XBox or PC?

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#2666850 2-Mar-2021 17:18

CokemonZ: Here is a Facebook pc for $800 which would give a solid gaming experience, with scope for upgrades in the future
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/478787996478941/

Or for the same money OP can buy a brand new console with cga protection and not have to deal with any of that. It's really very difficult to find a scenario at the moment where buying a gaming PC makes a huge amount of sense.

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#2666853 2-Mar-2021 17:29

Handle9:
CokemonZ: Here is a Facebook pc for $800 which would give a solid gaming experience, with scope for upgrades in the future
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/478787996478941/

Or for the same money OP can buy a brand new console with cga protection and not have to deal with any of that. It's really very difficult to find a scenario at the moment where buying a gaming PC makes a huge amount of sense.

agreed, except
At 13 may be into modding. Can't do that on xbox.
Streaming. Lot more difficult on xbox.
Programming, can't do that on xbox.
Discord with mates. Not a great experience typing on xbox.

I love my xbox, as do my kids. But if I could only choose one it would be a pc for the same price for the flexibility.

I am basically saying that for about the same price as a series x you can get a reasonable second hand gaming pc. New isn't always the best or the right way to go.

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#2666902 2-Mar-2021 17:49

CokemonZ:

agreed, except
At 13 may be into modding. Can't do that on xbox.
Streaming. Lot more difficult on xbox.
Programming, can't do that on xbox.
Discord with mates. Not a great experience typing on xbox.

I love my xbox, as do my kids. But if I could only choose one it would be a pc for the same price for the flexibility.

I am basically saying that for about the same price as a series x you can get a reasonable second hand gaming pc. New isn't always the best or the right way to go.

None of which the OP has said he wants said kid to do.

Based on the actual requirements, a console makes a lot more sense.

Handle9

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#2666915 2-Mar-2021 18:45

CokemonZ:
agreed, except
At 13 may be into modding. Can't do that on xbox.
Streaming. Lot more difficult on xbox.
Programming, can't do that on xbox.
Discord with mates. Not a great experience typing on xbox.

I love my xbox, as do my kids. But if I could only choose one it would be a pc for the same price for the flexibility.

I am basically saying that for about the same price as a series x you can get a reasonable second hand gaming pc. New isn't always the best or the right way to go.

The machine that you linked to also won't come close to gaming at 4k/120Hz (yes I know that there are some limitations).

As above based on what OP posted a console seems by far the better option at the moment.

everettpsycho

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#2666940 2-Mar-2021 20:03

If it's just Fortnite option 3 is just stick with the Xbox one. The series s and X look great and all but right now they pretty much just up the frame rates and reduce loading times on last gen games. There's only one title you can't play on what you have.

The question is what display are you playing on and do you prefer keyboard/mouse or controllers? This will likely impact a decision much more than a lot of other things. If you are playing at 1080p and only at standard refresh rates (60Hz) via a TV or monitor upgrading to a series X or high end pc really won't bring much extra to spend any money. The new xboxes will come in to their own on 4K displays and/or with higher refresh rates. At 1080p/60 though you can get a reasonably affordable pc for eSports titles that you can turn down the settings for prettier games. My pc is getting on with only a 3rd gen i5 and Rx 570 but it does play most games at 1080p even if it's not at the highest settings or frame rates. A newer cpu would cope a lot better than mine though if you can source one. If you want 4K a pc will cost a fortune as you'd need at least a $1000 GPU in a 3060Ti and even then 4k won't exactly be great frame rates, you need a 3070 or 3080 to make it worth having, so a series X is less than just the GPU on its own.

Really does come down to the user though, at 13 streaming might be something he shows an interest in, or modding games. A half decent pc will mean he can also play with things like basic video editing and making montages if his captures or coding if he was so inclined to. As a first pc though I wouldn't break the bank, if you can find cheaper good hardware and just get a decent GPU you can always upgrade if he takes to it.

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#2667035 2-Mar-2021 23:26

Ask any of the greybeards here if our folks bought us a decent PC for gaming on. No is the answer. Get something good enough but with room for expansion so your little person can earn it. The consoles are for entertainment/ consumption, a PC can be for entertainment but also learning, education (school work), think about that.

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#2667037 2-Mar-2021 23:28

Wellingtondave:

Ask any of the greybeards here if our folks bought us a decent PC for gaming on.

Yes they did

nitro

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#2667044 3-Mar-2021 01:26

some of the replies are touting the other possible uses for a pc, even postulating other interests of op's son that will be served by a pc and not by a gaming console. whereas from the original post, the op was only looking for an upgrade to their xbox one s... strictly for gaming.

or did I miss the memo?

