Up For Debate - Next-gen console? Or PC upgrade? What will you choose in 2020?

Written by Neil Soutter on Sat, Jun 13, 2020 5:00 PM
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With the recent reveal of the PlayStation 5, we finally have a good comparison between both Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen consoles. Aside from the price and exact release date, we pretty much know mostly everything to at least start thinking about a decision. But what will you choose in 2020? A next-gen console? Or a PC upgrade? Or maybe even both?

We all know that the PC platform is our favorite, but having to fork out loads of money to upgrade each individual part can get quite pricey, and it can often seem like a console is a more reliable purchase for the price as you don’t need to worry about upgrading it in order to play the latest games.

On the one hand, upgrading your PC might only need a new graphics card, and saving up for one of those can sometimes be the same cost as a console, plus you get the added benefits of the sweet sweet PC system.

On the other hand, you may need to buy a new CPU as well, and sometimes you’ll need to buy a new motherboard with it, or even a new power supply. So by that point the console is the better option, and you can always upgrade your PC a little later down the line.

There’s certainly some benefits and downsides to both options, or maybe you don’t want to risk it and get both so you can play all the console exclusives like the upcoming Demons Souls Remaster when they release.

So what do you think? Will you be upgrading your PC hardware in 2020? Or will you be purchasing a next-gen console? Or both? Let’s debate!

What are you purchasing in 2020?

Which next-gen console would you get?

Our favourite comments:

PC. Always. Nothing to debate here.

velcroboy

This can't be a serious competition, at least between PC and console. However I do think people shouldn't write off the Xbox Series X so quickly. Microsoft could have some aces up its sleeve in the near future as they were on a studio-acquiring spree recently. If you think about it, even in the PS5 event none of the games quite looked next-gen with a wow factor. Even if Microsoft releases its games on PC, it could still be worth it getting an Xbox Series X for those with a limited budget. Not saying the PS5 is bad, just saying its too early to decide.

PhenomFaz

Honestly i have no idea. The hardware this year is looking extra tasty. Makes me feel like i've rushed my GPU upgrade last year xD But to be fair i'm really glad to see the that the industry doesn't stagnate anymore, just wonder how long this will keep going. AMD really gave a nice push to both Intel and Nvidia. Great job.

To make an educated decision i will wait and see what Nvidia and AMD have to offer later this year.

electrino

In 3 years consoles will once again fall behind like crazy

Dragos363

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11:40 Jun-20-2020

Getting a new motherboard next month and then it's waiting for ryzen 4000 chips.
My first ryzen cpu and AMD since the athlon 64.

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14:33 Jun-19-2020

Being PC gamer since 1994 & will be until I die.

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13:03 Jun-16-2020

PC FOR LIFE

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10:59 Jun-15-2020

PCMR! period :D

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11:03 Jun-15-2020

Anyway would do a CPU upgrade to 10700KF if i find a price deal or Ryzen 4000 8/16 at end of the year if available.

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06:19 Jun-15-2020

I probably wont buy anything soon, my pc is enough and will be enough for the next 2 years at least

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03:47 Jun-15-2020

Nothing, at the moment my budget is stretched, i wanted to upgrade to a Ryzen 3700X ( or 4th gen one ) and perhaps maybe a 144Hz monitor at the end of the year however all of my funds will be going to the dentist as I have some issues that were uncovered recently when i started going for the first time in 10 years to the dentist.

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21:44 Jun-15-2020

Know the Feeling, had to put over 1K in 1 year for the dentist but you should do that after its repaired you will feel a lot better and its health above else, you will have a lot of time to upgrade your RIG. :D

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22:12 Jun-14-2020
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21:42 Jun-14-2020

Never had a home console, grew up with a PC. So I'll keep upgrading the PC. It's just an infinitely more flexible platform that you can tailor to your exact needs, rather than deal with what you're given - that includes peripherals, performance and even game-altering/enhancing mods.
It's a no-brainer.

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20:55 Jun-14-2020

This is a pc centric site where do you guys think voting will go you are asking this question in a wrong place.

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19:54 Jun-14-2020

I played on both consoles and PC, but simply the PC cannot be beaten. I know there are some console exclusive titles and I think this is the only reason to buy a console. I prefer PC :) What's your opinion?

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21:59 Jun-14-2020

PC, especially if you have some money to burn, is an infinitely flexible platform that can be tailored to your exact needs - it can range from performance parts, to funky peripherals, to game mods. All that + the versatility to be able to do content creation and work.
I grew up with PCs and that's where I'm sticking.


That being said, while I'm no fan of the home console - I really like portables, like the PSP, 3DS, PS Vita and the Switch - so I own all of those as they are a good compliment to the PC. Mostly modded too, because why wouldn't you.. xD

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19:22 Jun-14-2020

Personally I will likely get both, new hardware for PC and PS5, provided there isn't some reason that will make me change my mind. Next gen consoles have decent performance targets and as gamer, I really don't want to miss out on good games, just because they are PS5 exclusives. Some of best games in current generation were PS5 exclusives, because Sony wanted system sellers,...

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19:26 Jun-14-2020

... not overly monetized get rich quick games. Also while I do like versatility of PC, I am not ultra sensitive to FPS myself, as long as it is at least 60FPS. Yes, more is better, but I still get relatively quickly in territory of diminishing returns. Hence why having both is great for me, so I can play all games, without waiting for Sonys mercy of releasing PC version after generation.

