It’s time to kill the Playstation 5

In this video, the speaker compares a gaming PC with the same price as a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and discusses how the PC can compete or even outperform the PS5 in various games, including Sony's first-party titles. The speaker explains that while gaming consoles are traditionally more cost-effective, the continuous advancement in technology and the rise of the used market have made it possible to match a PS5's price and performance with a gaming PC. The video goes on to detail the components and considerations that went into building a PC that can rival the PS5, including the choice of AMD Ryzen 5 5600X for its gaming performance and efficiency, and the Intel Arc A770 GPU for its improved compatibility and memory. The speaker also highlights the challenges faced, such as issues with HDR support on Intel Arc and the need for careful configuration to achieve optimal performance. Despite some games not performing as well with the Intel GPU, the video concludes that with some creativity and effort, it is possible to build a PC that can offer a comparable or even superior gaming experience to a PS5 within the same budget.

Takeaways

• 💰 A gaming PC built for the same price as a PlayStation 5 can compete or even outperform it in many games, including some Sony first-party titles.
• 🛠️ Sony and Microsoft sell their consoles at a loss to lock users into their ecosystem, which includes accessories, subscription services, and software sold at a profit.
• 💡 The initial cost savings of a console can be eroded over time by the need to purchase additional components and services.
• 🎮 The power of a Sony exclusive machine is undeniable, but with advancing technology and market competition, a gaming PC can now match a PlayStation 5's price-performance ratio.
• 🤔 The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, despite having two fewer cores than the PlayStation 5, offers excellent gaming performance due to its Zen 3 architecture and lower power consumption.
• 💻 The choice of a B550 or B450 motherboard can provide a good balance of cost and features, although it may limit future GPU performance due to PCI Express Gen 3 support.
• 💾 A 1TB Samsung 970 EVO+ SSD, while not as fast as the PS5's storage, is a reputable choice that won't significantly impact gaming performance for most PC games.
• 📿 The Intel Arc A770 GPU was chosen for the build, offering 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and improved compatibility, despite some initial performance hiccups.
• 📦 A used or free PC case can save money, with the caveat that it may require some cleaning or minor repairs.
• 🔋 A reliable, used power supply from a reputable brand like Seasonic can be a cost-effective choice, especially considering their long and transferable warranties.
• 🕹️ The gaming PC build may not include the convenience of a console controller or the same level of out-of-the-box optimization for HDR and other features.
• 🛒 Building a PC can be a more time-consuming and riskier process than buying a console, but it offers a customizable and potentially more powerful experience for a similar price point.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the title of the transcript?

The main argument is that it's time to consider the PlayStation 5 obsolete due to the competitive performance and price of a gaming PC with similar specifications.

Why do Sony and Microsoft sell their gaming consoles at a loss?

They do so to lock consumers into their ecosystem, where they can then profit from accessories, subscription services, and software sales.

What is the CPU chosen for the gaming PC build in the transcript?

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is chosen for the gaming PC build due to its excellent gaming performance and lower power consumption.

What is the GPU used in the gaming PC build, and why was it chosen?

The Intel Arc A770 is used, chosen for its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and improved compatibility, despite being a relatively new entry in the market.

What is the storage solution used in the gaming PC, and how does it compare to the PS5's storage?

A 1TB Samsung 970 EVO+ SSD is used, which runs at about 3/5ths of the speed of the PlayStation 5's storage, but is still a reputable name-brand drive.

What is the total cost of the gaming PC build presented in the transcript?

The total cost of the gaming PC build is $475, which is under the target budget of $500.

What are the potential issues with using a second-hand power supply unit in a gaming PC?

While the second-hand power supply unit from Seasonic in the example is still going strong, there's an inherent risk with used components, including potential reliability issues and lack of warranty coverage.

Why did the PC struggle to match the PS5's HDR performance in some games?

