Zwift | Apple TV 4K vs GAMING PC || Direct Comparison

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Check out last week's video | Apple TV 4K vs. Gaming PC first. This is in addition to that video.
Following up on my previous video about Apple tv vs. gaming PC for zwift, I have fixed my capture card. I have been able to capture 5 minutes of video direct from each device for comparison.

[@trkempton]

Much easier to see the difference, good follow up vid

[@opierik]

Very nice! It think it's also interesting to see the same comparison on a big group ride (and show fps)

[@solips]

Thanks! Now I have a dedicated PC for my pain cave!

[@EricAbbottTri]

Glad I could help

[@DCassidy42]

Not surprising, but I don't think the video quality of any of the 3 examples would impact my motivation to train. In a gaming situation where differentiating between details in texture and lighting is vital to your success, I could see this being a more important factor.

[@EricAbbottTri]

Yup, it's all personal preference. For me, the higher quality visuals really adds to the experience and thus makes me more comfortable for long rides.

[@mikecorrea7053]

Good comparison. Apple TV is for those who want convenience. Gaming PCs are for those who want the complete immersive experience with all the eye candy. I'm running Zwift on a dedicated gaming pc on ultra 4k settings on a 50 inch 4k TV at a silky smooth 60 fps. I want to eventually step up to a 65 inch 4k.

[@EricAbbottTri]

That is one heck of a setup

[@overnightclassic2]

projector is much better

[@OSODELANOXXE]

The day zwift runs ambient occlusion, tessellation and RTX effects on their platform is when you would see the difference using a gaming pc. I am running zwift on my RTX3070 with lest than 10% gpu processing usage while running also other Windows programs at the same time.

[@EricAbbottTri]

Not sure your comment makes sense. There is a very clear difference between Zwift on a PC and on anything else. It is definitely not a AAA modern video game but you can absolutely tell a difference now.

[@markgibson9659]

Thanks for doing this, Eric. I was wondering about this very issue as I have a gaming pc that is not being used enough. I’m using an old laptop now and also have an Apple TV. The Apple TV, although visually is good presents a challenge when it comes to the amount of Bluetooth connections you can have. Ant+ is easier to work with, I find. So, do I swap the gaming pc for the laptop? It might be worth a go, but life changing? Thanks again.

[@EricAbbottTri]

If you have a PC with a dedicated GPU that you could use for Zwift, I highly recommend it!

[@markgibson9659]

@@EricAbbottTri I do. Built it to play MS Flight sim 2020 but I’m riding so much that I just don’t have the time to fly. I know, first world problems! I’ll give it a go.

[@EricAbbottTri]

Oh, heck ya. MS flight sim is a beast of a game. If your PC can run that game, you will have no trouble running Zwift with all the eye candy cranked to the max.

[@maximus1234ification]

What route is this? its beautiful!

[@zdeneksuchan2420]

Could you please compare the Android version of Zwift application? Let say power by Nvidia Shield Pro. Is it close to Old Laptop / Apple TV or Gaming PC? Thanks a lot.

[@hrpzwift945]

I am using Apple TV 4K, but has been wondering how the graphics would differ on a gaming PC. Thanks for the video - No doubt about that the graphics on the Gaming PC is better than Apple TV 4K but after having watched the video, I am happy with the Apple TV solution, it is a relatively cheap solution and easy to use..... Ups the remote is however... Lets say it could be better, but it works and you can use the companion app for most things.

[@madmax2069]

It entirely depends on the game/app really (take zwift for example it's hardly better on the gaming PC vs the appleTV because the devs wasn't pushing for the absolute highest graphics fidelity possible), everything on the AppleTV is pretty much mobile games. A gaming PC would smoke an AppleTV in everything, and a gaming PC wouldn't only be limited to just mobile games either.

[@richroberts8238]

I could not get rouvy to work on a Toshiba Fire TV with Apple TV app loaded. Remote erratic. Also could not mirror from laptop using hdmi cable Toshiba laptop to toshiba Fire TV with Rouvy app in Apple TV app. Any ideas?

[@HKIDETOOL]

Thanks for your video I used to play Zwift on my PC with graphic card on 25" monitor with 1440P setting but I want to connect to my 4KTV now it is not easy for me because PC and TV is not nearby and also there too much setup to run Zwift PC Version each time e.g. Ant+ extension cable with doggle.(The Ant+ is really bad...) The PC hardware is pricey nowadays due to the fucking bitcoins miner so dedicated PC for zwift is not accepted solution. I am IOS User and I run Zwift on my ipad 2018 version now. Just use Bluetooth to connect trainer and sensors. Much more better than ANT+ Therefore, i will go to purchase the apple tv now so i can get a larger screen on my TV since the graphic texture is not bad and it is smooth. as a hardcore gamer aspect, the Gaming PC capture like Witcher 3 the Apple TV capture like Zelda BOW Great game is not depends on graphic, it depends on their content.

