PC vs Console Cost Over Time
2026-10-09
Long has the debate raged on as to whether PC or Console is better for gaming.
But I want to ask a slightly different question: Which is cheaper?
My assumption going in is that PC will cost more, though it will still offer more versatility, at the additional cost of more work. But maybe I will be surprised!
I'll do the math here. Some rules:
- I will consider any parts purchased post PS5 release as the price for the "new" generation. This will entail multiple upgrades over this time, even for individual parts.
- I will flag when the parts are in the same power ballpark as the PS5, and when they exceed it.
- I will do two separate calculations, one for meeting PS5 performance and one for the actual money spent by me during this time period.
- I will additionally include necessary fees if they are not shared across platforms.
- Finally, I will be using launch MSRP as a price ceiling for all parts and consoles. Market conditions can change these, including those for the consoles, affect what a consumer can actually purchase these parts at.
- As such, I won't be holding the PS5 shortage against it, the later increased MSRP, nor the current RAM shortage against the PC.
- I will, however, include price decreases from launch MSRP for both.
- The important parts for comparing power are CPU, GPU, and RAM, but I will, of course, include all upgrades and repairs in the costs.
- I also won't be assuming any repairs for the consoles, as I can't guess how frequently they are needed.
My PC in 2020 was very, very weak.
2020 PC:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti - 4GB GDDR5
- RAM: 16GB of DDR4
This is far below a PS5, but it is also far above a base PS4 across all 3 areas, so it's a good starting point to compare to someone upgrading from their PS4 to the new (at the time) PS5.
I had no upgrades for a while, as it did what I needed it to, like someone holding on to their PS4 for a while before upgrading.
In January 2022 I upgraded my GPU so I could play Elden Ring, and in September 2022 I replaced my RAM.
2022 PC:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
- GPU: AMD RX 6600 XT - 8GB GDDR6
- RAM: 32GB of DDR4
The GPU upgrade was $379, or nearly the same as a PS5 Digital Edition at $399. This is the stopping point for the GPU calculation for equivalence, as it is roughly equivalent to the PS5 Digital Edition. Feel free to substitute in the Nvidia 3060 Ti if you want, it was $20 more at $399, but has better performance than the PS5's GPU. The RAM upgrade cost me $103, though it pushed me far beyond the PS5. It is important to note that it was a repair, my previous RAM that I had for many years began to fail in September of that year. Finally, the CPU is weaker than the PS5 having half as many cores and threads, but it retains a faster clock speed to help compensate.
This system ran until January 2024, when I decided to give myself a CPU upgrade and fix my CPU bottleneck.
2024 PC:
- CPU: Intel i5-12600KF
- GPU: AMD RX 6600 XT - 8GB GDDR6
- RAM: 32GB of DDR4
This upgrade cost me the following: CPU: $120 Motherboard: $100 The motherboard was due to my swap from AMD to Intel, and could have been avoided had I either started with Intel or bought another AMD CPU with the same socket, but the only AMD CPU that fit my motherboard, I could source, and was a substantial upgrade was $300. The swap was cheaper, even including the motherboard.
TOTAL COST FOR PS5 EQUIVALENCE: $599*
*I am excluding the RAM upgrade from this pricing, as it was not necessary for equivalence.
I upgraded my GPU in 2025 upon paying off my car, giving me my current rig.
2025 PC:
- CPU: Intel i5-12600KF
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 5070 - 12GB GDDR7
- RAM: 32GB of DDR4
This is a PNY card, and was on a prolonged price slump. I purchased it for $480, $69 below the $549 launch MSRP.
TOTAL COST: $1,182
At this point, I expect my rig to be better than the base PS6 will be. Though they may surprise me, who knows.
This was not the end though!
Earlier this year, my PC randomly died.
I still don't know what caused it, but the motherboard had died. I bought a new motherboard, and finally upgraded my ailing PSU.
Costs:
Motherboard: $130
PSU: $85
PC GRAND TOTAL: $1,397
Now, we need to consider the subscription cost for PS Plus along with the console for a real comparison of ongoing costs:
- PS5 Digital Edition: $399
- PS Plus, 2020-Sept 2023: $60/year
- 3 total purchases if starting at PS5 launch, 2020, 2021, 2022.
- $180 total
- PS Plus, Sept 2023-Present: $80/year
- 3 total purchases if starting at PS5 launch, 2023, 2024, 2025.
- $240 total
For the equivalency calculation, we will also compare costs as of when equivalency was reached with the PS5 (January 2024).
PC COST: $599
CONSOLE COST: $659
So, in the end, the PC was actually a bit cheaper, though it took a while to reach the equivalency. This is also allowing for the deals I found, excluding price gouging on the PS5, and excluding the later price hikes it has experienced over time. (This is to the benefit of both, as the PS5 was heavily price gouged early on, and then had its base MSRP greatly increased later on top of that.)
Now, for current, I am going to make a few assumptions and assertions that may or may not pan out:
- My current rig is more powerful than the PS6 will be.
- The PS6 will have its price roughly in line with the PS5 Pro, I am placing it at $700.
- The PS6 will release before November of 2028.
- PS Plus will have no price hikes before the PS6 releases.*
*Future renewals until the PS6 release: 2026, 2027. $160 total.
So, based on these, how will they fare?
PC COST: $1,397
CONSOLE COST: $1,679
Well, there we have it!
Even with multiple upgrades and several failures, the PC will likely remain cheaper.
Unless the PS6 launches at or below $418, the PC will stay cheaper, at least in the medium term.
BUT! If someone managed to get a PS5 Digital Edition at the original MSRP and has held onto it, with no repairs, then they have spent significantly less than I have* as of now, and PC will only be in the lead again once a new console is purchased.
*I do have a significantly more powerful system than they do, with a far longer time horizon before the next upgrade is needed.
Now don't get me wrong: I paid the difference in time and effort. I have built and rebuilt that PC several times. Motherboard changes, like the repair and swap for a new CPU, require a full rebuild. Overall, I have spent more so far, but will have spent less in the near future. I've also gotten more use out of it than I would a console, as I used it for school when I was in college, and now I use it for work. I also got good use out of my old parts, as I've put them together (along with a new case, PSU, and RAM) into a reasonably capable gaming PC for my brother (Roughly the same as my 2022 PC, slightly below a PS5)
Moral of the story, I was wrong.
Or I was right. Depends on how far ahead you look.