Console vs PC Gaming: Which is Better? (2024)

UpdatedJuly 17, 2024inFor Gamers

Every gamer is faced with a choice: PC vs console. Arguing about which one is better is the kind of debate that lights up message boards – which one is less expensive, has the best visuals, or has the best multiplayer competition? If you’re trying to decide between PC gaming vs console, we’ll break down each part of the debate to help you decide what’s best for you.

Whether you want to use a console or a PC, the important thing is to enjoy the game. Considerations like your budget, technical skills, and available upgrades should play a part in making your decision.

PC and console gamers both want the most bang for their buck, but what that looks like and how it’s measured is different for each group. For a console gamer, costs are generally limited to purchasing the console, extra controllers, games, and perhaps online multiplayer passes. For a PC gamer, there’s a wide variety of options to buy if you choose to build your own computer, but not every PC gamer has their own custom-built machine.

Because there’s such a wide variety of possibilities and differences in perceived value, it’s impossible to say either PCs or consoles are more cost-efficient. It completely depends on the individual. The level of customization and performance you’re looking for determines the size your budget needs to be to get the platform you want.

Customization is a key aspect of the gaming experience, allowing players to tailor their setups to their personal preferences. While both console and PC gamers can enjoy a degree of customization, PC gaming typically offers more extensive options.

PC gamers have a broader range of customization options, from selecting components like GPUs, CPUs, and cooling systems to designing unique case aesthetics. This flexibility enables PC users to create highly personalized gaming rigs, whether they prefer sleek minimalist designs or bold, flashy setups. For more inspiration on PC customization, check out our article on PC white builds, which highlights creative ways to achieve a clean and stylish gaming rig.

Another advantage of console gaming is you can keep playing your games without worrying about hardware becoming obsolete. Unlike playing on a PC, which can require upgrades as PC games advance, consoles are built by the manufacturer with the necessary system requirements. However, console manufacturers will release new consoles in line with improvements in technology, so there is still a risk of old consoles not being supported for new games. The amount of time between new console releases depends on the manufacturer. So, console gamers will have to consider whether to upgrade or not when the latest system is released.

Additionally, many console gamers over time will have a collection of consoles to play games across systems. The lack of backwards compatibility, or the ability to play games released for previous generation consoles on newer generation machines, does mean players are often forced to upgrade.

Most of your friends have console systems, too. It’s easy to get friends together to play, and consoles are set up for multiplayer games.

PC gaming historically has been credited as the best for its online multiplayer functionality. However, consoles have since aimed to catch up with improvements with in-game communication and online game sharing, which is great for playing with friends. If it’s multiplayer gaming with friends you’re most interested in, you will need to consider which system your friends play on, as few consoles and games support cross-platform capability.

When deciding which console to purchase, it's essential to research the storage upgrade options available, as some consoles make it harder to upgrade storage. For instance, while the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally allow for easy upgrades with internal SSDs like the newly launched Crucial P310 2230, other consoles may have more restrictive upgrade paths.

For PlayStation users, the Crucial T500 is an excellent choice for expanding storage. This SSD is designed to meet the specific requirements of the PlayStation, offering both increased storage and improved load times. Ensuring compatibility and ease of upgrade can significantly impact your gaming experience, making it crucial to consider these factors when choosing your console.

In addition to internal SSDs, external SSDs can also provide a valuable storage solution. External SSDs like the Crucial X10 Pro are perfect for transferring and expanding your gaming library. By downloading games to an external SSD, you can easily increase your storage capacity and have quick access to a larger library of games without the need to delete old favorites. This flexibility allows gamers to maximize their storage space and enjoy a seamless gaming experience.

The three components that gamers typically invest and upgrade the most often include:

• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) or graphics card which turns data into signals which are sent to the monitor. This data then creates the imagery or video you see on the screen.

• Memory (RAM): where game information is stored to be loaded or retrieved quickly. Here gamers consider how much RAM they might need, the frequency at which data can be transferred and speed (latency) of that information. Modern games generally require either 4GB or 8GB as the minimum RAM, newer games are now requiring 16GB and 32GB which helps ensure the best gameplay experience.What to know more about memory for your gaming PC?Find the best gaming memory for your gaming PC.

• Hard drive or Solid State Drive (SSD) is where game information, data, programs and other applications are stored on the computer permanently and retrieved when required. Most PC gamers prefer a solid state drive, as it provides greater speed, long term durability and reduces power consumption when compared to a hard drive.