When it comes to gaming, PC really is the apex platform. PC hardware allows games to run smoothly at high resolutions and high framerates. That being said, in order to achieve such a level of visual fidelity, one must invest quite a bit of money in building or purchasing a gaming-capable PC. 

While PCs are definitely the most powerful platform, the current-gen consoles are also very potent gaming machines, so it’s easy to see why people are often confused by whether or not the jump from console to PC is worth it. To answer that question, you need to ask yourself “when is a PC better than a console, and is that important to me?”

To help you answer this question, we’ve compiled a list of the most obvious wins that the PC has over all three current consoles.

Graphics 

Even a PS4 Pro struggles to touch a mid-ranged gaming system. That’s right, an average PC can run circles around the PS4 pro. Affordable graphics cards like the RTX 2060 can run AAA games at ultra-detail in 1080p constantly hitting the 60 fps mark, and even run graphical-intensive titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K with 30-50 fps. 

While you might not be impressed by these results, remember that this is just a mid-tier GPU. Also, PC releases of console games have improved graphics, so the games will look even better than they did on the PlayStation or Xbox. 

Variable refresh rate technology is also available on PC if you have a compatible monitor. This means that if you’re experiencing frame rate drops, the monitor’s refresh rate will match your current frame rate to give you a smooth experience.

Customization

You can make a gaming PC build that’s tailored to your budget and your preferences. While consoles have locked system specs and you can only pick meaningless things like case color and form factor, desktop PCs allow you to pick different types of GPUs and CPUs from different manufacturers, at different levels of performance.

If you do a few hours of research before buying your components, you’ll find that there are a lot of different configurations that you can make at different price points. You can also choose a unique aesthetic that matches your taste, with different form factors and features like RGB lighting giving you a lot of different options.

Gameplay

While the controller is a great instrument to game on, the mouse and keyboard combo is king when it comes to accuracy and speed. First-person shooters are much more enjoyable using a PC configuration, the mouse and keyboard adding to the level of immersion. VR games are also more enjoyable on PC, as the hardware allows for a better game library and much better, more realistic graphics.

If you’re too attached to your controller, then you can always use a controller on the PC. Any type of controller, really. You can play flight sims on a joystick, beat ‘em ups on your trusty gamepad, and racing games on a gaming wheel. 

Modding is also something that’s mostly PC exclusive. Games like Minecraft, The Witcher 3, Dark Souls, Skyrim, all have a lot of mods that change both the graphics and the gameplay. Minecraft, for instance, has a lot of mods that completely change the core gameplay mechanics, the gameplay focusing less on exploration and more on engineering advancements.

The Witcher 3 has mods that add new spells, shifting the style of combat from realistic to more fantasy, something that’s appropriate to the setting. Skyrim has mods too – too many to list, and offering all kinds of game-changing, world bending and story expanding content.

Support 

The PC has the highest level of support out of all gaming platforms. You can choose from a plethora of displays, with curved monitors, high refresh rate displays, gaming TVs, gaming monitors, and pick the one that fits your budget and style the best.

You can also add just about any type of controller to a PC, and you can even stream games from your PC to different devices. Say you have a big TV in the living room but your gaming PC is in the bedroom, you can stream games to your TV via Wi-Fi with very little input lag

Conclusion 

Whether you want to build your own or opt for the services of a custom PC builder, getting a desktop PC up and running will definitely improve your gaming experience. The superior graphics, the modding community, and the freedom of building a machine that perfectly fits your preferences and style make for great reasons to switch from console gaming to PC gaming.