Is 2020 the Right Moment to Get a PC? Comparison with PS5

There aren't many specifics that have been revealed about PlayStation 5 so far, one thing we know for sure: the launch of new consoles will also affect the PC market. So is it worth buying a gaming PC in 2020? How much does one as powerful as PS5 cost?

PC equivalent of PS5 – RAM and PSU

A budget Gigabyte motherboard will suffice.

We may have a slight problem with the motherboard. If we want to throw NVMe SSD on PCIe 4.0 interface into the mix, we will need an X570 series motherboard from AMD, as that's the only platform that currently supports the interface. And the very fact that it's so uncommon seems to be speaking against using it. In fact, I'm pretty sure it won't be used. The technology is barely crawling, heat generation is considerable, and all that doesn't even translate into boost in performance. And it's expensive.

So, let's assume a realistic scenario – an SSD with a PCIe 4.0 interface, but the performance is not different from the PCIe 3.0 standard. Thus, we can easily find a suitable motherboard that will support both Ryzen 7 3700x and the NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. This can be, for example, Gigabyte B450m DS3H, which can easily accommodate Ryzen 7 3700X. And it barely costs $70.

Operating memory is pretty much decorative: we will never achieve the performance provided by shared memory that will be used in the PlayStation 5, even with over-clocked DDR4 memory. But let's say we'll opt for something like Crucial Ballistix Sport 16 GB 3000 MHz, which costs about $80. These RAM are excellently over-clocked with second-generation Ryzens, so there will be no problems with an increase in clocks speed. A good choice for someone not interested in overclocking would be G. Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB 3600 MHz CL16 – the price is combarable at $70-80.

A cheap, durable case from SilentiumPC is a good choice in this budget range.

The power supply unit is often overlooked when assembling a PC, and that's a serious mistake. Cheaper items – the so-called "No names" are not a good choice. They distort the theoretical power output, are ineffective, and lack protections. The power supply must come from a legit manufacturer, must be well-tested, have the full range of protection and energy efficiency certificates. Of course, with such a small budget, we will not throw the best designs into the computer, but there are also cheap power sources that can be safely recommended. You can get a 500-watts PSU from brands such as Corsair or EVGA. They come with all the required protections and certificates of efficiency. You can get them for about $40.

The case is not a purely aesthetic issue – it must provide proper cooling and prevent dust from getting inside. With a budget limited to $500, we're not going to get anything spectacular, but the case is similar to the PSUs. You might opt for something like the SilentiumPC Regnum RG4, which comes with two additional coolers. It costs about $60.

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PC equivalent of PS5 – RAM and PSU