It has been nearly three years since the release of the Sony PlayStation 5, and it still holds up as one of the most powerful gaming consoles. Among the main selling points of the PS5 was its impressive next-generation hardware that warranted comparisons with PC gaming. While the PlayStation 5 is not nearly as powerful and versatile as high-end PCs, Sony’s newest console packs a punch.
Naturally, its performance for the price begs value comparison with its equivalent on the PC gaming side. In this article, we explore how much it would cost you to get or build a PC as powerful as the PS5.
PlayStation 5 Specs
Sony PlayStation 5’s impressive hardware offerings are a significant upgrade from its predecessor and perfectly highlight next-generation gaming. The console’s spec sheet includes:
- CPU – A custom-designed CPU based on AMD Zen 2 architecture. The 7nm System on Chip (SoC) is powered by 8 cores and 16 threads and has a variable clock speed of up to 3.5 GHz.
- GPU – A custom-designed GPU called Oberon. It is based on AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture and features 36 compute units (CUs). The GPU has a variable frequency of up to 2.23 GHz and is capable of a peak theoretical performance output of 10.3 teraflops. The GPU’s compute units support real-time ray tracing acceleration.
- SSD – A custom 825GB SSD with a 12-channel interface capable of 5.5GB/s read bandwidth.
- RAM – 16GB of GDDR6 SDRAM (256-bit) with a peak 448GB/s bandwidth.
- Power Supply – The PS5 is powered by a 350-watt power supply.
What Equipment Do You Need?
1. CPU
When it comes to raw processing power, peak performance, and architecture, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is the closest equivalent to the PS5’s CPU. The Ryzen 7 3700X is built on 7nm FinFet lithography and is based on Zen 2 architecture. The CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads and has a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz, which can boost up to 4.4 GHz.
As such, it is slightly more powerful than the PlayStation 5’s processor, but not by a wide margin. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is designed for socket AM4 motherboards and can support dual-channel 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM. To take full advantage of this processor, it is recommendable to pair it with AMD x500 series motherboards that leverage PCIe 4.0.
Also, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X comes with a capable Wraith Prism LED cooler, which saves you the cost of purchasing a third-party CPU cooler. This processor is highly efficient, with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) rating of 65W. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X currently retails between £150 and £170.
2. GPU
Based on the PS5 GPU specs, an appropriately powerful PC equivalent would be the AMD Radeon RX6600 XT graphics card. Launched in 2021, it is a performance-segment GPU built on a 7nm process and based on the Navi 23 graphics processor. AMD Radeon RX6600 XT is paired with 8GB GDDR6 memory connected using a 128-bit memory interface.
The GPU features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPS, which are on par with the PlayStation 5’s Oberon GPU. It operates at a base frequency of 1968 MHz, which can boost up to 2590 MHz. AMD Radeon RX6600 XT also has 32 ray tracing acceleration cores that guarantee support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
With a peak theoretical performance output of 10.6 teraflops, it is slightly more powerful than the PlayStation 5’s GPU. As such, this GPU is capable of running the latest titles in 4K resolution at 60 – 120 FPS. Display outputs include HDMI 2.1 and Display Port 1.4a, which facilitate high frame rate gaming at UHD resolution.
Radeon RX6600 XT is highly efficient with a maximum power draw rated at 160W. The current retail price of this GPU is around £237. If you choose to go NVIDIA, the RTX 3060 is a viable alternative. It is slightly more powerful than the RX6600 XT, with a peak theoretical performance output of 13 teraflops (about 30% higher than the PlayStation 5).
3. Motherboard
As we mentioned earlier when discussing processors, AMD’s 500 series motherboards are your best bet to fully benefit from the Ryzen 7 3700X CPU. This newest generation of motherboards offers you increased functionality and versatility. The motherboards have support for PCIe 4.0 and can utilize an increased memory bus. You are also more future-proofed.
There are some important motherboard features that influence the overall performance of your complete gaming system. These RAM and PCI support the type of M.2 SSD slots available and the input/output interface. Considering all these and other factors, the best motherboard to build upon a PS5-equivalent PC gaming system is the ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570.
With features including Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6, and an in-built sound card, ASUS AM4 TUF X570 has everything you need to build a system rivaling and exceeding the PS5.
