Xbox Series X offers simpler setup and better value at $500 with optimized game performance, while PC gaming provides superior graphics potential, upgradability, and long-term flexibility for $1,000+. The choice depends on whether you prioritize ease-of-use and affordability or raw power and customization.
Xbox Series X vs PC Gaming — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Microsoft's flagship console with 12 TFLOPS GPU and 1TB storage, released November 2020.
High-performance customizable gaming on Windows, Linux, or macOS with unlimited upgradability
Entry Price. 4K Gaming Performance. Game Library Exclusivity. Hardware Upgradability. Setup Complexity. Game Pass Value. Backward Compatibility
Choose Xbox Series X if you want the most straightforward gaming experience, value competitive pricing, and prefer console-optimized performance without hassle. Choose PC gaming if you demand maximum graphical fidelity, want to upgrade components over time, enjoy a vastly larger game library, and don't mind higher upfront costs and setup complexity.
Xbox Series X: AMD Zen 2 (8-core at 3.8GHz) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPs | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 10GB GDDR6 | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 80+ exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K at 60fps native | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: RDNA 2 (Current-gen) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1.2 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 18 AAA exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $17.99/month | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Quietest gaming console ever made | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2 (Standard & All-Digital) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: ~98% Xbox One compatible | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $180/year | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: No major announcement | PC Gaming: N/A
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
Xbox Series X: $499 (Xbox Series X) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 16 GB GDDR6 | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: PCIe Gen 4 NVME | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25 million units | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox original to Series) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 16 GB (10 GDDR6 + 6 DDR5) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60 FPS at 4K | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 34.43 million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Forza, Starfield, Game Pass exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2,000+ Xbox titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $9.99/month | PC Gaming: $9.99/month (smaller catalog)
Xbox Series X: 3328 shading units | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 320-bit interface | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K / 60fps | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Game Pass: 480+ titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Baseline (100%) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 16.7 TFLOPS | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3-4 major titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard vibration | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (3840×2160) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2.4 GB/s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 8 major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $10.99/month (Game Pass Core) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 560 GB/s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 16.7% more powerful | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 10% faster | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard speed | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Current generation (4 years optimized) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Xbox One, Xbox 360, Original Xbox titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Yes, 4K/60FPS standard | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Yes, native 4K/60fps | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Can keep up with PS5 Pro in some instances | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox One, 360, Original, Series) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard SSD | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Extensive (4+ generations of Xbox titles) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Consistent 4-8% performance advantage on cross-platform titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Current generation optimization | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Not available | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K/1440p | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Extensive (4 generations) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 100+ annually | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60 fps (targeted) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 8 major titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 400+ (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Yes, standard | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 52 CUs equivalent (12 TFLOPS) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 10x faster SSD (vs PS4) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Baseline stable performance | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K/60FPS confirmed (Replaced) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox to Series X) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: No thermal issues reported | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1000GB usable | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 120fps native | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Outperforms PS5 Pro | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Game Pass (400+ games, day-one releases) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2,560 MB/s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1,000 GB | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25+ exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ (Xbox Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Requires external TV (typically 43-85 inches) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3840 x 2160 (4K) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: N/A (stationary) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4,100g (not portable) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2,500+ games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K Blu-ray disc drive | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K @ 60 FPS (Replaced) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Up to 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $499 (standard) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 448 GB/s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: ~50 major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard FSR/DLSS support | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $500 | PC Gaming: $1,200 (mid-range)
Xbox Series X: 60 FPS (native optimized) | PC Gaming: 120+ FPS (high-end)
Xbox Series X: 200+ exclusive | PC Gaming: 10,000+ across platforms
Xbox Series X: 10 minutes | PC Gaming: 60-120 minutes
Xbox Series X: 120 Hz | PC Gaming: 240+ Hz (high-end monitors)
Xbox Series X: 4K/120fps (native) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $180/year (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4,250g (requires desk/TV mount) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: N/A (not portable) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz (7-core Zen 2) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ Xbox/360 games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard ray tracing | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: No, stationary only | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25+ million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 8 cores (custom x86) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25 million users | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1 TB NVMe SSD (proprietary expansion) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $499 (with disc drive) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: UHD Blu-ray included | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Hardware ray tracing (AMD) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1.2-1.8s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K/60fps typical | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 48 fps avg | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard implementation | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 30+ exclusive franchises | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 10+ simultaneous | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 28 million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS | PC Gaming: 50+ TFLOPS (RTX 4090)
