It’s been a few days since the announcement of the PS5 Pro, and the console certainly shows promise with its range of features, specifications, and advanced technology. However, its steep price has led to mixed reactions from the gaming community, reigniting the debate over whether it’s better to buy a PC with performance comparable to the PS5 Pro, or just go for Sony’s upcoming console, set to launch on November 7.

Richard Leadbetter, the founder of Digital Foundry, addressed this question after an IGN journalist asked for his opinion. According to Leadbetter, “it will probably cost you a little bit more money to build a PC that matches what the PS5 Pro will deliver.” He explains, “The GPU that you’ll need, if you look at the whole picture of all the components—enhanced ray tracing, which no AMD GPU currently supports, the machine learning block that AMD GPUs also lack—it resembles an NVIDIA feature set, but it’s designed by AMD.”

PS5 Pro or PC?

The choice between a PS5 Pro and a PC depends largely on the type of gamer you are and which device best fits your needs. A PC offers several layers of complexity compared to a console, which provides the simplicity of plugging it into your living room setup and playing any game with ease. On the other hand, a mid-range or high-end PC allows for higher resolutions and frame rates, free multiplayer, and access to cheaper or free games through various digital stores (like Steam, GOG, Epic Games, etc.).

Digital Foundry suggests that the argument for switching to a PC is more compelling in regions like Japan or Europe, where the price is higher compared to places like the U.S. Leadbetter also highlights the consideration of your existing game library; if you’re a PlayStation owner thinking of switching to a PC, you may need to leave behind all your purchased games. For Nintendo Switch owners, however, this isn’t a concern, and they might find the switch easier to make.

“We might be slightly off here, because if you look at the PS5 Pro, it’s aimed at new buyers or people who already have a PlayStation 5 but are willing to upgrade,” Leadbetter continues. “I think these people will likely have a library of PS4 and PS5 games, and transitioning from the PlayStation ecosystem to PC means leaving behind that entire collection.”

Ultimately, what’s best for you depends on your personal tastes, preferences, gaming setup, and needs. Many factors come into play, but it’s clear that the cost difference between a PS5 Pro and a PC with similar performance has narrowed when you consider various aspects. The PlayStation 5 Pro is priced at 800 euros, but when you add the vertical stand (30 euros), the detachable disc drive (120 euros), a year of PlayStation Plus Essential for multiplayer (72 euros), and a major launch title (like GTA 6, which will cost at least 80 euros and won’t be available on PC at launch), the total comes to approximately 1,100 euros.

However, if you already have peripherals like a good 1080p or 1440p monitor, you could build a PC with equivalent performance for around the same amount, 1,100 euros. If you have a substantial library on the PlayStation Store, value convenience, prefer gaming on a console, and have a TV that supports PS5 Pro features like HDR, VRR, and 4K, the PS5 Pro might better suit your needs.

In other scenarios, a PC could be the better choice if you enjoy customizing and upgrading components (like RAM, CPU, GPU, etc.), having access to a wider variety of games (via multiple digital stores), installing mods, enjoying free multiplayer, and if you’re comfortable spending hours gaming at a desk.