The PC struggled due to the Intel Arc GPU's spotty HDR support, which doesn't have proprietary implementations like AMD and Nvidia, and instead uses the standard DirectX implementation.

What is the main advantage of the PlayStation 5 that the gaming PC build in the transcript did not match?

The main advantage is the PS5's included controller, which is considered one of the best on the market, and the seamless HDR support and calibration process.

What is the performance difference in FPS between the gaming PC and the PS5 when playing 'DOOM Eternal'?

After adjustments, the gaming PC achieved 1% lows of 110-115 FPS, which is comparable to the PS5's performance at 120 FPS.

What is the significance of the 'rebar' setting mentioned in the transcript?

The 'rebar' setting, or resizable bar support, is crucial for the Intel Arc GPU to perform its best, affecting the overall gaming performance on the PC.

What is the conclusion about the gaming experience between the PC and the PS5 in the transcript?

While the PC build could match or even surpass the PS5 in some aspects, the PS5 still holds value for its seamless ecosystem, included controller, and consistent performance, especially with its HDR capabilities.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 PlayStation 5 Price Match with Gaming PC

The speaker discusses a PC that costs the same as a PlayStation 5 and compares its gaming performance. They question the common belief that gaming consoles offer better price-to-performance ratios and explain how Sony and Microsoft sell their consoles at a loss to lock customers into their ecosystem. The PC build is sponsored by Seasonic and aims to match or exceed the PlayStation 5's performance with a focus on real-world gaming efficiency, using an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor and a 6600 XT RDNA 2 GPU, despite having fewer cores than the PlayStation 5. The build also includes a 1TB Samsung 970 EVO+ SSD, which, while not as fast as the PS5's storage, should not significantly impact gaming performance.

05:01

💰 Budget-Friendly PC Build and HDR Issues

The speaker details the budget constraints of the PC build and the strategic choices made to stay within the $500 price point. They mention finding a case for low cost or free and the importance of ATX compatibility. The power supply unit from Seasonic is highlighted for its durability and warranty, even when second-hand. The GPU choice, Intel Arc A770, is discussed with an emphasis on its improved compatibility and large memory capacity. The speaker also addresses the need for proper configuration for optimal performance, including enabling above 4G decoding and resizable bar support. They share their experience with the game 'DOOM Eternal,' noting initial performance issues that were resolved through configuration, and compare the PC's image quality and HDR capabilities with the PS5.

10:03

🖥️ PC vs. PS5: HDR and Performance Comparison

The speaker compares HDR support on Intel Arc with AMD and Nvidia, noting that Intel uses the standard DirectX implementation, which may affect the gaming experience. They discuss the performance improvements after enabling rebar and share their observations on image quality, loading times, and the value for money that the PC build offers. The discussion includes the testing of various games, the impact of render scale on performance, and the challenges of upscaling. The speaker also comments on the smoothness of the gaming experience on PC and the differences in loading times between the PC and PS5.

15:04

🕹️ Controller Quality and Buyer Protection

The speaker talks about the omission of a controller from the PC build budget and praises the PS5's controller as one of the best on the market. They provide advice on buying components on eBay, emphasizing the importance of buyer protection and the necessity of testing all purchased items. The speaker also mentions the lack of buyer protection on marketplaces without seller fees and advises on inspecting components for damage before purchase. They compare the sharpness and performance of the PC build with the PS5, noting that the PC build, despite some challenges, offers a comparable experience.

20:05

🔌 Seasonic Power Supply and Marketplace Tips

The speaker praises Seasonic for the reliability of their power supply unit and their long transferable warranties. They promote Seasonic's new Vertex lineup and provide a link for viewers to learn more. Additionally, they reference another video that offers tips on finding good deals and avoiding scams on local marketplaces.

Keywords

💡PlayStation 5

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is Sony's latest gaming console, known for its powerful hardware and high-performance gaming capabilities. In the video, it is compared against a gaming PC of similar price to discuss value for money and performance in gaming.

