The Xbox One

[Iceman]

Great. I'm considering trading in 1 X1 for an S, and then trading the other one in for a Scorpio next year.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I bought the S knowing I'd be trading it towards the Scorpio next year. I'm sure there will be a few decent trade deals when the time comes. I sold my Wii U while it still had some value so that was smart. Hopefully I'll have a 4K TV by the time the Scorpio comes out. Then I can indulge all the technical, graphical mumbo jumbo everyone keeps talking about.

 

[X Knight]

Great. I'm considering trading in 1 X1 for an S, and then trading the other one in for a Scorpio next year.

well, you can do that, especially before the value of the old X1 drops more.

if you are looking to replace one of your old X1s, you certainly can't go wrong with the S. t:

 

[Iceman]

I bought the S knowing I'd be trading it towards the Scorpio next year. I'm sure there will be a few decent trade deals when the time comes. I sold my Wii U while it still had some value so that was smart. Hopefully I'll have a 4K TV by the time the Scorpio comes out. Then I can indulge all the technical, graphical mumbo jumbo everyone keeps talking about.

Good plan.

well, you can do that, especially before the value of the old X1 drops more.

if you are looking to replace one of your old X1s, you certainly can't go wrong with the S. t:

Yes, if I'm going to do it I'll do it now. Thanks.

 

[X Knight]

I bought the S knowing I'd be trading it towards the Scorpio next year. I'm sure there will be a few decent trade deals when the time comes. I sold my Wii U while it still had some value so that was smart. Hopefully I'll have a 4K TV by the time the Scorpio comes out. Then I can indulge all the technical, graphical mumbo jumbo everyone keeps talking about.

I don't think I'll be trading my S towards the Scorpio next year.

First, I want to see how much the Scorpio costs and what its features will be ( will it do everything the S can do like 4K player, all in one media player, browsing, Universal Windows Apps, etc. ).

Second, I want to wait for the Scorpio to come down in price and ideally, I want to wait for the first revision ( like the S is to the original X1 ).

so, I think I'll hold onto my S for at least 2 years, until my BB warranty runs out, and then I'll evaluate the landscape with the Scorpio.

unless there's a compelling reason to upgrade to the Scorpio ( for example, Scorpio exclusive games or features ), I want to try to hold onto my S as long as possible.

 

[X Knight]

Good plan.



Yes, if I'm going to do it I'll do it now. Thanks.

you should have taken advantage of the trade in offers when the S launched.

 

[Iceman]

That works too. The Scorpio is definite day 1 for me. I may even get 2. t:

I really hope this system replaces the console generations and everything going forward will be BC like pc so I can finally start trading in rather than accumulating more consoles.

 

[Iceman]

you should have taken advantage of the trade in offers when the S launched.

Yeah. Can't change the past though so who cares lol.

 

[X Knight]

ok. here are the super scientific results from my impromptu, makeshift Dragon Age Inquisition X1 S vs PS4 experiment. This might be of interest to you, Iceman.

To keep everything as close as possible and to eliminate as many variables as possible, I did the following:

1. Used the same TV settings on both ports.
2. Used a new high speed HDMI cable with my PS4.
3. Set the PS4 to output to the highest video resolution - 1080p.
4. Set the PS4 HDR setting to Auto.
5. Sat the same distance away from the TV.
6. Tried to compare the same scenes on both versions of the game.

I compared across various screens, including:

1. The initial Splash Page.
2. The Title Screen.
3. The Character Select Portrait Screen.
4. Character Creator.
5. Frostback Mountain environment.
6. Hinterlands environment.

As for the results.....

Was there a huge, wild, dramatic difference between the 2? No.

Was there a slight, subtle difference? Yes, according to my eyes at least.

Overall, the PS4 version felt a little bit darker, duller, less vibrant, and a bit more "washed out."

The X1 S version overall did look a bit crisper and the colors were a bit more vibrant and richer.

I tried to take in the overall picture as well as notice subtle details in the background.

Again, nothing too dramatically different. but overall, the S version did seem a bit crisper and a bit more vibrant in color.

For example, at the very beginning, at the 1st Milestone Auto Save on the bridge at Frostback Mountain, when you look up at the green Rift vortex in the sky. That's pretty distinct visually. and on the S version, it did feel like it popped more and stood out more with a bit richer green color. It also seemed to look a bit "bigger" in size. Even the fire in the distance in the background seemed to pop more on the S version.

