this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
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This generation lacked must play games or technological breakthroughs. It was just kinda... there?
System based exclusives meaning you might not be able to play a game you want to in the future, expensive subscriptiona needed to play online, push to digital DRM controlled games.. it's almost like consoles killed themselves?
Well the alternative is PC gaming, and building a competitive PC aint cheap. I remember on launch people were building computers with similar performance to the xbone/ps4. But now that entry level dGPUs aren't a thing, and even mid range GPUs are expensive you get fucked either way.
The PS5 is at least powerful on launch. The 4 was on par with like a regular APU.
If you're not too stuck on modern AAA titles, PC gaming is cheap. Possibly the cost of the electricity coming out of the wall.
Building a PC that can compete with current console IS cheap
It used to be easy to build a PC that was double the performance of a console for the same price. And it was even easier if you sourced slightly used current hardware. Now you’re lucky to get last gen hardware for a decent price used. The market is garbage.
Back in 2014 you could get brand new motherboards for ~$50, where it’s difficult to find any under $150 that provide decent features. I think the most expensive thing at the time was NAND due to flooded factories but everything else was super cheap.
You know, I just finished building my machine the other day. And yeah it wasn’t cheap, but if you’re willing to forgo Nvidia… It’s actually a lot more affordable than you think. The new AMD’s smoke too.
$1700 all in. 9800x3d, 9070, aorus b650 board, 32gb ram, 2TB SSD, 850w be quiet PSU, a case that’s a bit too big with lots of airflow and built in fans. If I had gone with a 7xxx cpu and shaved other parts down i could’ve easily gotten it down to $1400. Less if I went with a previous gen GPU.
You can build an ok machine for like $800 and a damn solid one for $1100.
Edit: forgot to say I went with a bazzite boot, no windows/dual boot. Played expedition 33 maxed out all settings at 90fps, 75-80 on dips
Personal anecdote. My PC cost me £900 in 2017. I haven't upgraded it since. I have saved a significant amount of money in that time that would otherwise have been spent on PlayStation Plus for the benefit of playing multiplayer and the general higher price of games.
Even if you accept the argument that consoles are significantly cheaper in the first place, the point that PC ownership saves money in the long run is often overlooked.
I've never owned as many games for as little cost as I do now.
And the games that really demand the high-end hardware tend to be pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, not to mention less likely to be as good as the low spec games. I always joke with my friends that I might buy a killer new PC in the next year or so, but my most-played game will still be a 2D game from 2012 that absolutely doesn't need it.
Yeah I definitely over-spec’d my machine but that was largely because I was able to sell some old video and audio equipment I don’t use anymore to fund it. Figured I’d go for a “great for a decade” build. Got lots of slots I can still use for HDD’s, more ram, etc. if needed. And for $1700 it absolutely screams man. Running on bazzite, getting fantastic performance.
Why are people going for Bazzite for desktops? I've got it on a mini PC, and it's great for the living room and travel, but even then the updater still keeps trying to apply an update from April 28th over and over again. Is it a good choice for desktop too? I'm on Kubuntu now but will probably shop around for a new distro with my next PC.
It mimics steamOS very well and comes with a lot of your essential drivers and software ready to go. I was playing expedition 33 within minutes of installing, still haven’t opened the terminal or downloaded anything new.
I started with Pop and got sick of fighting it. It’s a good distro but it’s not ready to game out the box .
A certified refurbished ps5 can be had right at this moment for $399, $450 new. I game on PC for many other reasons but the performance for value is pretty amazing on the ps5
I agree. I was a console guy until this past weekend. My series S was money well spent, like my PS4 before it!
However, I have a way bigger library now with cheaper games (also hundreds of free ones because I share a family library with other big gamers on Steam), it plays and looks better, and in 5+ years I’ll still be rocking AAA games long after the PS5 has sunset.
I am actually a big defender of console gaming. It has a place and can be a very affordable option, especially when Nvidia cards are literally thousands of dollars. But PC gaming is often more economical in the long run if you throw down more upfront and do your research.
Same, yeah I mean once you’re established the actual cost of games on steam is ludicrously small depending on your habits. I’m pretty much locked-in to pc gaming simply for the love of indie titles that more often than not do not get published to consoles. Lots of those games are just straight up free
We also have to consider the value the computer itself serves beyond just gaming. If you’re gonna get a $500 ps5 and you’re already going for an $800-$1200 computer, well hey. You could really get the best of both worlds without affecting the budget. Probably could even save money
But I think there’s also a big group that isn’t in that situation. I know plenty of people who rock like a chromebook and the cheapest xbox. Or people who only play like NBA 2k or something. Or people who play 1-2 big titles a year when they get caught in the hype train, and can enjoy them at 4k60fps for the much lower upfront cost
You can also buy a used PC or laptop or CPU/GPU/..., buying them new when you want good performance for value is nonsense.
