PC or Console to be connected to HDTV as "entertainment system"

[mogiletsiZA]

Hi all,

considering either connecting a PC or console (Xbox or PS4) to HD TV.

The idea is to have a dedicated entertainment system for casual gaming, movies and music that will replace the need for DSTV.

I know that with a PC, there are thousands of streaming sites for HD movies etc as well as the Steam platform, but of course, cost is a factor when wanting a medium-end PC for that purpose alone. mid range (gtx 1060; i5, approx 18 - 20k)

For consoles, i'm concerned that they may be too one-dimensional (gaming orientated) now days, particularly when you consider we are in SA and don't have access to all other features of the system.

Would be good to hear your thoughts/suggestions?

 

[OCP]

PC with Kodi installed which can double as gaming rig = sorted.

While the PC might cost more than a console, you will save money in the long term as you can get PC games a lot cheaper (Steam/GoG/etc) if you shop around.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Consoles are fine. They have all they main streaming services (Netflix, Amazon etc.) as well as Plex if you need to stream files from your local network...

 

[jdido87]

I have my Xbox One S connected to my TV and the laptop runs through it. Works perfectly for me. Sometimes I dont even use the laptop and cast straight to the Xbox.

 

[Priapus]

I used to have a media PC in the living room, connected to my TV. Did not like the extra clutter and having to deal with any OS issues - that I used to get. So, I now have an Xbox One S. I use Netflix for streaming and I used to have a media PC in another room, connected to the network, and used Plex on the Xbox to stream off it. Until that PC broke. So now, its just Netflix and games.

 

[Ancalagon]

Depends a lot on what you want from the system. For instance, are you going to stream via Netflix/Amazon, or are you going to play content through... less legal means?

If you want to use Netflix or Amazon, it is better to have a device such as a Roku, XBox, PS4 or SmartTV, reason being that Netflix at least will not work in 4K on most PCs these days. Amazon will not playback 5.1 surround sound from a PC, and not sure about 4K but I would not bet on it. In short, while you can watch Netflix and Amazon from a PC, you are going to get a better experience if you use a dedicated media device. Note that those Android media boxes you see usually run regular Android and not Android TV. The difference being that Android TV is a different operating system, built especially for media. Netflix and Amazon will work with all of the bells and whistles on it. Things like the Xiaomi Mi Box run Android TV, while the rest run regular Android. Netflix and Amazon will work on those but with limitations - same as PC.

As for games, PC has one advantage - the cost of games is generally a lot less due to Steam and Humble Bundle. Prices drop faster on Steam than on Xbox and PS4. Over time, you will probably spend a lot less money on software if you bought a PC.

The other advantage of a PC is that you can use it for cryptocurrency mining, and if you are lucky, the entire thing could pay itself off. Note that this is more difficult than it used to be, so I would not buy a PC thinking it will eventually pay for itself - it might or it might not.

Summary: PC more expensive to buy, but games are cheaper. Consoles, smart TVs, Rokus, Apple TV and Xiaomi Mi Box will be better media players than PC and other Android media boxes.

 

[nemisiz]

Roku/andoid box/Apple TV connected via the Xbox's passthrough HDMI . Get both options

Pc is house setup as Plex server - Master race Gaming and Peasant console gaming via Game streaming from xbox.

 

[mogiletsiZA]

I suppose using a PC as a dedicated media device may be a waste. Also, it seems that consoles have built in streaming platforms with the only issue being their fees, where things like Kodi "add-ons" are free on PC?. Consoles also have Blu Ray players which is a great piece of hardware. Not so straightforward.. It's really dependent on certain preferences as you guys are saying.

 

[Rickster]

I would go for a PC any day, wider codec support etc.

Overall it has tons more features.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Console is a lot more convenient.

Not only control wise but streaming apps for consoles like Netflix, Youtube, etc are designed with a TV interface in mind unlike PCs.

I have both a PS4 and PC (using Steam big picture mode and X-box controller) connected to my TV and I'll pick the PS4 90% of the time unless there is something very specific on the PC that I want to play.

 

[ODTech]

Hi all,

considering either connecting a PC or console (Xbox or PS4) to HD TV.

The idea is to have a dedicated entertainment system for casual gaming, movies and music that will replace the need for DSTV.

I know that with a PC, there are thousands of streaming sites for HD movies etc as well as the Steam platform, but of course, cost is a factor when wanting a medium-end PC for that purpose alone. mid range (gtx 1060; i5, approx 18 - 20k)

For consoles, i'm concerned that they may be too one-dimensional (gaming orientated) now days, particularly when you consider we are in SA and don't have access to all other features of the system.

Would be good to hear your thoughts/suggestions?

From the gaming point of view i'd go with a pc. You have access to significantly more games and the ones available on all platforms are usually cheaper for PC.

 

[ponder]

The idea is to have a dedicated entertainment system for casual gaming, movies and music that will replace the need for DSTV.

I know that with a PC, there are thousands of streaming sites for HD movies etc as well as the Steam platform, but of course, cost is a factor when wanting a medium-end PC for that purpose alone. mid range (gtx 1060; i5, approx 18 - 20k)

Do you watch sport at all? soda player & acestreams are great for that.

18-20k sounds a bit much unless it's gold plated.

i5-7500 + GTX 1060 6GB + 8GB RAM + MB can be had for R8800, add case & psu of your choice.

 

[Ancalagon]

Do you watch sport at all? soda player & acestreams are great for that.

