PS5 Slim vs RTX 4060: Which has a better GPU?
The PS5 Slim is Sony's latest home video game console. It isn't any more capable than the PlayStation 5 and brings a similar set of promises: 4K gaming at up to 60 FPS with ray tracing. However, the Slim is closely contested with budget gaming hardware these days. In the last few generations, gaming PCs have caught up to speed and largely surpassed the PlayStation's caliber. Today, the contest lies between the $500 PlayStation 5 and a budget RTX 4060 PC.
There are pros and cons to both platforms. The list includes video game libraries, longevity, additional costs, and more. In this article, we will do a deep dive between them and try to answer which is worth your cash.
The PS5 Slim is slower than the Nvidia RTX 4060, but there are other factors to consider
Before we begin the comparison, let's clarify that we will only consider the prices of the PS5 Slim console and a PC for the most part. Although you have to splurge more on a 4K gaming monitor, that cost remains with both systems and nullifies.
The PS5 Slim GPU is statistically capable of 10.6 TFLOPS of computing prowess. In contrast, the RTX 4060 8 GB can pump out 15.11 TFLOPS. While theoretical performance isn't the best indicator of how the chips will fare in real time, it gives us a rough idea of what to expect.
With the latest generation, Nvidia has also bundled its GPUs with AI-powered DLSS 3 frame generation. While some PS5 titles are also getting access to this technology via AMD's FSR 3, that tech is arguably inferior in terms of output image quality. Moreover, more games on PC have access to frame generation than on console.
Read more: Which GPU is the PS5 Slim equivalent to?
Optimization impacts the experience you get on the PS5 Slim and the RTX 4060
Although the RTX 4060 is more powerful than the PS5 on paper, you can't expect a similar gaming experience across them. This is primarily because of varying optimization of the different titles launching on the platform.
Developers optimize their games to run the best on the PlayStation. Unlike the PC, the platform just has one universal hardware combination, resulting in better optimization metrics.
This isn't the case with PCs, where several hardware combinations are possible. The RTX 4060 is just one of many GPUs you can choose from. This means games are almost always optimized worse on PC, resulting in them not fully utilizing the power of the hardware.
Thus, even though the PS5 is less capable than the 4060, it could play a video game comfortably at 4K while you might struggle to get 60 FPS with the same visual quality on a PC.
Read more: Nvidia RTX 4060 laptop vs RTX 4050 laptop
Should you buy a PS5 Slim or an RTX 4060 PC?
Besides the varying rendering capabilities and optimization of video games, another factor to note is cost. A gaming PC powered by the Nvidia RTX 4060 will cost you more than the PS5. We are easily looking at $700 or more on a system with a decent parts combination.
However, a PC will serve you more than a console. The PS5 is just an entertainment machine. You can watch YouTube, stream movies and sports, and play games. That's it. A computer can be used for a variety of purposes besides what the PlayStation can already do. This makes it a better deal.
At the end of the day, it depends on what you need. If you just want to game on your machine and don't have any work that needs a PC, save some money and get the PlayStation 5 Slim. However, if you could benefit from the added flexibility of a computer, want to mod your games, and need upgradability, the RTX 4060 PC is the way to go.