and weaknesses. The PS5 has some impressive exclusive titles, while Xbox Series X boasts slightly better hardware and a strong Game Pass subscription service. Ultimately, the “better” console depends on your personal preferences and the types of games you enjoy.
How powerful is PS5?
The PS5 is a powerful console, capable of running most games at 4K/60FPS with impressive visuals. It features a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU, a custom RDNA 2 GPU, and a super-fast SSD that significantly reduces loading times. While not as powerful as a high-end gaming PC, it offers a significant leap over the previous generation of consoles.
Can PS5 do 4k@120FPS gaming?
Yes, the PS5 can output a 4K/120Hz signal, but the number of games that actually run at native 4K/120FPS is minimal. Most games that claim to be 4K on PS5 often use dynamic resolution scaling or other techniques to achieve that resolution, and even then, they might not run at a full 120FPS.
What PC specs are equal to PS5?
A PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400 CPU, an Nvidia RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT GPU, and 16GB of RAM would be roughly equivalent to the PS5 in terms of performance. However, it’s important to note that PC performance can vary greatly depending on the specific components and optimization of the game.
Is PS5 future-proof?
For PlayStation games, yes. The next console release planned by Sony (PS6) is likely to be in 2027-28. The PS5 was released in 2020. So yes, I’d say it’s one of the most future-proof gaming platforms right now. Sony and other game developers will keep releasing new exclusives. As the framerates on PlayStation are capped at 30 for the majority of games and 60 for some high-end games, it’s not too difficult to make good-looking games for a PS5 even 4 years after without requiring players to upgrade anything.
Hopefully, this trend will continue well into the next 4 years as well and by then, we will have a PS6 with better hardware to run more demanding games of that time.