[@nsgphysics]

I have a non 4K TV, so will I see much difference between the ATV and the gaming PC?

[@EricAbbottTri]

Great question. So with a lower resolution tv you obviously won't have the super sharp image that 4k provides but you will still see a large improvement. You will get better lighting, and shadows which adds significantly to the overall look.

[@fufu1405]

Didn't expect a non gamer to know this, but tests like these should show framerate differences.

[@EricAbbottTri]

Absolutely, however it would s very difficult to capture fps from the Apple TV so I decided to leave it off

[@fufu1405]

@@EricAbbottTri fair enough

[@pavelcuprune9931]

)) 😀 and ROUVY 4K (witch new update) should be shown in another separate window this test

[@pwlcapricorn1]

I have a non-4k Apple TV and I don’t see any shadows at all. Is there a string I need to adjust?

[@EricAbbottTri]

The non-4k is a less powerful device so it probably is not capable of showing shadows.

[@julianvandersteen2303]

Would love to see this comparison again but on some paved road, particularly the windy downhill stuff in Watopia that brings your avatar up to 35 - 40 mph. That would be in my opinion the best way to compare the smoothness of each device. Either way though, it's clear who the winner is here!

[@stevesmith8991]

New to zwift could someone tell me which course this so I can compare my laptop to this

[@EricAbbottTri]

This is in the jungle part of Watopia. The jungle circuit route will take you there.

[@stevesmith8991]

@@EricAbbottTri , cheers for that any chance you could do a similar video to this but with more riders on screen 👍

[@EricAbbottTri]

That's a good idea. I know my old laptop would basically catch fire if there were a lot of riders on screen at once. I will see about doing an follow up video to this where I look at that in the future.

[@stevesmith8991]

@@EricAbbottTri , thanks as my laptop is ok but was contemplating an upgrade to see if its worth it as mine gets a bit laggy when it's busy on screen

[@Sebastian27474]

Now I've to buy an old laptop on eBay. Only on old laptops I can ride the 1km in under 3 minutes.😁

[@bonk945]

Have you tried to set "set gFoliagePercent=5" in the ultra config file and test that?

[@EricAbbottTri]

I have not but I will now. Thanks for the suggestion

[@RATM1971]

What are the specs of the gaming PC?

[@EricAbbottTri]

Intel i3-10100, Nvidia GTX 1060 6gb, 8gb RAM

[@fabio_mussi]

There is a thing that this video cannot shows us and it's the difference in framerate. I have the same GPU (but a slower CPU) and FPS are about 60 (my monitor is a 1080p - 60hz so it s a bottleneck)...they drop in big events. With an apple TV fps are locked @30 and, imo, is a big difference (at least or my eyes)

[@oldtwinsna8347]

framerate is the biggie for sure. especially large events with hundreds or thousands of riders participating will make the frames drop so much, that's where the reserve power of a powerful gaming pc will compensate enough to not be noticeable on the eyes.

[@noonrock4]

For me the key takeaway is that 4K Apple TV performs pretty well . . .

[@EricAbbottTri]

Honestly, I feel the same way. It is lacking the high resolution and more advanced shadows but it is smooth and for the price it's great.

[@kevbuoygaming]

nice comparison. I see the benefits myself after building a dedicated gaming PC. Have you seen a notification message in the header bar when loading the Zwift App in Windows Mode "(not responding)" usually for ~5 seconds before disappearing? It annoys me and I would like to know if you have seen this message & how to remedy this. Zwift Support tell me they have not seen this message which I dispute as I've seen this message on 3 different PCs (one of which was not mine). Regards.

[@EricAbbottTri]

Sorry, I have never seen that. But I never run Zwift in windowed mode; I always run it fullscreen.

[@jpprovost64]

ok but apple tv 4k ... its easy set up ... put on a creen 140 inches .. i love it

[@EricAbbottTri]

Yup. The Apple TV is very easy to set up.

[@JuanChOKhan]

What gen of Apple TV 4K is it?

[@EricAbbottTri]

Gen 3

[@overnightclassic2]

@@EricAbbottTri gen 3 came out in novemeber of 2022? It's either gen 2 or gen 1

[@frankconte264]

Come on people actually believed an apple tv would compete with a gaming PC. The cheapest graphics card alone cost more then an apple tv

[@EricAbbottTri]

You would be surprised. But I think it's more that people are Zwift on an Apple TV and assume that is the best it can look

[@frankconte264]

@@EricAbbottTri very true. In the end for zwift purposes, apple tv is more then enough. A gaming PC is kind of over kill unless you have the PC for other purposes

[@EricAbbottTri]

Yup absolutely, apple tv is more than enough. It's a lot like the difference between HD and 4k. HD is great and really all you need to enjoy a show but once you watch a movie in 4k....there is no going back 😍

[@yechielchli6769]

@@EricAbbottTri also a pc has more flexibility for connections...

[@RATM1971]

1050Ti cost me $50 when I set up mine, with an old i7-2600k I had sitting around.