Xbox Series X: 21+ million units | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 42 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ optimized for Series X | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 47 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25 million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 180W typical | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Current Generation (5+ years) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) at 120fps | PC Gaming: 8K (7680×4320)
Xbox Series X: 4K 120Hz | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 156 games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 8 cores @ 3.8 GHz | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1 TB usable (802 GB) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1.8 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2250GB (expansion card) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 0 hours (requires power outlet) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ fully optimized | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2560 MB/s | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 0.5-2 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 95%+ across 4 generations | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard vibration, impulse triggers | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 years (2020-present) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4+ (Halo, Forza, Gears, Starfield) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)
Xbox Series X: ~4.8 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Consistent 50-65fps with fixed architecture | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 28 major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps (select titles) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 400+ (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 139 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 120 fps (variable) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $11.99 (Standard Tier) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 15 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60-120 fps (varies by game) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ optimized | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 15 minutes | PC Gaming: 2-6 hours (component selection, OS install, drivers)
Xbox Series X: 0 (fixed hardware) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $17/month (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $399 (Series X) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: ~25 million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $60-120 (Game Pass tiers) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Home console only; 3.8kg (8.4 lbs) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz (variable) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 301 x 151 x 151 | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $180 for 1TB | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 700+ games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 900+ compatible | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3 major exclusives (Starfield, Forza, Avowed) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz (8-core) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 58-60 FPS | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $16.99/month | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12+ major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 34+ million | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $180 (Game Pass Ultimate includes online + 400+ games) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 15-25 Game Pass day-ones | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Xbox Cloud Gaming (iOS, Android, PC, browser, TV — comprehensive) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 280 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 5.8 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (3840x2160) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1,500+ games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 118 fps average | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4.2 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 740 games (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 38 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ day-one releases | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 8-core Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1 TB SSD | PC Gaming: 2,000-4,000 GB upgradeable
Xbox Series X: 15.1cm (horizontal) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1000 GB usable | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 6-10 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $11.99 (Ultimate tier) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 45-60 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 15.1 x 15.1 x 13.1 cm | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz Zen 2 | PC Gaming: N/A
Game Pass / PlayStation Plus Tier Titles
Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps (native) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3 major (Starfield, Indiana Jones, Avowed) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Original Xbox, 360, One, Series) | PC Gaming: N/A
Game Pass / Premium Service Monthly Cost
Xbox Series X: $11.99 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 20+ titles | PC Gaming: N/A
Average 4K Gaming Frame Rate (2026 AAA titles)
Xbox Series X: +18% performance boost | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60-120 fps | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 15+ major exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS | PC Gaming: 83+ TFLOPS (RTX 4080)
Xbox Series X: Baseline Series X (no upgrade) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K at 120fps native | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: ~500 games (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $180 for Seagate 2TB expansion | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 667 GB available | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Up to 4K @ 120fps (select titles) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Yes, hardware-accelerated | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1000 GB (with 802GB usable) | PC Gaming: N/A
Game Pass/PlayStation Plus Included Games
Xbox Series X: 500+ with Game Pass | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard RT cores | PC Gaming: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Xbox Series X: Free with Game Pass | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 2-3 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4 (Xbox through Xbox One) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1 TB (1,000 GB) SSD | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $9.99 (Game Pass Standard) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ Xbox One/360 games optimized | PC Gaming: N/A
Average Game Load Time (Elden Ring, Call of Duty)
Xbox Series X: 1.5-2.0 seconds | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 60 fps (most AAA titles) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 330+ games | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard rumble vibration | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Higher potential (12 TFLOPS) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 GB GDDR6 (plus 2.2 GB DDR5) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $17.99 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ games (Game Pass) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 5.94 inches | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 21 million units (as of Q3 2024) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1000 GB (1 TB) internal, expandable to 2 TB | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Not supported | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: $17 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: 28 exclusives | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: Up to 60 fps | PC Gaming: N/A
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: $1,200 (mid-range RTX 4060 build)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: 240 fps (RTX 4090 at 1440p)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: Customizable 1080p-4K
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: $0 (free for most games)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: 85% (fully user-controlled)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: 3-4 years (competitive upgrades)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: 15+ (Valve, Epic, Blizzard)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: $1,200-$3,000
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: 360+ fps
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: $0 (Steam) or $20 (Game Pass PC)
5-Year Total Cost (Hardware + Games/Subscriptions)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PC Gaming: $1,500-$4,000 (PC + games/subs)
How to choose between Xbox Series X and PC Gaming
Xbox Series X vs PC Gaming — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Xbox Series X vs PC Gaming. Contains 367 attribute comparisons, 3 FAQ pairs.