Certainly, but we’d then have to compare with the used ps5 market, which dips well below $300.
Can a used pc or a build with used components be had with comparable performance to ps5? Even with a much larger budget of say, $800?
I can’t imagine finding a used PS5 in decent condition for sub-$300 man. That’s a bit far fetched. That’s “buddy who doesn’t need it did me a solid” pricing. I say this as someone who absolutely considers consoles an (often) economical choice. Cheapest I’m seeing is a digital with no controller “for parts or as is” on eBay for $225.
Why not? Like I said the certified refurbished directly from Sony is $399. Plenty of listings up right now for $285-330
But even if we compare new consoles to used PCs I think the conclusion is the same
Show me those listings lol I’ll buy one right now. And “well below” $300 is not $285-$330 dude. I could see $300-$325 refurbished but sub-$300? Rare rare find. Certainly not from a reputable vendor, that’s buying from an individual if you can even find that.
You’re equivocating. In that instance I am responding directly to your claim that it’s far fetched to find a used one around the $300 point.
You’ll notice when you quoted me you also excluded the word “dips”. It’s dishonest for you frame my position as misrepresentative of the market by presenting my numbers without the couching I presented them with.
And why do you want to quibble over $50 when it doesn’t affect the discussion at all? Let’s just work with the higher prices, or even the brand new prices for that matter
I didn't say that man. I think this is also needlessly escalating. Yes consoles are often the more economical choice, no I do not think the prices you are saying you can find refurbished digital PS5's at are realistic, especially not with a controller. But ultimately none of this is that high stakes. Agree to disagree.
That being said if you do have a $285-$330 refurbished PS5 listing you know about I genuinely want to see it for my own purchase lol
Been saying that for four comments now lol
This right here is the main idea, yeah, even when looking at the used market for PC components. Glad we found our way back, and even ended up in complete agreement at the end
As for the help you requested sifting through listings, used and refurbished are different things, you should know. Refurbished direct from Sony is $400, looks like gamestop will do it for $370. This sets a hard cap on used prices, so you’ll notice all the used listings (that actually sell) are below that.
You should also know they have websites for you to track what actually sells, and not just the listings that are left standing for a while because the price is mediocre. Worth checking that out so you know where to watch, and have a good chance of getting a good price when it appears. Best of luck to you
Yes I know the difference between used and refurbished. You brought up refurbished so I went with what you stated. A link to any of these listings or sites would go a long way, I'm not sure why you're so resistant to it but I'll just move on.
Oh, sorry yeah I can clear that up.
The reason I don’t feel like dancing for you is because you’re dishonest, aggressively self righteous, and obviously just want to fight about something meaningless for no reason.
Spend the extra forty bucks for something official if you don’t trust used, and don’t start dumb semantic arguments with people if you’re gonna want their help after. Not that I think you really do, mind. Just pointing out how ridiculous that whole pretense is.
Anyway, yeah. Probably is best if you moved along
Would be a lot easier to share a single link than do this song and dance to attack my character, but you do you. Either way I’d consider how you talk to people. I genuinely want to grab one if they’re that cheap but you seem to think this is some sort of bait or trap.
Have a good one man.
Oh I seem to think you’re a dishonest, instigating time waster, huh? What makes it seem that way, the part where I directly accused you of it?
I think more and more people have done the math on what your break-even is with a PC up front compared to noncompetitive digital console storefronts, needless forced obsolescence, and subscription fees.
I haven't payed to play online in years. Like mid PS4 life. Online only games don't require a subscription.
Switch ate them all while being 2 generations behind
The PS5 thus far has been mainly a final fantasy machine if you ask me. Half the games people play are remasters (or just the straight up original launch version) of PS4 games. It’s coasting heavily on that catalog.
Man, imagine if the PS6 launches and it's just PS4 & 5 ports and """upgrades""" all over again
What, the dumbass case design with the useless flat corner bits awkwardly sticking out of it wasn't innovative enough for you?
Oh, if you're a fighting game player, the innovation is impossible to miss. Now there's only one USB port on the front, so when you play at locals and majors, you have to spin the console around to blow all the heat directly at the people trying to play a competitive match so that their controller cords will reach the additional USBs in back. Also it gets hot enough to melt the connectors that you're plugging in there. Also we all had to update our controllers specifically for PS5 even though our PS4 controllers still functioned just fine. So innovative.