💡Gaming PC

A gaming PC refers to a personal computer built specifically for playing games. It often has high-end components to handle demanding games. The video aims to show that a gaming PC can match or even outperform a PS5 in terms of performance and cost.

💡Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is a high-performance processor from AMD with eight cores and 16 threads, designed for gaming and productivity tasks. It is mentioned as a component to match the PS5's specifications but is later swapped for a different AMD processor in the build.

💡Zen 3 architecture

Zen 3 is AMD's latest processor architecture at the time of the video, known for its improved performance and efficiency. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, which uses Zen 3 architecture, is chosen for the gaming PC build due to its excellent gaming performance and power efficiency.

💡Intel Arc A770

The Intel Arc A770 is a graphics processing unit (GPU) from Intel's new line of discrete graphics cards. It is selected for the gaming PC build to provide competitive gaming performance and is discussed in terms of its compatibility and performance in games.

💡HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR is a technology that enhances the color and contrast of images to make them more vivid and lifelike. The video discusses the challenges and differences in HDR support between the PS5 and the gaming PC, particularly with Intel Arc GPUs.

💡SSD (Solid State Drive)

An SSD is a type of data storage that is faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives. The video compares the speed of the PS5's SSD with that of the Samsung 970 EVO+ SSD used in the gaming PC build, noting the impact on loading times and game performance.

💡PCI Express

PCI Express (PCIe) is a standard for computer bus used for attaching hardware devices. The video mentions the limitation of the B450 motherboard's PCIe Gen 3 compared to the PS5's more advanced feature set, affecting the potential performance with future GPUs.

💡Seasonic

Seasonic is a company known for manufacturing high-quality power supplies. The video features a Seasonic power supply unit (PSU) used in the gaming PC build and praises its reliability and long transferable warranty.

💡Resizable BAR

Resizable BAR is a technology that allows the CPU to access the GPU's video memory more efficiently. The video discusses the need to enable this feature for optimal performance with Intel Arc GPUs in the gaming PC.

💡Budget Gaming

Budget gaming refers to building or buying a gaming system that offers good performance at a lower cost. The video's main theme is achieving budget gaming by comparing the cost and performance of a custom gaming PC with that of a PS5.

Highlights

A PC with the same price as a PlayStation 5 outperforms it in many games tested, including some Sony first-party titles.

Sony and Microsoft sell their hardware at a loss to lock users into their ecosystem, which includes accessories, subscription services, and software.

The initial savings on consoles can be eroded over time due to the costs of these additional services and products.

Technology advancements and competition have made it possible to match the PlayStation 5's price and performance with a gaming PC.

The gaming PC in the video is powered by a second-hand Seasonic power supply, demonstrating reliability and longevity.

To beat the PlayStation 5, the PC uses an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor with Zen 3 architecture for superior gaming performance.

The PC build utilized energy-efficient components, resulting in savings and reduced need for an overpowered power supply.

The PC build aimed to be replicable at home, targeting prices that are realistically achievable within a week on platforms like eBay.

The Intel Arc A770 GPU was chosen for the PC build, offering 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and improved compatibility.

The PC build faced some challenges with HDR support on Intel Arc, requiring specific configurations for optimal performance.

Despite some games having performance issues, the PC build demonstrated smooth gameplay and competitive frame rates.

The PC build cost $475, undercutting the PlayStation 5 price while offering a similar or better gaming experience.

The PC components were sourced used, which, while saving money, introduced risks such as hardware incompatibilities and lack of warranty.

Seasonic's power supply, even when second-hand, proved reliable and is backed by a long transferable warranty.

The PC build required more effort to source, test, and assemble components compared to the out-of-the-box experience of a console.

The PlayStation 5 includes a high-quality controller in its price, which the PC build did not account for.

The PC build demonstrated that with creativity and patience, a better value gaming experience than a console can be achieved.

The video provides tips for finding good deals and avoiding scams when sourcing PC components from local marketplaces.