Key Takeaways
- Consider a gaming PC over PS5 Pro with a similar price for more capabilities.
- PCs offer flexibility in graphical settings and advanced upscaling technology.
- Pick hardware like RX 7700 XT and Ryzen 5 5600X for a PS5 Pro equivalent PC at around $850 total.
Traditionally, consoles have always been cheaper than PCs, but with the launch of the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro, it seems like this is no longer the case. If the price is basically the same now, perhaps you should consider switching to a gaming PC that can do much more than just play games.
It’s All About the Graphics Card
The biggest difference between the regular PlayStation 5 and the 5 Pro is the GPU. The new GPU has 67% more compute units, which translates to an approximate 45% performance uplift compared to the PS5. The regular PS5 allows players to choose between performance and graphical fidelity mode, and the whole point of the Pro is to deliver both simultaneously. This is in addition to the new PSSR AI-upscaling technology that aims to deliver up to 4K 120 FPS and 8K 60 FPS, perfect for your fancy living room TV.
The great thing about PC gaming is that you aren’t limited to a performance slider. You can mix and match in-game settings to strike the perfect balance between graphical fidelity and smoothness. Moreover, many games allow for additional game file tweaks and mods that allow you to get even better performance without significantly compromising graphics. As for upscaling technologies, the PC is already a few generations ahead of the PS5 Pro. DLSS on NVIDIA, XeSS on Intel, and FSR with the new AFMF 2 on AMD are all solid options, especially for 1440p and 4K gaming.
With all that in mind, let’s pick a graphics card. The regular PS5 uses a proprietary AMD RDNA 2 GPU, so the closest card is the AMD RX 6600. For the PS5 Pro, we’re aiming for a GPU that’s roughly 50% better. Based on my calculations, the following graphics cards (with current pricing) should offer performance on par with the PS5 Pro:
Specs-wise, we’re still not completely sure which GPU the PS5 Pro will use, but it’s most likely 60 CUs (Compute Units) based on RDNA 3 with some unreleased RDNA 4 technology. Based on those specs, the RX 7800 XT with its 60 CUs based on RDNA 3 would be the closest equivalent, but the card also has 16 GB of VRAM, so I’m fairly sure it’ll be more powerful than the PS5 Pro. That makes the RX 7700 XT the closest equivalent to the PS5 Pro.
CPU and Motherboard
Based on what we know so far, the PS5 Pro seems to use the same CPU as the PS5, which is essentially a proprietary AMD Zen 2 CPU from 2019. It’s an 8-core, 16-thread CPU clocked at 3.5 GHz, though the PS5 Pro will reportedly support a high-frequency mode that goes up to 3.85 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X ($165.00 on Amazon, $90.00 on Newegg without cooler and box) is almost identical specs-wise, except that it’s actually better thanks to the higher clock speed. Some other options include the following:
The older CPU in the PS5 Pro is actually good news for us because we can get away with a much cheaper CPU and motherboard combo if our sole goal is to build a PS5 Pro equivalent PC. Zen 2 CPUs use the mature AMD AM4 platform, which is still relevant and much cheaper compared to when it was first released.
As for the motherboard, it doesn’t matter that much which model you pick, as long as it’s compatible with your CPU. There are far too many motherboard options for me to list here, so read our guide on how to choose a motherboard and pick a model that has all the features you need. Expect to spend around $80–$120 on the motherboard.
RAM and Storage
Just like the CPU, the PlayStation 5 Pro doesn’t feature a significant RAM upgrade. It features 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, with 13.7GB available for developers, up from the standard PS5’s 12.7GB. It also has 28% more bandwidth, which adds a bit to the Pro’s performance.
We’ll ignore the GDDR6 aspect of the PS5’s RAM because your options on PC are limited to DDR4 and DDR5 (depending on the motherboard and CPU you chose previously), with varying speed and timing specifications. The most important thing is that you get at least 16GB of reasonably fast RAM. If you aren’t on a tight budget, I strongly recommend going for 32GB of RAM. RAM is reasonably cheap, and you’ll definitely notice the difference in open-world games and when multitasking. Here are some options for RAM:
As for storage, the PS5 Pro uses a 2TB NVMe, which is double the capacity of the standard PS5. There are plenty of options to choose from, and the WD Black 2TB SN770 NVMe ($119.00 on Amazon, $118.99 on Newegg) is one of the best.
Case and PSU
PC cases can get fairly small, but your PC is still going to be quite a bit larger than the PS5 Pro, which is only slightly larger than the Slim. If you pick an ITX or microATX motherboard, you can get a reasonably small mATX case. For ATX, your options are limited to mid- and full-tower cases. There are many cases to choose from, so I’ll leave it to you. Try to find one that comes with fans to save money, but you can also just buy a couple of high-quality case fans.
As for the PSU, there’s no reason to go overkill. Just buy something that’ll have sufficient juice to power your PC. Based on the CPU and GPU options from above, you really don’t need to go above 650W, and even that leaves some wiggle room for more. The case and PSU will each set you back around $40–$60, so prepare around $120.
Peripherals
The peripherals are probably the most overlooked cost of a gaming PC. I won’t discuss monitors or TVs because you’ll also need one for a PS5 Pro. The same goes for headphones. I’m talking about the controller, which the PS5 Pro graciously includes in its $700 price tag. If you want to get the PS DualSense controller for your PC, it’ll set you back $74.99, though you should really go for an Xbox controller anyway.
You’ll also need a keyboard and mouse. The Redragon S101 is a decent set that currently costs $39.99, but you can also go cheaper with the $19.99 CHONCHOW combo. Remember, you get what you pay for with peripherals, and there are many high-end options to choose from if your budget is expandable. The Logitech G502 is my go-to mouse that can be had for $44.99, and the Keychron C3 Pro is a phenomenal mechanical keyboard that only costs $36.99. Also, don’t forget to grab a cheap mousepad!
You have lots of options when it comes to building a PS5 Pro equivalent PC. I recommend the RX 7700 XT and Ryzen 5 5600X GPU+CPU combo; if you opt for that, the PC will cost you around $850 in total. This effectively proves my argument that the PS5 Pro is a bargain. Then again, you could opt for used hardware and peripherals to save hundreds of dollars.
Also, a PC is for more than just gaming. Not to mention that it’s more flexible in terms of upgradability, as you can easily add more RAM, upgrade to a better GPU, and reuse parts for your next build. Plus, you make use of Steam sales and enjoy access to an endless selection of phenomenal indie games.
