*UPDATE – 24th September 2024* – This just in, the official price for the PlayStation 5 Pro in Malaysia is…. RM 3,849, whereas in Singapore, it will be going for SGD 1,069. That’s like USD 100 – USD 200 above the US price tag!

700 US Dollars (~ RM 3,000). Many people are up in arms about the PS5 Pro’s rumored price, saying it’s too expensive and that you’re better off buying a PC. However, I’m not convinced a PC is necessarily a better purchase if you’re just looking to play video games.

The PlayStation 3 Experience

I bought my PlayStation 3 in November 2008, two months after its Malaysian launch, for RM 1,799. I chose a console because I couldn’t afford a custom gaming PC and the continuous upgrade cycle didn’t make sense to me. A mid-range gaming rig at that time would have cost around RM 3,000, with specs like the following:

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600
  • RAM: 4 GB DDR2-800 SDRAM
  • Motherboard: Intel LGA775 Platform
  • GPU: GeForce 9800 GT 512MB GDDR3 RAM (G92) or ATI Radeon HD 4830 512MB GDDR3 RAM (RV770)
  • HDD: 640 GB HDD
  • DVDRW drive
  • Casing: Cooler Master CM 690
  • Power Supply: Corsair VX550
  • Monitor: 22-inch LCD

Note: I’ve gotten specs from an old Lowyat Forum thread, which has turned into a time-capsule of sorts.

The PS3, built on PowerPC architecture with an NVIDIA-derived GPU, served me well. I enjoyed games like Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, God of War III, and many others. Fallout 3 was the game I spent the most time playing. Importantly, I never needed to upgrade anything throughout my time with the PS3, which lasted until I got a PS4.

The PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro) Proposition

So how does the rumored PS5 Pro compare to a modern PC? I asked an AI assistant to recommend PC parts totaling RM 3,000. Here’s what it suggested:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (RM 689)
  • Motherboard: GIGABYTE B650M E (RM 569)
  • RAM: KINGSTON FURY BEAST 5600 8GB*2 (RM 259)
  • SSD: KINGSTON NV2 GEN4 500GB (RM 189)
  • GPU: INNO3D RTX 3050 6GB TWIN X2 (RM 869)
  • Case: TECWARE NEO M2 STEEL MATX BLACK (RM 129)
  • Power Supply: CORSAIR CV550 550W (RM 249)
  • CPU Cooler: DEEP COOL AG300 (RM 59)

These specs don’t inspire much confidence when compared to a console that Sony claims will eliminate the need to choose between performance and quality modes in recent PS5 titles. Given that the PS4 generation lasted from 2013 to 2021, we can expect the PS5 Pro to have a similar lifespan, offering console players performance parity with PC gamers for years to come.

In conclusion, I believe a PS5 Pro could be an excellent choice for first-time gamers seeking great performance without the complexities of PC gaming, given its upgraded GPU and generous 2TB storage. It might also offer good value for PS5 owners looking to boost their gaming experience even at USD 700. Here’s to November 7th!