Building a PS5 Pro-Like PC Would Be Costlier, Says Digital Foundry, with RTX 4070 as the Closest GPU

The recent announcement of the PS5 Pro has sparked controversy, primarily due to its unexpected price point. While the PS4 Pro launched at the same price as the base PS4 ($399), Sony has set the PS5 Pro at $300 more than the base PS5, leaving fans and analysts surprised. Despite the price, many still believe it will sell well, much like the PS4 Pro did in the past.

As the debate over the PS5 Pro’s value continues, some gamers are considering whether building a powerful gaming PC would be a better investment. Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter, in an interview with IGN, addressed this, stating that a comparable PC setup would cost significantly more.

The Closest PC Equivalent: RTX 4070

Leadbetter highlighted that the PS5 Pro’s GPU capabilities are closest to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4070. According to him, "For the GPU you're going to need, considering the enhanced ray tracing and machine learning features, it's almost like an NVIDIA-style feature set but made by AMD." He further explained that the RTX 4060 is roughly comparable to the base PS5, but to match the PS5 Pro’s power, an RTX 4070 would be necessary.

Currently, the cheapest RTX 4070 on the market is priced around $540. However, building a gaming PC with similar performance would require not only the GPU but also a CPU, motherboard, memory, power supply, case, and storage, driving up the total cost significantly.

Long-Term Costs and PlayStation Ecosystem

While building a comparable PC might be more expensive initially, Leadbetter pointed out that there are mitigating factors. For instance, PC gamers don’t have to pay for annual online services or cloud saves, a cost console gamers are familiar with. Over time, these additional expenses could balance out the cost difference between a PC and a PS5 Pro.

Leadbetter also emphasized that the PS5 Pro isn’t aimed at converting PC gamers but at PlayStation enthusiasts who already own a PS5. "The PS5 Pro is designed for those who already have a PS5 but want an upgrade," he said. These players likely have a vast library of PS4 and PS5 titles, making it difficult to switch ecosystems without losing access to their collection.

In conclusion, while the PS5 Pro’s higher price tag may be a point of contention, it is positioned as an upgrade for existing PlayStation users, not as a competitor to PC gaming. Whether it will achieve the same success as the PS4 Pro—despite its cost—remains to be seen.

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