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#2667057 3-Mar-2021 01:45

nitro: some of the replies are touting the other possible uses for a pc, even postulating other interests of op's son that will be served by a pc and not by a gaming console. whereas from the original post, the op was only looking for an upgrade to their xbox one s... strictly for gaming.

or did I miss the memo?

No you didn't miss the memo

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#2667084 3-Mar-2021 06:59

Ok, the op didn't explicit ask but is it a bad thing to highlight the added benefits of one or other?

I think it's safe to say that it has been determined a console is a much more cost effective way of reaching their requirements but by following this thread only @everettpsycho actually followed up with counter questions that could help the op make a better informed decision like what display are they using for example.

A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv, all that money for faster loading times, awesome.

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#2667257 3-Mar-2021 11:13

Dial111:

A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv, all that money for faster loading times, awesome.

is that significantly different from getting something that allows one to write programs, create apps, edit photos/videos, etc. that will only be used for playing games?

it's not like an $800 pc you get now will ever give you 4k/120 even if/when you get a new display. xsx will.

also... for the price of an xsx-equivalent pc, op can buy an xsx and a 4k uhd display. 😁

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#2667278 3-Mar-2021 11:58

nitro:
Dial111:

A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv, all that money for faster loading times, awesome.

is that significantly different from getting something that allows one to write programs, create apps, edit photos/videos, etc. that will only be used for playing games?

it's not like an $800 pc you get now will ever give you 4k/120 even if/when you get a new display. xsx will.

also... for the price of an xsx-equivalent pc, op can buy an xsx and a 4k uhd display. 😁

I think you've misunderstood my post, at no point did I recommend a PC.

The assumption that the OP has a 4k tv capable of outputting 120hz and the assumption they even want to spend extra on a display capable, hence my comment only one other poster really followed up with that question.

everettpsycho

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#2667285 3-Mar-2021 12:34

nitro:
Dial111:

A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv, all that money for faster loading times, awesome.

is that significantly different from getting something that allows one to write programs, create apps, edit photos/videos, etc. that will only be used for playing games?

it's not like an $800 pc you get now will ever give you 4k/120 even if/when you get a new display. xsx will.

also... for the price of an xsx-equivalent pc, op can buy an xsx and a 4k uhd display. 😁

But we don't know what the kids playing on. Yeah sure buy a 4K uhd display but if he's playing in his room getting a big 4K TV might not be an option. Buying both the series X and the TV would be a huge waste if he only plays on a 32 inch or less panel and the OP doesn't want him to have a bigger screen. Similarly if he just plays ka TV and has nowhere for a keyboard and mouse a pc would also come with added costs like a desk to put it on.

I asked about the display as realistically that to me is the main driver behind what would be the best choice. Other functions he might use will also help but really are follow up questions. Based on the display alone and gaming requirements if he has a big screen Xbox series x makes sense for if/when he gets a 4k panel. Smaller screen the series s would be sufficient at 1080p, however a pc also becomes more of an option as driving lower resolution helps keeps the costs of a build down significantly. You're likely looking at more than a series X for the pc still but if the kid has interest in learning more computer based skills it's probably a good investment for him to learn on. If you get an Xbox then be needs a pc later you'll be an extra $550/800 down. However if he already has a laptop or similar for school does he need a desktop? He could practice these skills on the laptop and get a desktop if his laptop really can't handle things he's doing.

nitro

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#2667286 3-Mar-2021 12:36

Dial111:

I think you've misunderstood my post, at no point did I recommend a PC.

The assumption that the OP has a 4k tv capable of outputting 120hz and the assumption they even want to spend extra on a display capable, hence my comment only one other poster really followed up with that question.

ah, no... i was referring to your explicit comment that 'A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv'. in my view it isn't wasted. especially not if a 4K display upgrade were to happen in the next couple of years. but that's just me, obviously other people have different opinions.

Dial111

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#2667295 3-Mar-2021 12:59

nitro:
Dial111:

I think you've misunderstood my post, at no point did I recommend a PC.

The assumption that the OP has a 4k tv capable of outputting 120hz and the assumption they even want to spend extra on a display capable, hence my comment only one other poster really followed up with that question.

ah, no... i was referring to your explicit comment that 'A next gen console is great but wasted on a 1080p tv'. in my view it isn't wasted. especially not if a 4K display upgrade were to happen in the next couple of years. but that's just me, obviously other people have different opinions.

Great, I'm glad we've established its just your view against my view and nothing more.

To not further derail this thread you can PM me if you'd prefer to follow on.

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