The Xbox Series S offers impressive 1080p/1440p gaming performance at an affordable $299 price point. But how does it compare to entry-level desktop graphics cards? What PC GPU gets you closest to Xbox Series S performance for a similar cost?
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I‘ll compare the Xbox to popular cards like the RX 6500 XT, GTX 1660 and GTX 1060 based on hardware specs, real-world gaming tests, unique console features, and overall value. My goal is to help figure out the closest "equivalent" GPU so you can decide if the Xbox or a PC is the best fit.
Understanding Xbox Series S Hardware and Target Performance
First, a quick refresher on Xbox Series S hardware…
The Series S uses a custom AMD SoC (System-on-a-Chip) with 8 CPU cores clocked at 3.6GHz based on the Zen 2 architecture plus 20 RDNA 2 compute units for the GPU portion running at around 1.5GHz.
It has 10GB of total GDDR6 memory with 8GB usable for games, and super-fast NVMe storage. The console is designed and optimized to run games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, targeting 60 FPS for most titles.
The Xbox platform utilizes tricks like DirectStorage for lightning fast asset streaming from storage to memory/GPU. And the Sampler Feedback Streaming feature can boost textures and geometry performance an extra 10-30% on top of RDNA 2‘s efficiency.
So in practical terms, the Series S delivers around 4 teraflops of GPU compute power with advanced architecture designs that punch above its weight class compared to older PC hardware.
Many next-gen games run at native 1080p or dynamic 1440p resolutions, while backwards compatible Xbox One games often see doubled 60 FPS framerates from 30 FPS caps.
Now let‘s dive into PC graphics cards with similar processing capabilities…
AMD RX 6500 XT – Closest Competition on Paper
The RX 6500 XT is positioned by AMD as the closest desktop GPU equivalent in their product stack to the Xbox Series S. Sometimes it outperforms the Xbox, sometimes it falls a bit short.
RX 6500 XT Detailed Specs:
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Stream Processors: | 1024 SPs |
| Game Clock: | 2650 MHz |
| Boost Clock: | 2820 MHz |
| Memory: | 4GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus: | 64 bit |
| Memory Speed: | 18 Gbps |
| API Support: | DX12, Vulkan |
| Power Connectors: | PCIe power only |
| Launch Date: | January 2022 |
With updated RDNA 2 architecture, the 6500 XT actually showcases better raw specs than Xbox Series S in certain areas. It has higher core clocks up to 2.8GHz boost, and delivers an impressive 5.5 TFLOPS of 32-bit floating point performance.
The biggest downside is lower VRAM at just 4GB – an 8GB model is available but rarely in stock under $300. This can cause stuttering in games with higher resolution textures.
Now let‘s see how real games perform head-to-head…
Benchmark Comparison for Real-World Games
According to extensive testing by publications like TechSpot, here is how the RX 6500 XT stacks up to Xbox Series S in average FPS across lots of new games at 1080p High settings:
| Game Title | Xbox Series S FPS | RX 6500 XT FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Gears 5 | 60 | 67 |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 60 | 49 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 58 | 43 |
| Battlefield V | 105 | 75 |
| F1 2021 | 85 | 71 |
| Average | 74 FPS | 61 FPS |
Based on these benchmarks, the Xbox Series S beats the 6500 XT in many games thanks to Microsoft‘s hardware and software optimizations. The 4GB VRAM buffer causes stuttering in the latest graphically demanding games.
So while the RX 6500 XT seemingly "wins" on paper specs, smarter technology in the Xbox narrows the gap significantly. Let‘s check out some alternative desktop cards next…
NVIDIA GTX 1660 – Neck-and-Neck Performance
Nvidia‘s last-gen GTX 1660 is still popular for 1080p gaming PCs built on a budget. And it has enough muscle nearly match the Xbox Series S in many titles.
GTX 1660 Detailed Specs:
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| CUDA Cores: | 1408 |
| Boost Clock: | 1785 MHz |
| VRAM: | 6GB GDDR5 |
| Bus Width: | 192 bit |
| Bandwidth: | 192.1 GB/s |
| Launch Date: | March 2019 |
Clocked at a brisk 1.7GHz+, and packing 6GB of GDDR5 memory, the aging GTX 1660 seems underpowered compared to AMD‘s newer tech. But it remains a strong 1080p performer in 2022, trading blows with the Xbox depending on the game.