Xbox Series X vs PC Gaming — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Xbox Series X vs PC Gaming.
Yes — PC Game Pass ($9.99/month) gives access to 400+ games on Windows PC, including all Microsoft first-party titles on launch day. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($17.99/month) includes both console and PC Game Pass, plus Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer. This is one of the best gaming subscription values — you get Halo, Forza, Starfield, Call of Duty, and dozens of other games for $10/month. The key limitation: games are available while they're in the catalog (titles rotate in and out), and the Game Pass library on PC is a subset of what's on console (most overlap, but not 100%). For PC gamers who like Microsoft franchises, PC Game Pass is an exceptional value.
PC gaming is worth the extra cost if: you want the highest possible visual fidelity (4K/120fps+), you play genres that are better on PC (strategy, MMOs, simulation, flight simulators), you value modding (Skyrim, Fallout, Minecraft with mods are transformative experiences), or you want access to the full Steam library including deep indie catalog. Xbox Series X is the better choice if: you want the best experience for the least money ($499 vs $1,200+), you prioritize plug-and-play simplicity, or you primarily play console-first games. Note: Most Xbox exclusives now also release on PC, so if you have a capable PC, you can often skip the Xbox console and still play Xbox games via Game Pass or purchase.
Is Xbox Series X still worth buying if PC gaming is an option?
Xbox Series X is hard to justify at full price if you already have a capable gaming PC, given Microsoft's commitment to releasing all first-party games on PC simultaneously. The Xbox Series X makes most sense for: living room gaming where a PC setup is inconvenient, households where multiple people play on the same device, buyers who want the convenience of a console without PC complexity, or gamers who specifically want the physical DVD drive (useful for cheap used games). The Xbox Series S ($299) remains excellent value for 1080p gaming without a disc drive. If you already have a mid-range gaming PC, Xbox Game Pass for PC at $9.99/month gives you access to most Xbox content without buying the hardware.
How to Choose Between Xbox Series X and PC Gaming
Entry Price: Xbox Series X has $500, while PC Gaming has $1,000-1,500.
4K Gaming Performance: Xbox Series X has 4K/60FPS native (optimized), while PC Gaming has 4K/120FPS+ (with high-end GPU).
Game Library Exclusivity: Xbox Series X has 200+ exclusive titles, while PC Gaming has 10,000+ total titles (Steam/Epic).
Hardware Upgradability: Xbox Series X has Fixed hardware, no upgrades, while PC Gaming has Fully customizable components.
Setup Complexity: Xbox Series X has Plug-and-play, 10 minutes, while PC Gaming has 30-120 minutes assembly/config.
Game Pass Value: Xbox Series X has $11.99/month for 500+ games, while PC Gaming has $9.99/month Game Pass PC (smaller library).
Backward Compatibility: Xbox Series X has All Xbox One/360 games, while PC Gaming has Most PC games ever made.
Xbox Series X offers simpler setup and better value at $500 with optimized game performance, while PC gaming provides superior graphics potential, upgradability, and long-term flexibility for $1,000+. The choice depends on whether you prioritize ease-of-use and affordability or raw power and customi