I've been playing on consoles for years and currently have a PS4, but I'm interested in switching to PC because of Steam's game library and the possibility of playing flight simulators. With GTA 6 on the horizon, I'm also wondering whether I should upgrade to a PS5 or put the same roughly €650 budget toward a complete gaming PC setup. I don't know much about PC hardware, so what kind of performance and parts could I realistically expect at that price? Would it be a decent gaming machine, or would a PS5 offer a much better experience for the money?
3 Answers
At the same purchase price, a console generally delivers more gaming performance because the hardware and software are optimized together. A €650 PC can absolutely be capable, but if that amount has to cover the entire setup, including the computer and possibly peripherals, it probably won’t outperform a PS5 without careful shopping or used components.
For this budget, a PS5 will usually give you the better plug-and-play gaming experience. A PC can match or beat it, but you’ll probably need to buy at least some used parts, especially the graphics card, and spend time assembling, configuring, and tweaking the system. Also keep in mind that GTA 6 is expected to arrive on consoles first, with the PC version likely coming later.
A carefully chosen build could fit the budget and perform around the PS5’s level or a little better. For example, you could pair a modern budget CPU and platform with a used Radeon RX 6700 XT for around €200. The exact parts aren’t essential, but you should expect to rely on second-hand hardware somewhere in the build. PC also gives you more control over graphics settings, upscaling, and frame-generation tools, although getting the best results may require research and troubleshooting.
That makes sense. I was considering switching to PC and waiting for the PC version, but I mainly wanted to know whether €650 could still build something genuinely good for gaming.