Let‘s check some tested benchmark results…
| Game Title | Xbox Series S FPS | GTX 1660 FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Gears 5 | 60 FPS | 73 FPS |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 60 FPS | 66 FPS |
| Battlefield V | 105 FPS | 95 FPS |
| F1 2021 | 85 FPS | 91 FPS |
| Average | 74 FPS | 81 FPS |
The GTX 1660 averaged 81 FPS across these games compared to Xbox‘s 74 FPS. Architecture differences give it a small edge in older DirectX 11 games, while the Xbox maximizes its hardware lead in optimized DX12 titles.
They trade victories depending on game engine and optimization level. But practically speaking both deliver very smooth 60+ FPS gameplay for 1080p monitors.
Console Optimization and Special Sauces
While the GTX 1660 battles closely based on teraflops and benchmarks, the Xbox Series S has a few special tricks up its sleeve…
The Velocity architecture with hardware accelerated decompression allows asset streaming nearly on par with high-end PC NVMe SSDs. This keeps the GPU fed with data and textures at maximum speeds.
DirectStorage offloads storage tasks from the CPU to GPU. Then Sampler Feedback streams compressed texture data straight to the GPU instead of intermediary decompressing. This massively boosts effective bandwidth.
These custom silicon solutions and software optimizations give Xbox an advantage over PC graphics cards with similar rasterization power. Consoles can "punch above their weight" thanks to the integration between components.
Let‘s not forget extras like FPS Boost doubling old Xbox One game framerates, Auto HDR improving visuals, and modern features like ray tracing. The Xbox gaming environment offers nicely optimized out-of-box experiences.
But shipping a performant console at $299 does carry some compromises…
Building a DIY Gaming PC for Xbox-Level Performance
If we try assembling PC components equaling Xbox Series S capabilities, it becomes much pricier.
Here is an example entry-level desktop build I spec‘d out with the help of PCPartPicker:
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G | $139.99 @ B&H |
| CPU Cooler | ID-COOLING SE-224-XT 76.16 CFM CPU Cooler | $29.99 @ Amazon |
| Motherboard | MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard | $119.99 @ Amazon |
| Memory | Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory | $48.97 @ Amazon |
| Storage | Western Digital Blue SN570 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive | $41.99 @ Amazon |
| Video Card | XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card | $239.99 @ Amazon |
| Case | Cougar MX330-G Air ATX Mid Tower Case | $64.98 @ Newegg |
| Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA GA 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $54.99 @ Amazon |
| Total | $740.89 |
To match Xbox specs under the hood requires over double the investment! And that‘s before adding operating system, game controllers, etc.
You realistically need to budget $900+ for a desktop gaming PC build that consistently beats the Series S on performance and graphics.
Of course DIY PCs offer nice benefits like upgrading components later, unlocking frame rates beyond 60 FPS, using mouse & keyboard for shooters, and more.
Key Differences to Consider Xbox vs Desktop
| Console Pros | PC Pros |
|---|---|
| Fixed low hardware cost | Customize and upgrade parts |
| Optimized integrated software | Higher FPS capabilities |
| Features like Quick Resume | More control over graphics settings |
| Larger online gaming communities | Play mouse/keyboard games |
| Console exclusives | Better productivity/work uses |
There are great arguments for both platforms. Consoles work right away with less fuss, offer unique franchises like Halo, and keep gaming costs predictable.
But an equivalently powered gaming PC provides you more customization for fine tuning performance and visuals. Upgrading components down the road extends its useful lifespan too.
No doubt, today‘s consoles maximize their internal hardware very efficiently. But desktops ultimately provide Headroom for enthusiasts wanting sharper graphics and faster speeds.
The Bottom Line – What I Recommend
Considering specs, benchmarks, pricing, and features covered across Xbox Series S and rival entry-level GPUs…
I believe the Xbox Series S is hands-down the best choice for seamless 1080p gaming under a $300 budget.
Matching its balanced hardware + optimized software tandem starts becoming prohibitively expensive for DIY PC builders. You face 50-100% higher costs minimum.
However, if you can invest upwards of $600-700 on a new desktop gaming rig, that opens the door for better graphics and uncapped framerates exceeding 60 FPS.
At that mid-range budget, I suggest an RX 6600 build which delivers very smooth 1080p gameplay while keeping costs relatively affordable. This RX 6600 desktop build guide video has fantastic parts recommendations to hit performance similar or beating the Xbox Series S.
Or if you prefer keeping costs around $300-400 for now but want upgradability later, the RX 6500 XT is a good entry point. Just make sure to get an 8GB model to avoid VRAM issues. You can then upgrade the video card again in 2-3 years.
Hope this technology deep dive helps provide some clarity! Let me know if any other questions come up when choosing the optimal platform for your budget and gaming needs.
