What gaming PC is equivalent to PS5 & PS5 Pro: a DIY PC with equal performance
A PS5 is not a powerful machine, although impressive for its size and performance
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The PS5 Pro has been announced at PC-level prices, costing $699. It is relatively easy to build an equivalent PC that can do so much more for this price point – and that excludes the extra cost of the stand.
Sony has gone all Apple on us and has announced the PS5 Pro at a staggering $699, when you take a look at the specs, you can see there is actually a difference in hardware but is it drastic enough to warrant such a hike in price over the standard model? We don’t think so. For that money, you could build a PC that likely performs the same, and allows you to do, well, pretty much anything you want.
The only closely guarded secret of the PS5 Pro is exactly what GPU it has. Sony is boasting 67% more computing units and 28% faster memory which apparently results in 45% faster rendering compared to the standard PS5 console. The standard PS5 has 36 CUs, says TechPowerup, which is about equivalent to an RX 6700. However, leaks suggest that the new GPU could be RDNA 3-based, making it closer to a 7700XT / 7800XT.
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
- GPU: PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE B550M K AM4
- Memory: Corsair VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
- Storage: TEAMGROUP MP44L 1TB (R/W Speed up to 5,000/4,500MB/s)
- Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L
This is a build we put together to tackle the PS5 Pro for less than the price of one. This build features the 5600 and the 7700 XT, which is more than enough power to contend with Sony’s new console.
- Cheaper than the PS5
- More versatility
- Upgradable
- Save money over time with PC games being cheaper on average
- Cross platform lets you play more games with console than ever
- Games won’t be as optimised
- Worse controller support
- No (or have to wait for) PS exclusives
The PS5 Pro specs
It’d be a good idea to understand the specifications of the PS5 Pro before we dive into creating a competitor PC for it, I want to dub it the PC5, but I don’t know how my editor will respond to that. Anyway, let’s list those PS5 Pro specs.
According to Games Radar, these are the specifications of the PS5 Pro:
| Component | Specifications (PS5 Pro) |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen Zen 2 (8 cores, 16 threads, 3.5GHz) |
| GPU | Unknown (7700XT / 7800XT equivalent) |
| Memory (RAM) | 16GB GDDR6 at 448GB/s |
| Storage | 2TB SSD (5.5GB/s read) |
| Output | 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, 8K |
| WiFi | WiFi 7 |
| Dimensions | H: 10.4cm | W: 35.8cm |
| Price | $699.99 |
It’s worth noting that the PC we build will not be able to game at 8K. Besides, if you do have an 8k display you have enough money not to be moaning about the price of the PS5 Pro.
Building a PC equivalent to the PS5 Pro (the PC5)
We’ve opted for components that closely match those of the PS5 Pro, we’re not able to compete with the level of optimization that console games get for that specific hardware, but we make up for it by being able to perform other tasks.
Here is the PC PS5 Pro equivalent build that we have opted for:
| Component | Specifications (PC5) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 5 5600 |
| GPU | Radeon RX 7700 XT |
| Memory (RAM) | Corsair Vengeance DDR4 16GB @ 3200MHz |
| Motherboard | GIGABYTE B550M K AM4 |
| Storage | TEAMGROUP 1TB M.2 (R/W 5,000/4,500MB/s) |
| Case | Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L |
| Price | $691 (subject to change) |
Note: We only managed to get this price leveraging discounts on Amazon, we tried to avoid them as much as possible, but the non-sale price of this build is up around $70. You may have to shop around to find the best deals (good practice anyway)
Here we have managed to put together a build that will have just as much power as the PS5, if not slightly more. This comes from the Zen 3 CPU, a full generation ahead of the CPU in the PS5. As we mentioned before, games are incredibly optimized for the hardware in the PS5, so we have to overshoot a little to compare.
This is obviously not the most exciting build in the world, as many areas could be improved, but generally speaking, when compared to the PS5 Pro, the PC5 does well. If you want more storage, as the PC5 only has 1TB currently, then that will have to come in the form of an upgrade. However, we have included an SSD with similar speeds.
Why have we chosen these components?
With the selection we have, well, selected, we need to explain why we have chosen these components. It appears as though we have just chosen a lot of these components for the cost value, but it’s more complex than that, and we have taken a lot into consideration
GPU
As we mentioned before, a little overshoot is required to ensure the same performance on the PC as on the PS5. While the PS5 Pro can game at 4k, we can also with the help of FSR build into the 7700XT so it won’t be native, but it’s still achievable.
This GPU is RDNA 3-based and it has 54 compute units, which is just shy of the PS5 Pro’s 60, but the 7700XT has the advantage of being a full-sized card with full-sized cooling. Overclocking is definitely an option to close the gap. If you want to know more about the 7700XT, you can check out our review of it.
CPU
As for the CPU, we’ve opted for something a little punchier than the Zen 2-based CPU found in the PS5 Pro. We have a 3.5GHz 6-core, 12-thread CPU that’s based on the Zen 3 architecture, which offers an IPC improvement of around 19%. The PS5 Pro may be winning in terms of CPU cores, but it’s not in core power.