Also, at the 1st Basecamp in the Hinterlands, the green foliage in the trees and the orange color of the flowers on the ground seemed to pop more on the S. Even the ground area right around the camp fire seemed a bit brighter and more vibrant on the S version.

So, from this little experiment, while there weren't dramatic differences, it does seem like the S does provide some kind of boost to the crispness and colors. If anything, that could simply be due to the fact that the S can output to 4K UHD resolution in its settings whereas the PS4 can only go to 1080p. Thus, the S is more compatible with a 4K tv than the PS4.

 

[X Knight]

That works too. The Scorpio is definite day 1 for me. I may even get 2. t:

I really hope this system replaces the console generations and everything going forward will be BC like pc so I can finally start trading in rather than accumulating more consoles.

yeah. I hope there's a degree of "modularity" or "upgradability" with the Scorpio.

at the very least, let us swap out our hard drives. but support external drives, too, like the X1.

Yeah. Can't change the past though so who cares lol.

Let It Go!!

 

[Iceman]

Haha.

And thanks a lot for the above. I'm going to look into the trade in option.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I think it might just be the newness, but I'm enjoying playing on my S more than my PS4 since buying it. I'm absolutely in love with how the controller feels. I like a heavier controller. It also has a great layout. I wish the Xbox menu's were as easy to navigate as the PS4, but after some adjustment I'm used to them.

 

[X Knight]

I think it might just be the newness, but I'm enjoying playing on my S more than my PS4 since buying it. I'm absolutely in love with how the controller feels. I like a heavier controller. It also has a great layout. I wish the Xbox menu's were as easy to navigate as the PS4, but after some adjustment I'm used to them.

same here. I like the X1 controller more, too.

and overall I just enjoy using the X1 more than the PS4. Simply put, I can do more with the X1 and I feel more at home with the X1 layout and UI.

The downside is still the longer install/download times. but that's a trade off I can live with and work around.

 

[X Knight]

Haha.

And thanks a lot for the above. I'm going to look into the trade in option.

no problem.

hope you can get a good deal for your original X1.

 

[Iceman]

same here. I like the X1 controller more, too.

and overall I just enjoy using the X1 more than the PS4. Simply put, I can do more with the X1 and I feel more at home with the X1 layout and UI.

The downside is still the longer install/download times. but that's a trade off I can live with and work around.

What's your internet download speed usually?

 

[X Knight]

What's your internet download speed usually?

I recently upgraded my internet speed. I think it's around 8mbps - 10mbps on average.

I've noticed with the X1 that sometimes it can get around the 10mbps, but it usually stays around the 3-4 mbps mark and often drops down to the 1-2 mbps mark.

Did some research on the net and YouTube, and there's seems to be a common "trick" to getting a faster download speed.

1. Turn on "Instant On"
2. Check "Keep games, app, system updated"
3. Uncheck "When X1 is off, turn off hard drive"
4. Hold down the Home button on the controller, choose "Turn off console"

It seems when you use Instant On and turn off the console that way, it sets the downloads and updates to a higher priority and downloads them faster.

I guess it works? Over the last few days, I've been downloading Halo Master Chief Collection and Killer Instinct ( both rather large files ), and when I used the method above, it did seem to download a bit faster ( still took awhile ).

Before, what I did was use Instant On, but I left the console on while downloading/updating and then let the console turn itself off after 1 hour of inactivity, and then continue downloading while "off" in Instant On.

And that way seemed to take much longer. I've noticed that when I first wake the console up from Instant On, that's usually when I see the higher download speeds around 10 mpbs. As I leave the console on, then I notice that it drops down to as low as 1-2 mpbs.

Are there any other tips or tricks that you know of that could speed up the download speeds?

Oh, and I'm connecting wirelessly to my router. the router is in a different room and so I can't connect it wired to my console.

 

[Iceman]

I recently upgraded my internet speed. I think it's around 8mbps - 10mbps on average.

I've noticed with the X1 that sometimes it can get around the 10mbps, but it usually stays around the 3-4 mbps mark and often drops down to the 1-2 mbps mark.

Did some research on the net and YouTube, and there's seems to be a common "trick" to getting a faster download speed.

1. Turn on "Instant On"
2. Check "Keep games, app, system updated"
3. Uncheck "When X1 is off, turn off hard drive"
4. Hold down the Home button on the controller, choose "Turn off console"

It seems when you use Instant On and turn off the console that way, it sets the downloads and updates to a higher priority and downloads them faster.

I guess it works? Over the last few days, I've been downloading Halo Master Chief Collection and Killer Instinct ( both rather large files ), and when I used the method above, it did seem to download a bit faster ( still took awhile ).

