Gaming consoles have become popular, leading to a large population of gamers using gaming consoles for their gaming experience rather than gaming computers. The rise in popularity and usage of gaming consoles over gaming computers has led console manufacturers to try and bring the same experience you might have when using a gaming computer. The improvement in a console gaming experience ensures that you can play a host of AAA games with all the convenience and a fantastic visual performance. When the excellence is at 100 percent like on a PC, it might force you to wonder if the gaming console comes equipped with the same components as that of a gaming PC. One of the components that ensures visual excellence is the graphics card. Let us look at the console graphic cards, if it is different or the same as that of a gaming computer. Let us know ‘Do Consoles Have Graphics Cards?’.
For a better gaming experience, the graphics card enhances the visual output of videos on the screen. You might be wondering if the visual experience in consoles is because they have the same components as that of a gaming pc. For instance, you might ask yourself if there are graphics cards or specifics of a computer designed for consoles. In this article, we will explore components that enhance visual experience in consoles like for gaming PCs. Gaming consoles have graphics cards; however, they are not the same as those found in gaming computers. The difference might be brought about because of the following; a computer graphics card is large, have its cooling systems, and have its PSU connections meaning they occupy large space. Consoles do not have this whole space; therefore, they will have a different graphics card.
Are there graphics cards in gaming consoles?
Gaming consoles do not have graphics cards that are the same as those of a gaming computer. A gaming computer graphics card is large and uses more power, therefore they have its power supply and cooling systems, this means that the card will occupy more space on the computer motherboard.
Gaming consoles cannot house this huge graphics card because of the small space, this is what brings about the difference between a console’s graphics card and that of a gaming computer. Gaming consoles, therefore, have small chips mounted on the mainboard, and these chips process visual data and present it on the screen, this makes them resemble the graphics card on a gaming computer because they all process visual data. The chips are the console’s graphics card.
The chips, which are the console’s graphics card, have a better performance than a gaming computer graphics card because they are manufactured in a custom-made form and are console specific to make sure they match the hardware specifications.
Graphics cards in gaming consoles
Consoles can be termed specialized computers that have operating systems and central processing units that are exclusively designed for playing games. They therefore must have a graphics processing unit in their setup which will handle and deliver videos and images in a specific game. As said earlier, the graphics card found in a gaming console is much different from that of a gaming computer. A gaming console graphics card is an integrated chip that is mounted on the console’s mainboard or CPU that is much like the graphics card mounted on a computer’s motherboard.
Because of space limitations, the console cannot accommodate a graphics card therefore it has a GPU also known as the Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), that replaces a separate graphics card. The chips found in the console are manufactured by the same manufacturer that creates the GPU found in computers. The chips are also specifically customized for specific gaming consoles and they address the gaming requirements of that console, making gamers the same gaming experience as that of a gaming computer.
A PlayStation console uses a GPU unit known as the AMD Radeon RDNA 2 while an Xbox uses a custom graphics chip that is based on the AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture, this makes the consoles give out a high-performance visual experience.
A PC’s graphics card
Graphics cards are very essential components of any computer because they make sure you can view images of your intended quality on the screen. Computers can be used without a graphics card especially when you are not a gamer, this is different from gaming consoles because you cannot use a gaming console that does not have a graphics chip. Many computers will come with a GPU unit installed in them and this will primarily help you to visualize images and videos on your screen and also allow your computer to perform POST during booting, this GPU is known as the integrated Graphics Cards. But if you want to play high-resolution games on your PC then you will need to install other high-quality graphics cards on your motherboard to enhance the visual experience. The installed graphics card is known as the dedicated GPU and is used for graphically intensive tasks, for instance, gaming and video editing.
Computer graphics cards always have memory units that help them handle tasks, and this makes them even more efficient for playing computer games.
Comparisons between a console’s and a gaming PC’s graphics card
As we have seen earlier the graphics of a gaming computer has some things in common with that of a console’s graphics cards, but they also have differences. Let us look at some of their comparisons so that you will not be confused whenever you want to purchase one for your gaming device.
Their similarities
- They perform the same function; they are both used to enhance the visual output experience on the screen
- They are both mounted on the device’s motherboard or the CPU.
- They are also manufactured by the same manufacturers.
Their differences
- The GPU unit of a gaming console is larger than a console’s graphics chip.
- A gaming PC is mounted with an expansive card on the motherboard while the graphics chip of a gaming console is small and mounted on the console’s CPU.
- A gaming console’s graphics chip is device-specific while a computer’s graphics card can be used on different computers.
- A computer’s graphics unit requires more space and volume while a console’s graphics chip requires less space because of the space limitations in a console.
Can you use a console graphics card on a desktop and vice versa?
Having looked at the functioning of the two graphics card and their differences and similarities you can guess that it is much impossible to use the two interchangeably with a gaming console and a desktop.
Some people might say that you can you the two different graphics cards on a computer/console interchangeably because they are all manufactured by the same company but this is not the case. They might have the same raw specifications but they are different.
A laptop and a console are two different devices hence you cannot install the components of a computer into a console and vice versa.
They also have different sockets and drivers, and this makes a console’s graphics unit incompatible with that of a computer.
Console gaming vs Computer gaming
Now that we have looked at all that you need to know about Console graphics units and their difference from computer graphics units, let us look at some of the comparisons between PC gaming and Console gaming.
The last part of this article will help you decide on which device you will use for your gaming experience. The graphics card will affect the performance and graphical features of your gaming experience. Apart from graphical experience and performances, other features will make you decide on which gaming device to use and that is what we want to look at in this last paragraph.
- Cost of the setup- It is easier and cheaper to set up a gaming console than setting up a computer gaming rig.
- Setup and maintenance- The process of setting up a computer rig and its maintenance is very costly compared to that of a gaming console. For example, during the setup of a computer rig, you will have to bring together different computers but a console will be ready to use when you remove it from the box.
- Upgradability- it is easy to upgrade to the next level when you are using a computer because of the wide range of options to upgrade to compared to a console.
- Controllers- The computer has a diversity of different gaming controllers compared to consoles which only use console game controllers.
Conclusion
Graphics card help to improve the visual and graphical presentation both in gaming computers and gaming consoles. The graphics unit of a gaming computer is different from that of a console. The difference comes in terms of space and volume with those of the console being smaller and called graphics chips and not cards, they are mounted on the console motherboard. Over recent days, the gaming experience has increased with gamers choosing to play games both on computers and consoles.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the graphics card used in gaming consoles smaller?
The gaming console has space limitations because of its size therefore the manufacturers had to modify the console’s graphics chip.
2. Can a computer graphics card be used in a gaming console?
A computer’s graphics card is larger and cannot be used on a gaming console because of space limitations.
3. Can a PS4 graphics unit be used on PS5?
NO, gaming console graphics unit are device specific therefore the chip will be incompatible with ps5.
