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Is PC gaming really cheaper than console gaming?

Mira Yurizaki

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Oh boy, I'm going to stir up the hive with this entry.

 

I found myself in a discussion on another gaming website where the article was originally for discussing the PS4 Neo, and the comment train went on discussing the implications of if consoles do follow the hardware refresh model like cell phones and such. Or rather, if you're going to have to spend $400 on the latest and greatest thing, doesn't this drive the value of console gaming down even more? So I want to look into this topic a bit further just to see what the cost of PC gaming is to console gaming over time.

 

But first we need some ground rules to establish clearly defined goals, otherwise the goal posts will be moved.

  • Let's start from zero, today. Like you've had no interest in playing video games so you never had systems dedicated to it. But now you do.
  • I am not considering game prices to be a factor. But you may go "well that's not fair, because I can buy lots of PC games for cheap when they go on sale on Steam, GOG, origin, etc." and that's the thing. You can also wait for any console game to go on sale, not to mention other perks that some online membership services provide. PS+ for instance gives you free games and rotates through discounts. Plus I can also get any new game for 20% off from Best Buy because I'm part of their gamer's club. Basically, if I'm going to consider game prices, they must be at their release price, otherwise given enough time and patience, you can pay whatever you'd like for the game.
    • And then there's also the question of if I'm counting AAA titles, indie titles, etc.
  • With that out of the way, hardware must be purchased new and from official retail channels. Windows also has to be bought in the same fashion.
    • Regarding Windows, its licensing rules must be followed.
  • Peripherals are not included in cost. For consoles this presents an unfair advantage because you're likely to have an HDTV anyway. Whereas if your computer needs were on a laptop and you get a desktop, it'll easily add another $150-$200 to get a gaming desktop.
  • Selling back to the second hand market will not be considered due to the uncertainty of how much you'll get back.

 

In the console side, let's assume that if they are going to periodic hardware refresh route, it's going to be every two years and the price is going to stay at $400.

 

For a computer, let's go with a decent budget gaming build I cooked up on PC Part Picker.

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($125.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI B150M Gaming Pro Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Red 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($60.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING Video Card  ($254.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($43.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit  ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $785.87
 

This should last us a solid four years before the processor becomes a little dicey in performance and reviews on the i3-6100 point to it being able to push at least 50FPS  at 1080p with a high-end video card.

 

The real question now becomes how often will you upgrade? If you do the silly thing in most peoples eyes and upgrade the console  once a new refresh comes out, then that comes out to $800 after four years. If you do the same with a video card though, and you should be purchasing a video card that cost the same if not higher in order to have an appreciable upgrade, you'll be spending $500. However since the computer in four years is going to show its age, if you also decide to build another computer, you're looking at another $500 to replace everything. So total cost after four years with a two year upgrade plan:

 

Console: $1200

Desktop: $1285 if you don't build a new rig, $1785 if you do.

 

It ends up costing the same amount if you don't build new computer to replace the one you built, otherwise it'll cost a lot more than console gaming. If you end up waiting the full four years before upgrading anything, you're still looking at:

 

Console: $800

Desktop: $1035 if you don't build a new rig, $1535 if you do.

 

This also includes the cost of rebuying Windows since the first machine had an OEM copy. An OEM copy means the license is tied to the motherboard and cannot be transferred. If we bought the retail copy for $120, we would save the cost of rebuying it.

 

There's just two snags that I didn't mention:

  • Consoles include a controller. This alone is a $60 value to the consumer meaning the console itself (minus the HDMI cable because they're like $10 on Monoprice), the console itself could be worth $340.
  • Consoles also can play Blu-Ray media. If I were to make this as much of an apples to apples comparison, I would have to add a Blu-Ray drive (an ASUS BC-12D2HT, to match the 6x performance on both the XB1 and PS4) and software to play it. There's also the question of playing. If you want the full Blu-Ray experience, you'll have to fork over money for a player like CyberLink PowerDVD. Otherwise VLC and some other free media players can play Blu-Ray movies. But at the minimum, you're looking at whatever the cost of a Blu-Ray drive is.

