I'm considering switching from an Xbox Series X to a gaming PC and would like the transition to feel as seamless as possible. I'm comfortable either building the computer myself or buying a prebuilt system. I'm used to gaming at 4K and around 60 FPS, although I'm willing to lower the resolution if necessary. I'd connect the PC to my TV rather than buying a separate monitor. My budget is currently about £1,500, with some flexibility if spending a little more would make a meaningful difference. I mainly play games such as Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and I'm also interested in modding them. Is this target realistic, and roughly how much would I actually need to spend?
3 Answers
You probably won’t need to spend the full £1,500. A well-balanced modern system in the roughly £900–£1,200 range should provide a similar or better experience than a Series X, especially if you’re happy to use sensible settings rather than demanding native 4K everywhere. The extra budget could go toward more storage, 32GB of memory, or a stronger graphics card for heavier games and mods.
The Series X often uses dynamic resolution and upscaling, so its advertised 4K output doesn’t always mean native 4K rendering. A current mid-to-upper-mid-range graphics card paired with a capable recent processor should match it comfortably and can offer better frame rates or visual settings. I’d prioritize the graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a decent SSD rather than overspending on the CPU.
A parts list built around a modern gaming CPU and a strong mid-range GPU should fit well within your budget. For Cyberpunk and heavily modded games, choose at least a 1TB NVMe SSD, preferably 2TB if the budget allows, and make sure the power supply and cooling are from reputable brands. A prebuilt can work too, but compare the individual components carefully because some systems cut costs on the motherboard, power supply, or storage.
Thanks, I’ll compare complete parts lists with prebuilts and pay particular attention to the power supply and storage rather than just the headline graphics card.
That’s helpful, thanks. I mainly play Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk, so I’ll also need to account for the extra storage and modding those games can require.