If you’re like me, you’ve experienced the ups and downs of gaming consoles. While they offer a straightforward, casual gaming experience, there is much more beneath the surface. After reflecting on the pros and cons, I understand that building a gaming PC is not just more fulfilling but also more economical over time. Let's explore some of the advantages to owning a gaming PC:
The Initial Costs:
When it comes to price, consoles often seem like the more affordable option. With a low starting price—usually around $300 to $500 for newer models—many new gamers jump on board. However, you must consider ongoing expenses. For example, console subscription services range between $10 to $20 each month. Over the course of a year, that can add up to an extra $120 to $240!
Imagine you spend $500 on a gaming console, you pay your subscription every month (for this example we'll use the monthly cost of $15) and upgrade console every 6 years. In total that would cost you $1580 to own an inferior product, whereas if you had instead spend that $1500 on a gaming PC you would be able to play games at much higher settings and higher resolution. Not to mention the vast amount of PC games that are not playable on consoles and the lower cost of games for PC.
In contrast, a gaming PC can be a more stable investment. Once you purchase your system, you have access to sales on platforms like Steam or Epic Games, where games can often be reduced by as much as 90% during major sales. In fact, during the Steam Summer Sale, it's not uncommon to find fantastic games for just $5 to $20, allowing you to build an impressive library without breaking the bank. This is not to mention that Steam and Epic Games do not have any "membership fees" and you can be on the platform completely for free. Unlike gaming consoles which require an ongoing subscription to use.
Upgradeability and customization: A Game-Changer
One major advantage of a gaming PC is upgradeability. Consoles lock you into fixed hardware for several years, forcing you to wait for the next release if you want better performance. For example if you want to experience gaming at higher frame rates or graphical settings, you must purchase a new console every 5-6 years.
Conversely, a gaming PC allows for easy upgrades. I can replace my GPU, add more RAM, or switch to a faster SSD as needed. This adaptability not only extends the lifespan of my gaming setup but also keeps things fresh and exciting. Take the AM4 motherboard platform for example; AMD continues to release new higher end processors for this platform, despite it being released way back in September of 2016. For instance upgrading just your graphics card can significantly enhance your gaming experience, allowing you to run the latest titles at ultra settings.
On top of these benefits, you can build a PC to look however you want it to look. With thousands of manufacturers the options are truly unlimited. Some PC builders go as far as individually painting their own components to look completely unique.
Vast number of games on PC
I've heard statements from console gamers such as "my console has up to 7,000 games!" did you know that the Steam platform alone has over 90,000? PC has more than 10 times the number of games that consoles have, even if you combined them all. The number of "exclusive" titles on PC far outweighs any exclusives that may be on consoles, especially today.
The 'Efficiency Squeeze' of Console
Gaming Consoles are designed to be as cheap as possible as well as compact as possible which limits the ability of the console to play games at higher resolutions and frame rates vs a custom built gaming PC. For example: You can't fit a full discrete graphics card into a gaming console so it must be added into the processing chip, similar to a smartphone. On a gaming PC with a full size case, you can get as large as graphics card as you please. Naturally the ability to have more space for higher end components will always make PCs potential alot better performance wise.
Final Thoughts
While gaming consoles may seem like a convenient choice for casual gamers, building your own gaming PC offers undeniable benefits and in my opinion even saving money over time. Even purchasing a prebuilt PC will benefit you over a console. From long-term savings and outstanding performance to endless customization and upgrade options, the advantages heavily favor PC. That is why PC is still the most popular platform by far. If you haven't considered it before, I highly recommend you look into the possibility of your next gaming rig to be a PC!
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