Gaming PC GPUs vs. console GPUs: What's the difference between them?

Both have the same underlying tech, but console versions share more with the CPU.

By Luke James Nov. 15, 2026 11:15 am EST Luke James for Engadget Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Take the side panel off a gaming PC and the graphics card is the first thing you'll see. It's a slab the size of a hardback book slotted into the motherboard with fans bolted to it. But open up a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and you'll see nothing of the kind. Instead, beneath the heatsink sits an AMD chip doing the work of both processor and graphics card.