The conclusion here about whether or not PC gaming is cheaper, costs the same, or costs more really depends on the upgrade cycle. For this comparison I was trying to keep things as equal as possible in regards to the upgrade cycle. But the results can be skewed. What if the console upgrade cycle was every two years but the PC upgrade cycle every four? Then PC gaming becomes cheaper. But most console gamers don't do that. And certainly most PC gamers don't upgrade that frequently either.

 

On the hardware side at least, the conclusion is there is no answer. You can say one is cheaper than the other by setting whatever upgrade cycle you want.

 

But for the sake of conversation, let's look at the games. Immediately the PC wins out because it can in some form or another play any game made on x86 from 1981 when the IBM 5150 was released to today. However, I'm also under the impression that for someone who just recently got into play video games, they probably won't care about 99% of the library made before the turn of the millennium... So we'll just stick that as a data point.

 

While one could say PC gaming has an advantage in the retail sector because of Steam's famous sales with all the other distributors getting on the act (Like GOG, Origin, etc, heck even Origin sometimes gives out games for free), I could also point you to a perk that console gamers have access to: PlayStation Plus. In addition to a month-to-month rotation of discounts, six games on all of Sony's current platforms are free. As in, you just have to download it and it's yours forever. You still have to have a PS+ account to play it, but it's in your library forever. Assuming Sony can rotate a unique game every time, you're looking at 72 games a year. Granted you may not own a PS3, PS4, and Vita (or a PS4 and Vita), but the potential is still there. PS+ is also $60/yr, so for the cost of one new AAA game, you can potentially get 72 games. I don't know what Microsoft offers, but I'm sure they have a similar deal.

 

With that in mind, I would say neither side has a definite advantage to gaming potential.

2 Comments

Ok will be a long text and i know i will have a shitton of gramma mistakes in it. 

Englisch is not my native language but this is my sighth of the console vs pc in the future.

 

PS. that pc can be built much cheaper but coming to it back a lil bit later

 

The console companys made the next big step. Announcing a faster version of their console like the slim.

But instead of beeing thinner its more powerful. The had a lifecycle of 3 years. Consoles arent made for 7-9 years

nowaydays and theese times are over. 

 

I just searched for the release of the PS4 Neo und found something with end 2017 (dont know if correct).

that will be a lifespan of 4 years but theese should to be seen like a 2 model concept. If you have a 1generation older

version it should be backwardscompatible. In reality it will be like low graphicsettings on pc = newer version of console

means higher detailsetting like on pc again.

 

So you get 8 years of using it if we think that the 2.Gen. version will come 4 years later again.

 

To the PC Build.

 

If you give a crap on the design and are willing to buy 2.Hand parts

 

Search your favorite markets for used computers that are prebuild or buy the parts piece by piece.

 

-i5 2-5 Gen somethingblablabl K

-on a solid motherboard up to 16gbRAM minimum

-some PSU with enough connectors 

-Win7 License

-8Gb Ram (that is enough for the start and can be upgraded by again a cheap but identical 8gb modul)

-some older ssd (it doesent has to be the newest und the fastest with inprinted design blabla bla)

 

Your beauty is your Graphiccard. The GC is a good choice. It will generate enough Power to play games like really good.

This Card will last you at least 4-6Years without problems (with decreasing quality as age of system)

 

The components just have to work good but the serious business is taking place at the GC.

 

You dont wanted to talk about games and im fine about that. This is just my technical sight of this discussion.

My advice would be throw in i dont know about in european prices and values 500€ -600€ and you have a better system

and while you have a basecomputer now, cheap upgradeable system.

 

With your card you are likely to play nearly everything in Ultra for some time while the consoles are stuck for now.

It could happen that the next console are good for the masses and a lil bit more optimized games will really look good.

But i dont think that the could be much better then what your GC could deliver.

Just my 2cents.

 

i know my grammar is a absolute chaos but didnt want to write here for hours.

 

 

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And therein lies the problem with this discussion: there's too many open variables that people will skew in order to make their side look better. For example, you mentioned the second hand market. Guess what console buyers can do? Buy second hand if they want to. Which is why I set some strict, specific guidelines on my comparison.

 

If you're going to start price comparing, you have to tie up as many open ended variables as possible. Otherwise your biases will start playing in and your argument will be weak.

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