18-20k sounds a bit much unless it's gold plated.

i5-7500 + GTX 1060 6GB + 8GB RAM + MB can be had for R8800, add case & psu of your choice.

I thought a GTX 1060 6GB would cost R6k on its own?

 

[ponder]

I thought a GTX 1060 6GB would cost R6k on its own?

R4300 and up.

R4300 - https://www.wootware.co.za/palit-ge...-192-bit-pci-e-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html
R4600 - https://www.wootware.co.za/galax-ge...gb-gddr5-pci-e-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html
R4600 - https://www.wootware.co.za/zotac-zt...-192-bit-pci-e-3-0-desktop-graphics-card.html

 

[Krosis]

If you go the PC route, might I recommend a Pentium G4560 build paired with a GTX 1050 Ti, since you'll be using a TV you won't be needing a super beefy PC to push super high frame rates. & the CPU on it's own will handle 4K x265 video without breaking a sweat and without having to do too much in the background, the 4 threads of the G4560 should be plenty for pushing the modest GTX to full perfomance in all games and should be ok for at least 3 years. If your budget allows it though, getting a Ryzen 5 1600 build with a GTX 1060 should guarantee problem free gaming for a number of years, though that's a bit overkill for a media PC.

Edit:
I would really recommend going for Ryzen instead of an i5 if you plan on building around the GTX 1060, this would be a much better build than the 1050 Ti Pentium combo (or even a locked i5 build) if you game on a higher refresh rate display or planning on keeping the system for longer.

 

[CamiKaze]

I have my gaming pc hooked up to the TV as a media player.
You have more functionality but the price can put you off as well.

 

[ODTech]

If you go the PC route, might I recommend a Pentium G4560 build paired with a GTX 1050 Ti, since you'll be using a TV you won't be needing a super beefy PC to push super high frame rates. & the CPU on it's own will handle 4K x265 video without breaking a sweat and without having to do too much in the background, the 4 threads of the G4560 should be plenty for pushing the modest GTX to full perfomance in all games and should be ok for at least 3 years. If your budget allows it though, getting a Ryzen 5 1600 build with a GTX 1060 should guarantee problem free gaming for a number of years, though that's a bit overkill for a media PC.

Edit:
I would really recommend going for Ryzen instead of an i5 if you plan on building around the GTX 1060, this would be a much better build than the 1050 Ti Pentium combo (or even a locked i5 build) if you game on a higher refresh rate display or planning on keeping the system for longer.

Playing on a tv won't make a game not lag if your hardware is underpowered. Needs change down the line and that pentium G4560 won't cut it.

 

[Krosis]

Playing on a tv won't make a game not lag if your hardware is underpowered. Needs change down the line and that pentium G4560 won't cut it.

I have to respectfully disagree, yes some day in the future the Pentium will be grossly underpowered, especially looking at the move currently to utilize more than 4 threads on a CPU. But for a system sporting a midrange graphics card, especially one designated a media PC that won't be doing much else in the background while gaming, the 4 threads will be plenty to max out the GPU. It might take half a decade or more for the 4 threads to start becoming a liability in games, in that case even the i5 with it's lack of hyperthreading will have issues since it also has just 4 threads. The only scenario where the Pentium might bottleneck a midrange GPU is on games that are heavily CPU bound (a very small subset - the i5 might do a bit better here but will still struggle as well). Of cause when looking at what is the more "safe" or "futureproof" solution, the Ryzen 5 1600 route makes more sense than going the i5 route. By the time an upgrade will be required, both the Pentium and the i5 will have much of the same shortcomings, so it makes no sense to get a more expensive part that will be just as inadequate as the lower priced one come upgrade time when they'll both get the most out of any midrange GPU. Of cause if the GPU is much beefier (better than the 1060), then the Pentium shouldn't even be a consideration.

 

[ODTech]

I have to respectfully disagree, yes some day in the future the Pentium will be grossly underpowered, especially looking at the move currently to utilize more than 4 threads on a CPU. But for a system sporting a midrange graphics card, especially one designated a media PC that won't be doing much else in the background while gaming, the 4 threads will be plenty to max out the GPU. It might take half a decade or more for the 4 threads to start becoming a liability in games, in that case even the i5 with it's lack of hyperthreading will have issues since it also has just 4 threads. The only scenario where the Pentium might bottleneck a midrange GPU is on games that are heavily CPU bound (a very small subset - the i5 might do a bit better here but will still struggle as well). Of cause when looking at what is the more "safe" or "futureproof" solution, the Ryzen 5 1600 route makes more sense than going the i5 route. By the time an upgrade will be required, both the Pentium and the i5 will have much of the same shortcomings, so it makes no sense to get a more expensive part that will be just as inadequate as the lower priced one come upgrade time when they'll both get the most out of any midrange GPU. Of cause if the GPU is much beefier (better than the 1060), then the Pentium shouldn't even be a consideration.

A Pentium is not a i5. The argument i'm making is not about the core count. I'm saying the pentium is just not as high performance as the i5 and if OP decides to move past "casual gaming" it just won't do. The pentium will be a big bottleneck to even a 1050Ti.

There are very often reasonably priced kaby i5's on carbonite so the argument from a budget point of view also falls away for the most part.

 

[M_Kat]

I'm building a PC from mostly 2nd hand parts(CPU, RAM, PSU, GPU) just for this.

If you don't mind the maintenance involved then definitely go the PC route, for the price of a ps4 pro or Xbox one you can build a decent system that outperforms both.