Memory
Memory comes in at the same capacity, but nothing can beat that blistering 448GB/s peak transfer rate that GDDR6 offers. To put it into perspective, our pathetic desktop DDR4 can only manage about 25GB/s, but it’ll be fine for this build.
Not even DDR5 hits speeds close to that of the PS5 Pro, it’s just not that important when speaking in terms of a PC, but it looks horrifically one-sided when both speeds are placed side by side.
Storage
Ok you got us, the PS5 Pro has 2TB of storage rated at 5.5GB/s. We have chosen an M.2 SSD with 1TB rated at 5GB/s sometimes you just can’t have it all. This was purely a cost sacrifice, there’s no gigga brain move behind this.
I reject the idea that an extra 500mb/s peak transfer rate makes a massive difference when you’re already talking about 5GB/s, after all, it’s 1/10 of the speed. Nothing transfers at a constant speed it fluctuates as and when specific buffers and bandwidths are filled regardless. We’re confident that you could upgrade this PC with the same M.2 that transfers at 5.5GB/s and feel very little difference.
That covers the bulk of the components that make a difference in terms of performance, now let’s move on to possible upgrade paths.
Upgrade paths for future-proofing and better performance
First things first, these are optional, the PC is already equivalent to the PS5 in terms of power, exceeds in some areas even. These are just suggestions for when you want more out of your PC.
-
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Cores:: 8
- Thread: : 16
- Boost speed: : 5.0GHz
- Cache:: 96MB
- TDP: : 120W
-
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
- Core Clock Speed: 1.5 GHz base, 2 GHz game, 2.4 GHz boost
- Stream processors: 5,376
- Memory Size: 20GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 276 x 135 x 51mm
- PSU Required: 750W
- TBP: 315W
We’d first take the 5600 and change it to a 5800X3D – you’re getting around the same performance in productivity workloads but the gaming performance is on par with the likes of the 12900KS. However, this is only recommended for those of you who want to stay on AM4 for a while yet. If you want a real upgrade down the line, grab a 7800X3D and move to AM5.
For the GPU, I’d say try and get a 4070 Ti or a 7900 XT, both are comparable and are a little faster than the RTX 3090. Yes, it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but far worth it after a year or so of owning your PS5 Pro equivalent.
Of course, you’ll need a different motherboard and set of DDR5 memory if you decide to move to AM5, but it matters less about specific models when you get to those components. Just get whatever offers you the features that you need, and that will fit your case.
If you were to build this build into the case that we have selected, with the 7800X3D, the 7900 XT, the AM5 motherboard, and DDR5, it’ll cost around $1,380 but that’s without any sales. The PS5 Pro alone will cost over $800 with the stand, but this PC is probably 1.5 – 1.7 X times better if we had to ballpark it. And it’ll likely be able to play games 5 – 7+ years into the future.
What gaming PC is equivalent to PS5?
Before we make some suggestions, let’s take a look at what is inside the PS5. The soon-to-be-superseded PS5 is still a very powerful console, featuring a custom AMD CPU based on the Zen 2 architecture. The CPU has 8 cores, 16threads, a 3.5GHz core clock, and features a 7nm lithography.
Supporting this is the GPU, an AMD processor based on the Oberon graphics processor, featuring 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. These are not bad specs at all, however, when trying to match it with a PC, the performance will not live up to your expectations. There are certain graphics cards required to run new games in 4K, some of which cost more than twice as much as a PS5 bundle.
Of course, you can use the prebuilt gaming PC above as a decent PS5 equivalent. However, if you aren’t up to building a DIY PC, then feel free to take a look at some of the following prebuilt options. Remember though, prebuilt custom PCs come with a premium, so expect pricing to be over that of the PS5 & PS5 Pro.
-
Skytech Gaming Nebula Gaming PC Desktop (13400F & 4060)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060
- RAM: 16GB DRRM4 3200MHz
- PSU : 600W
-
iBUYPOWER Trace Mesh Gaming PC Computer Desktop TMI7N46T01
- CPU: Intel Core i7-14700F
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti
- RAM: 32GB DDR5 560MHz
- PSU: Unknown
Conclusion
At the end of the day, no matter what you pick, you are probably going to have a good time. Obviously, we recommend going for the PC, as we’ve been PC games for a long time, but long enough to know that there is value to a console, but whether that value equates to $699 is up to you.
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
- GPU: PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE B550M K AM4
- Memory: Corsair VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
- Storage: TEAMGROUP MP44L 1TB (R/W Speed up to 5,000/4,500MB/s)
- Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L
This is a build we put together to tackle the PS5 Pro for less than the price of one. This build features the 5600 and the 7700 XT, which is more than enough power to contend with Sony’s new console.
- Cheaper than the PS5
- More versatility
- Upgradable
- Save money over time with PC games being cheaper on average
- Cross platform lets you play more games with console than ever
- Games won’t be as optimised
- Worse controller support
- No (or have to wait for) PS exclusives
