RigCost / Consoles
Console vs gaming PC: which costs more to run?
A console uses far less electricity than most gaming PCs. An Xbox Series S costs about 1.9p an hour to run, while a high-end PC with an RTX 5090 costs about 19.1p. Here's every console next to typical gaming PCs, at the UK price cap of 26.32p per kWh.
Running cost while gaming
Consoles are the console only, without a TV. PCs include a 27-inch monitor. Per year means 3 hours a day.
| Device | Power while gaming | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 20 W | 0.5p | £6 |
| Xbox Series S | 74 W | 1.9p | £21 |
| Xbox Series X | 154 W | 4.1p | £44 |
| PS5 | 210 W | 5.5p | £61 |
| PS5 Pro | 230 W | 6.1p | £66 |
| Gaming PC: RTX 4060 + Ryzen 5 7600 + monitor | 250 W | 6.6p | £72 |
| Gaming PC: RTX 4070 + Ryzen 5 7600 + monitor | 330 W | 8.7p | £95 |
| Gaming PC: RTX 5080 + Ryzen 7 9800X3D + monitor | 524 W | 13.8p | £151 |
| Gaming PC: RTX 5090 + Ryzen 7 9800X3D + monitor | 727 W | 19.1p | £210 |
Does running cost matter when choosing?
For most people, no. Even the gap between a Series S and a high-end PC is a few pounds a month at 3 hours a day, much smaller than the difference in what the hardware costs to buy. It matters more if you play for many hours every day.