Origin’s New ‘Big O’ Packs PS4 Pro or Xbox One S, PC Into the Same Chassis
Origin PC has a new method of solving the PC-versus-console question — it’ll sell you both in the same chassis. When the company debuted the “Big O” last year, it was a proof-of-concept system that had an Xbox One, PS4, Switch dock, and PC all in the same chassis. The version the company has actually commercialized is a bit more practical, in that you have to choose which platform you want to incorporate — either a PS4 Pro or an Xbox One S “All Digital” Edition.
Streamer’s Paradise
The Big O can be used in console mode, PC mode, or both simultaneously, with separate HDMI ports for the GPU versus the disassembled console. In theory, it’s a perfect console for anyone who wants to stream from console to PC and output the video. Origin will sell you a 4K60-capable capture card if you want one, for another $489.
The system is available with any CPU up to an Intel Core i9-9900KS, Core i9-10940X (14-core), Ryzen 9 3950X, or a Threadripper 3970X (32-core). Up to 4TB of SSDs, 32GB of RAM, and GPUs up to and including the RTX 2080 Ti can also be installed. The ability to play the console and PC simultaneously is one of those features that will come in very handy if you have a very specific use-case in mind for the system, and it’ll require some planning to take full advantage of, since you presumably want a large-ish display dedicated to both the PC and the PS4 Pro.
The Big O starts at $2,500 for the most basic option (Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, 1TB mechanical HDD, Core i5-9600K, 16GB of RAM, liquid cooling, a GTX 1660 GPU, 240GB SSD, and a 450W PSU). Upgrading to a PS4 Pro from the Xbox One S costs $146. That’s actually fairly good as far as the console itself is concerned; an Xbox One S All Digital is a $250 console and the PS4 Pro still has a $400 official MSRP. There’s no doubt that you’re paying a pretty hefty premium for both the console and the boutique build. But being willing to sign off and warranty a system like this is part of why people buy from boutiques in the first place. I can even see why a professional game streamer with limited space might prefer a setup like this, since you can literally handle both PC and PS4 game streaming on the same set of equipment.
The Big O is available to order now, with ship dates expected in 14-16 days. We’ll be curious to see if this experiment catches on with the market.
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