Here’s how much it would cost to build a PC similar to the Xbox Series X

Engadget ·

Building a PC with performance comparable to an Xbox Series X still costs more than buying the console, though the gap has narrowed since the console launched in 2020. A new-parts build is estimated at about $1,200 once Windows and an Xbox controller are included, compared with the Series X’s current $799.99 price.

The estimate uses an older AMD AM4 platform and a graphics card in the Series X’s performance range; new components bring the parts total to about $1,012. Buying key components second-hand could bring that to around $730 using past marketplace averages, but current asking prices make roughly $800 more realistic, or over $900 with Windows and a controller. Rising memory costs also affect the budget: a 32GB DDR4 kit that cost about $48 a year earlier was around $200 in July.

In short

  • A comparable new-parts PC costs about $1,200 with Windows and a controller.
  • Used components could bring the parts cost to around $730.
  • Current resale prices make $800 a more realistic used-parts estimate.

Explained simply

The Xbox Series X is a games console released by Microsoft in 2020. A comparable PC would use a processor and graphics card capable of similar gaming performance, along with memory, storage and other parts.

A PC can run games and other software, and its components can be chosen or upgraded separately. The comparison depends on which parts are included: the estimate adds the cost of Windows and an Xbox controller, while a console is sold as a ready-to-use system.

Prices for computer parts can change, and buying used components may lower the cost. Memory is one example of a part whose price can shift substantially, affecting how much a PC build costs.

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