The motherboard uses an AM4 socket, which is compatible with the Ryzen 7 3700X processor. The X570 motherboard chipset provides you full access to PCIe 4.0 and comes with four RAM slots in a dual-channel configuration. It supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at 5000 MHz when overclocked.
The ASUS AM4 X570 motherboard also features two PCI2 4.0 M.2 SSD slots, enabling you to get the most out of your SSDs. In addition, the motherboard includes heat sinks for each SSD, saving you some money on the already costly SSDs.
Being an ATX motherboard, it is compatible with mid-tower and full-tower cases and a variety of case fan and RGB configurations. The ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570 motherboard costs around £55. Alternative motherboard options include the ASUS Prime X570-P, Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite, and the ASUS ROG X570-E.
4. RAM
The PS5 features two pools of RAM. The primary RAM is 16GB GDDR6 RAM designed with 448GB/s peak RAM bandwidth for maximum gaming performance. The secondary RAM is 512MB DDR4 SDRAM that the console uses to run background tasks. The configuration can clock speeds of up to 14,000 MHz. It’s worth noting that the PS5 shares this configuration between the system memory and graphics memory.
To match the RAM capabilities of the PS5, you need at least 16GB of DDR4 system RAM running at speeds of at least 3200 MHz. These specs should give your gaming PC sufficient bandwidth overhead to handle demanding games and multitasking. Another important factor to consider is CAS latency. The RAM should run with a very low latency – CL16/CL18 or better.
All things considered, a good pick for your PC’s RAM would be the G.Skill Ripsaw V 16GB DDR4 RAM kit. This second-generation DDR4 RAM kit from G.Skill features two 8GB RAM sticks that run at speeds of up to 3600 MHZ with a CAS Latency of 18. You can expect excellent performance from this RAM configuration, which pairs nicely with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors. Retailing at £63, the G.Skill Ripsaw V 16GB RAM kit is highly affordable and perfect for a budget PC build.
5. SSD
The PS5 uses an 825GB Gen 4 NVMe SSD drive. Sony went with this atypical drive size since it was optimal for the 12-channel interface compared to the more common 512 GB and 1TB units. PS5’s SSD has a typical throughput of 8-9 GB/s.
To match the PS5’s storage, any high-speed NVME M.2 SSD would do. The bulk of PS5 games are built around faster storage, and multi-platform games are following suit. It’s recommendable to spend the extra money and go for a 1TB SSD. Modern games take a huge amount of space, and you will find yourself quickly running out of storage space with a 512 GB unit.
ADATA’s 1TB XPG Atom 50 is a great storage option for your PC. It is the company’s flagship SSD in their new line of SSDs for gamers and creators. It is a PC1e 4.0 drive that provides excellent performance at a reasonable price.
The SSD is rated for a maximum throughput of 5GBps read, and 4.5GBps write, right on par with the PlayStation 5’s SSD. It has impressive benchmark scores for booting operating systems and loading games. In addition, it is compatible with the PS5, meaning you can use it to expand your console’s usable storage if you so wish. ADATA XPG Atom 50 is currently available for £63 on Amazon.
6. Power Supply
The power supply (PSU) plays a crucial role in your gaming system’s reliability. Picking an appropriate high-quality PSU is non-negotiable in the PC building world. Cheaping out on your power supply places all your PC components at risk.
Thanks to its custom components and optimization, the PS5 uses less power than an equally powerful gaming PC. Based on the power draws (TDP) of the chosen components, a PSU with a power output of 450W is ideal. The best choice is the Corsair CX450.
This budget-oriented PSU boasts a set of protection features, including voltage regulation modules, LLC resonant converters, and high-quality fans. The PSU is also a highly efficient PSU with an 80 PLUS Bronze rating. The Corsair CX450 currently costs £40 on Corsair’s website.
Total Cost
Going by the current retail prices, the PlayStation 5 equivalent PC components above cost approximately £620. When you add in a budget PC case, which costs about £50, the complete PC gaming system totals around £670.
Overall, Sony’s PS5 offers a higher price-to-performance value with roughly the same performance for about £430. However, purchasing or building a gaming PC offers a lot more benefits. Most importantly, you can easily upgrade later and access much more power without having to buy an entire system.
Other notable benefits include the ability to use your PC for more than just gaming, access to a wider array of cheap games, more customization options, and more peripheral options.