The PC vs console debate has been raging on for decades now, with each side having its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. Trying to determine which is better can therefore be incredibly difficult, particularlyfor those who are just getting into video gamesor parents who are thinking about buying a console or a gaming PC for their kids.
To help make things a little easier, the following article will look at some of the ways that a gaming PC is better than a console. Prospective buyers should also take a moment to read through the article linked above, as depending on the things that are most important to them, it may well be thatpicking up a consoleis the best option for them.
1Upgradability
PCs Can be Upgraded Over Time
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series owners canincrease the storage space of their consoles, but that’s about it. If they want improved visuals, they’ll need to wait for the next console generation or the mid-generation refresh, both of which will require them to splash out hundreds of dollars on a brand-new console, which will effectively render their old one obsolete.
However, PC gamers can upgrade their rigs in stages and have plenty of options when they do.New graphics cardsand CPU lines are released all the time, allowing players to either splash out on the latest and greatest hardware or take advantage of the discounts given to older models as newer ones start to hit the shelves. As a result, PC players should never need to buy a brand-new system all in one go, which just isn’t the case for their console-playing counterparts.
2Customization
PCs Can be Customized and Allow Players to Install Mods
Companies like dbrand have helped to bridge the gap a little, as too havesome of the PS5 console covers that Sony has released. However, consoles are still lagging quite far behind PCs when it comes to customization. Whether it’s through their choice of case or their creative use of RGB lighting, PC gamers can make their rigs a lot more eye-catching than the average console without needing to break the bank. And it’s not just hardware they can customize either.
Mods are one of the biggest reasons to make the switch to PC, as they allow players to add brand-new content to their favorite games. Granted, there are a few console ports with partial mod support, but, for the most part,adding new characters to fighting gamesor creating custom quests in RPGs is something that console gamers can only dream of. For PC players, though, it’s very much a reality.
3Performance
PCs Have a Much Higher Ceiling than Consoles
Pound for pound, assuming the latter was built using brand-new parts rather than used ones, a console is going to outperform a comparably-priced PC nine times out of ten. However,PC gaming offers a much higher ceiling when it comes to both framerate and visual fidelity, allowing players to spend more money to vastly improve their gaming experience.
Whether or not these improvements are worth the extra money is debatable, at least if we’re talking bang for the buck. However, this freedom to push past the boundaries of a console will likely appeal to many gamers, especially those who playcompetitive titles in which those few extra frames can make all the difference. They may well be diminishing, but there are definitely returns to be had.
4Productivity
PCs Can Do a Lot More Than Just Play Games
Although efforts have been made to turn video game consoles into home media devices in recent years, they still can’t compete with PCs when it comes to versatility. A PC can be used for a much broader range of tasks, includingphoto and video editing, complex design work, and general internet browsing. PC owners can even mine crypto, allowing them to make money from their systems when they’re not actively using them.
For those who need a computer anyway, building a gaming PC suddenly becomes a much better value proposition. If built using new parts, a $450 PC is going to struggle to consistently keep up witha PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, but a $750 PC (the cost of a basic PC plus a console) is going to be much more competitive, while also allowing users to complete tasks that home consoles can’t.
5Backward Compatibility
PCs Can Play Most Older Games
Backward compatibility is one of the biggest selling points of the Xbox Series consoles, yet this is something that PCs have offered since the early days of gaming. PlayStation and Nintendo owners are forced to rebuy games or hook up old hardware if they want to replay classic titles, and whilst this isn’t the case with Xbox right now, there’s no guarantee that the next Xbox console will offer the same backward compatibility as its predecessors.
Being able to buy physical media is definitely a big plus for console gaming, butdigital storefronts like Steam and GOGhelp to even the playing field quite a bit. Through them, PC players have access to a much larger pool of games than their console-playing counterparts and can rest safe in the knowledge that as long as the digital storefront they purchased them from remains open, they’ll still be able to play those games in years to come.
A high-end PC will almost always outperform a console, sothose looking for the best possible gaming experience should definitely consider going with a PC. Granted, it will almost certainly end up costing them more money, but if they plan on buying a PC for other tasks anyway, the additional cost of putting together a gaming rig isn’t actually too bad. Additionally,PC gaming should appeal to those who like the idea of modding games, which is now easier than ever and can offernear-endless customization in popular titles likeBaldur’s Gate 3andSkyrim. PC is also the best platform for people who enjoy replaying games, aspretty much every PC game ever made can be enjoyed on a modern gaming rig, which just isn’t the case with consoles like the Switch and the PS5.