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19:29 Jun-14-2020

As for my general recommendation, get what works best for you. Next gen, especially on release, will likely be competitive with midrange market and it really will boil down to whether you want versatility and customization of PC, or just simple gaming device where you can forget about requirements for one generation, because it will play everything they make for it.

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19:32 Jun-14-2020

As for FPS, if they will stick to at least 60FPS for the vast majority of the games, I would take it just like audio stuff, if you are sensitive, like audiophiles for audio, get really good PC, if not, console is fine. Same as currently low-mid range audio solutions work for most people. If not, you go for high end. So just pick what works for you.

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22:05 Jun-14-2020

Audio is a decent example, but I have something to add, from my own experience: things are only good when you have nothing better. For YEARS I'd listen to crap audio and think I was listening to something decent. Investing some money in proper audio gear made me realize that it was faaaaar from the truth... My eyes would probably catch fire if I tried to play on a PS4 right now, given my rig...but, then again, I have low expectations for my Switch, so the games I get there are alright for what they are... Anyway, I always urge to get the best you can.

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22:08 Jun-14-2020

And the "best" doesn't have to mean "most powerful". If you don't have a lot to spend - perhaps a budget console might work (though there are plenty of PC builds down the line that can make consoles obsolete very quickly, but let's ignore that for now). If you define "best" as "most flexible" - then the PC is your guy, since you can adjust setting for fps or for graphics, use mods, produce content, do work, etc. If you define "best" as "convenient" - perhaps the Switch is your pick!
It's all down to how you define your "best" :)

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15:44 Jun-14-2020

Depends on budget...but I can see people picking up consoles simply because games are better optimized for them, come out first, and are much more efficient and need less maintenance..if you just wanna play then console all the way.

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13:48 Jun-14-2020

I will buy a new laptop and a PS5. The new laptop will be first, though. Already found a good upgrade from MSI featuring a 10th generation i7-10750 paired with an RTX 2070. As soon as the shop I buy my PC stuff has it in stock I'll get out the credit card.


My current laptop is great but it's not future-proof.

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11:59 Jun-14-2020

Just had an amazing chance to upgrade (to i9 9900k, 32gb ram, 1tb 960 pro ssd), so i'll be looking to upgrade my GPU next (1070gtx)

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10:59 Jun-14-2020

new AMD cpu mobo and ddr4 for me this year, then look at maybe the rtx 3070 or wait for the rtx 4070 in 2021

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10:50 Jun-14-2020

next gen games more expensive as well probably £100 to match consoles

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10:39 Jun-14-2020

Let's be realistic PS5 AND Xbox Series X are "PCs" too. So why not buy a real PC so you won't have to pay extra for the multiplayer? Even the exclusives i am sure will come to PC just like the Horizon Zero Dawn. All Xbox Series x games will come to PC so there is no reason to buy it. (However The Xbox Game Pass gives games every moth for a small price).

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10:31 Jun-14-2020

seeing that I just took advantage of some nice discounts on new parts for basically my whole rig I think I know know what my choice is


pics of my new build coming soon

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10:03 Jun-14-2020

Honestly i have no idea. The hardware this year is looking extra tasty. Makes me feel like i've rushed my GPU upgrade last year xD
But to be fair i'm really glad to see the that the industry doesn't stagnate anymore, just wonder how long this will keep going. AMD really gave a nice push to both Intel and Nvidia. Great job.


To make an educated decision i will wait and see what Nvidia and AMD have to offer later this year.

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09:47 Jun-14-2020

In 3 years consoles will once again fall behind like crazy

2

Can They Run... |

| 60FPS, Ultra, 1440p
Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core 3.8GHz GeForce RTX 3090 Zotac Gaming Trinity 24GB 32GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
| 30FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 2600 GeForce GTX 1660 Gigabyte OC 6GB 16GB
| 60FPS, Low, 1080p
Ryzen 5 5500U 6-Core 2.1GHz GeForce GTX 1650 16GB
| 60FPS, High, 1440p
Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core 3.8GHz Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB 32GB
| 60FPS, Medium, 720p
Core i5-10300H 4-Core 2.50GHz GeForce GTX 1650 8GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Core i9-9900K 8-Core 3.6GHz GeForce GTX 1060 Gigabyte Mini ITX OC 6GB 32GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core 3.6GHz Radeon RX 5700 PowerColor Red Dragon 8GB 16GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 60FPS, Ultra, 4k
Core i9-9900K 8-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Asus ROG Strix OC 11GB 32GB
| 30FPS, Ultra, 1440p
Ryzen 5 2600X 6-Core 3.6GHz GeForce GTX 1080 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 60FPS, Ultra, 1080p
Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core 3.7GHz Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB 32GB
| 30FPS, Low, 720p
Core i3-2367M 1.4GHz Intel HD Graphics 3000 Desktop 4GB
| High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 2600 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti MSI Gaming 8GB 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
Core i7-7700K 4-Core 4.2GHz Intel HD Graphics 630 Mobile 24GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 30FPS, Low, 1080p
Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz GeForce GTX 970 MSI Gaming 4GB Edition 16GB
100% Yes [2 votes]