Xbox One S vs $500 PC
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Has the gap between PC and console graphics closed with the recent release of the Xbox One S? Freshbooks link: For your unrestricted 30 day free trial, just go to freshbooks.com and enter “Linus Tech Tips” in the "how did you hear about us" section. Massdrop link: dro.ps Buy Xbox One S on Amazon: geni.us $500 PC: pcpartpicker.com $1250 PC: pcpartpicker.com Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Affiliates, referral programs, & sponsors: linustechtips.com Join our community forum: bit.ly twitter.com @LinusTech Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Sound effects provided by freesfx.co.uk
The video analyzes whether the Xbox One S can compete with a mid-range gaming PC by directly comparing performance, features, and upscaling quality across three titles. It starts by framing the gap between PC upgrades and console refresh cycles, noting that console revisions like the Xbox One S offer incremental improvements such as a smaller form factor, removal of the external power brick, and an internal power supply, which together reduce clutter and weight. The host then highlights key hardware updates, including a 2 TB storage option, a refined controller with Bluetooth for PC use, and the inclusion of 4K streaming and HDR support, while clarifying that 4K in games requires future updates and will not be native in most titles. The discussion moves into a performance comparison using a mid-range RX 470 PC and a GTX 1070 PC against the Xbox One S across three games, focusing on frame rate smoothness, texture detail, draw distances, and aliasing, with the PCs generally delivering crisper visuals and steadier performance, especially on higher settings. The segment on Rise of the Tomb Raider and Forza Horizon 3 underscores that although the Xbox One S offers competitive image quality, PC configurations provide noticeable advantages in texture quality and frame consistency, albeit with occasional PC-specific issues like stuttering that the console avoids. The host concludes by acknowledging the trade-offs, emphasizing that PC builds win on upgradeability, storage speed, and input versatility, while the Xbox One S remains compelling for 4K Blu-ray playback, streaming, and a more straightforward, lower-maintenance gaming experience; viewers are invited to share which platform they would choose and why. The video closes with a reminder that the decision depends on priorities such as performance, convenience, and the cost of ownership, encouraging discussion on the forum and social channels while promoting related products and affiliate links.
Topics · technology · gaming hardware · console vs pc · audiovisual
Questions answered
- How does the Xbox One S's 4K capability work in practice, and is it native 4K or upscaled?
- The Xbox One S upscales 1080p game output to 4K for TVs, but it does not render games in native 4K. Native 4K would require more powerful hardware or a future update, such as Scorpio, to approach true 4K rendering.
- What are the notable hardware improvements in the Xbox One S compared to the original model?
- The One S is 40 percent smaller, uses an internal power supply, includes a 2 TB storage option, Bluetooth for the controller, an IR Blaster, and supports 4K streaming and HDR.
- Which is generally better for image quality and performance in the tested titles, the PC or the Xbox One S?
- The mid-range PC and higher-end PC configurations generally deliver smoother gameplay and crisper textures, with better draw distances and fewer visual compromises, though the Xbox One S provides solid performance and 4K streaming capabilities for a simpler setup.