If we're talking about equivalent, you have to take the form factor into account. So good luck trying to build a PC in that small size with built-in blu-ray, wi-fi and Bluetooth. It's simply not possible at that price.
Simply matching the specs should be somewhat possible, if you take your time and aim for used parts. But you still won't get the same graphics. I mean, it is possible to optimize PC hardware the same way that console hardware is optimized, but no developer will ever do that. They will always aim for the lowest common denominator.
It's quite simple if you look at the old consoles. Build a PC with 256 MB RAM and a Geforce 7800 GTX graphics card. Then try to run Assassin's Creed 4, CoD: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Crysis 3 or whatever with that. Good luck.
PCs will always have the upper hand when it comes to graphics. And while it is true that in the past consoles were faster for some months, the new generation isn't really underpowered. But at the same price, consoles will always have the upper hand when it comes to hardware or graphical fidelity.
My advice: Don't think about the specs too much. Get yourself a nice PC and just upgrade that sucker every year or every other year. It's the only option to stay up to date on PC. You can't just buy a cheap system and roll with it for 5+ years. It just doesn't work like that on PC.
Official member of VGC's Nintendo family, approved by the one and only RolStoppable. I feel honored.