Before, what I did was use Instant On, but I left the console on while downloading/updating and then let the console turn itself off after 1 hour of inactivity, and then continue downloading while "off" in Instant On.

And that way seemed to take much longer. I've noticed that when I first wake the console up from Instant On, that's usually when I see the higher download speeds around 10 mpbs. As I leave the console on, then I notice that it drops down to as low as 1-2 mpbs.

Are there any other tips or tricks that you know of that could speed up the download speeds?

Oh, and I'm connecting wirelessly to my router. the router is in a different room and so I can't connect it wired to my console.

Ohhh that's slow lol. Mine is 80 mbps and the X1 downloads on average at 75 mbps. I thought the US would be faster! Connecting by wired to the router will help. If you're going to be downloading things overnight then maybe you could just move it to the other room just during the download and then move it back when you want to play. Might get done overnight that way.

 

[X Knight]

Ohhh that's slow lol. Mine is 80 mbps and the X1 downloads on average at 75 mbps. I thought the US would be faster! Connecting by wired to the router will help. If you're going to be downloading things overnight then maybe you could just move it to the other room just during the download and then move it back when you want to play. Might get done overnight that way.

no. moving it back and forth across rooms ( and across floors in my house ) would be way too inconvenient.........lol.

but how the heck do you get 75-80 mbps??!!

are you using wired connection? is it your fast internet service you use?

cuz right now I'm jealous.......lol.

 

[Iceman]

no. moving it back and forth across rooms ( and across floors in my house ) would be way too inconvenient.........lol.

but how the heck do you get 75-80 mbps??!!

are you using wired connection? is it your fast internet service you use?

cuz right now I'm jealous.......lol.

Oh, it's on a different floor..yeah that's quite inconvenient I guess.

This is with Sky. Their standard service is up to just over 40 mbps and their premium is up to 80 mbps. With a wired or good wireless connection I see mid 70s. Can be a lot less in a different room with a wireless connection on certain devices. And I think Sky's main competitors BT and Virgin can go even faster if they are available in the area you live in (although haven't checked them recently).

Edit: just checked and Virgin go up to 200mbps, bloody hell!

 

[X Knight]

Oh, it's on a different floor..yeah that's quite inconvenient I guess.

This is with Sky. Their standard service is up to just over 40 mbps and their premium is up to 80 mbps. With a wired or good wireless connection I see mid 70s. Can be a lot less in a different room with a wireless connection on certain devices. And I think Sky's main competitors BT and Virgin can go even faster if they are available in the area you live in (although haven't checked them recently).

Edit: just checked and Virgin go up to 200mbps, bloody hell!

ah, I see.

hmmm......then I need to check my internet provider to see if they offer a faster tier and how much that costs.......lol.

also, I am using a router "extender" to boost the signal from the main router downstairs. and I have my X1 connected to that extender router.

right now, the extender is in the hallway outside my room. I'll try moving that extender into my room and see if I can connect the X1 wired to it and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Iceman]

ah, I see.

hmmm......then I need to check my internet provider to see if they offer a faster tier and how much that costs.......lol.

also, I am using a router "extender" to boost the signal from the main router downstairs. and I have my X1 connected to that extender router.

right now, the extender is in the hallway outside my room. I'll try moving that extender into my room and see if I can connect the X1 wired to it and see if that makes a difference.

Worth a try. Do you know what other people in the US are getting for their internet speeds? Friends, colleagues etc.

 

[X Knight]

Worth a try. Do you know what other people in the US are getting for their internet speeds? Friends, colleagues etc.

I have no idea......lol.

but I just checked and I have the max speed plan with my internet provider - and that's 12 mbps download speed.

 

[X Knight]

also, I've seen people on the net suggest that you change the DNS setting on the X1, like using Google's DNS setting or using an "open" DNS setting, and that can speed up downloads.

http://www.dualshockers.com/2014/05...you-can-improve-the-speed-of-your-connection/

is this safe to do?

 

[Matt Mortem]

I have no idea......lol.

but I just checked and I have the max speed plan with my internet provider - and that's 12 mbps download speed.

Wow really? What company are you with? And are you in a city or a rural area? 12mbps is super slow. I'm in Phoenix and get 150mbps with Cox.

 

[X Knight]

Wow really? What company are you with? And are you in a city or a rural area? 12mbps is super slow. I'm in Phoenix and get 150mbps with Cox.

I'm in the city and using ATT. I'm on their "max" plan.