Based on the links above, the 1650 will work but may not support Zwift 4K and streaming something else.
Zwift on PC - The Essentials.pdf (851.2 KB)
Zwift on PC - Graphics Card Recommendations.pdf (540.3 KB)
Zwift on PC - Frequently Asked Questions.pdf(1.6 MB)
Two 32 inch TVs stacked on top of each other. The top tv hooked up to Apple TV for zwift and entertainment and the bottom tv your phone for TrainerRoad
Apple TV, or Mac Mini. Both are easy, very capable, affordable, low maintenance, and just work. Look at Apple’s refurbished store. for a better deal.
DCRainmaker uses the Apple TV almost exclusively. I had an older Mac Mini, and it works very well. It doesn’t have the Bluetooth limits an Apple TV has, but is obviously a bit more expensive, but the graphics are awesome on both of them.
The last thing I want is to be futzing with Windows Update, or a Blue Screen when I want to ride. I want to turn it on, get on it, ride it like I stole it, and shut it down. Those two work perfectly.
I think the last windows PC you used may have been broken 
Totally agree with these points. I rank them as:
I see the higher res setups, and they are great, but spending time setting up a pc … that’s time I’d rather spend riding.
I totally get the ease of use aspect of the Apple TV but not sure I understand how a PC is harder to set up than a Mac mini?
I’ve never used one though so it could just be ignorance on my part.
Also to @iamholland 's point - I don’t think that the Mac mini gets the ultra profile if that bothers people.
I’ve been ‘ambidextrous’ for decades, and even used a MacBook Pro for Windows user support with a networking company. I had an HP Elitebook, and it was always needing something. It did blue screen a few times, and updates were a pain. Then I used an old MacBook Pro, with an HDMI port, and it overheated. The Mini has been awesome. It’s really easy to setup, interfaces with Windows, and can do Zwift and TrainerRoad, and most of the other pain inducement apps. Since I started using it, I haven’t used the Apple TV. And I forgot the Apple TV doesn’t do TR. The current Intel based Mini has an HDMI port, and just works. I couldn’t be happier, and recommend them to everyone I know. If someone does ‘that Z word’ exclusively, the Apple TV is like a can opener. Turn it on, turn on your trainer, add HRM, and just ride. No frills, no headaches (so far), and people travel with them too, depending on connectivity at the destination.
Setting up either TR or Zwift first time: Start Mini, download app, run app, login, ride. All my BT goodies connected automagically. And I often read books with the Apple ebook app when riding TR, plus I have movies on it, and my music too. It just works. Better than that expensive Elitebook.
And ‘ultra profile’?
Agreed, the setup on the mac mini is no harder than AppleTV. Someone looking to buy should ask themselves some questions.
Just wanted to say this has been a really informative thread. Thanks all.
Sorry I was talking about the graphics profile in Zwift, there are four different levels of detail “basic, medium, high and ultra”
Apple TV gets the “basic” profile - so no real shadows, very simple textures etc, I think that the recent mac mini’s get the “high” profile - which is absolutely fine for most people.
Only the “ultra” profile gets every single detail and texture that the guys and girls at Zwift have designed - i think only a PC or mac with a dedicated graphics card can show the “ultra” profile.
I guess I’ve never missed it. It’s great that they are spending so much time making it look realistic, but I’d rather have them spend more time making it more reliable, especially given the current problems with the Companion app. And there are so many graphic gaffs. I’ve heard people say they are glad they aren’t riding it for the graphics and realism. But I do like Zwift for training and keeping my interest.
TrainerRoad does have its advantages. For heads down training, it’s tops. It just works too. It’s not as complicated as Zwift to get everything running. The ability to read or watch movies while riding is great. I wonder how many people were riding through boring Zoom meetings. (I used to do stepper workouts during meetings when I could) What better way to pass otherwise wasted time, then by working out, muted.
Anyway, funny story (now, a year later): I got the Mac Mini after thinking the MacBook Pro I was using had a failing video card. I was disappointed that the horrible video continued, and then found out it was actually a ‘feature’. I was shocked that Zwift would deliberately make their product look bad. I was pretty angry to find that ‘feature’ buried in the UI. So I take a dim view of their self-congratulations over their ‘realistic experience’. I likely could have saved the money on the Mini if they had better documented that ‘feature’. Yeah, I didn’t want the ‘experience’ to look like a G5 Mac experiencing a video meltdown. Part of that is on me for not searching with the right terms I guess, but I was disappointed that they thought that was appropriate for their platform, and apparently enabled it by default. I was not laughing…
I stopped riding Zwift on the Apple TV after it crashed, and I ‘lost’ a ride. Using a real computer, there are more options for recovering rides. (Thanks U-Verse! GRRR!!!)
But one thing: would riding with crystal clear video really make that much of a difference? I’d rather have a stable system, than one that looks great, but has flaws dealing with stability and recovery.
It’s too bad TrainerRoad doesn’t have an app for the Apple TV. It would be the perfect heads down training app for that platform. True the Apple TV has limits on Bluetooth device issues, but it really has a lot going for it as a ‘turn-key training platform’. shrug
Very true 
Even on the best settings Zwift is only where mainstream computer games graphics were 10 years ago.
Or less. TrainerRoad has the right idea. Showing data alone is so much easier than trying to produce a video rich environment on the wide variety of possible equipment that users might have. I had to admit that the Elitebook I was initially using was not up to the task, and started looking for alternatives. But, with all the flaws of Zwift, I do value it, and TR. I ride to train, to sweat, to be entertained. Does high-def Zwift seem worth it to me? No. Reliability is far more important. Riding and being able to multitask is so awesome.
…and randomly uses loads of system resources for terrible performance!
I’m not entirely sure how it manages this, but I have a system that can run most games at around 90-100 FPS, Zwift runs at 25-30 …much less if I’m with a big group!
This is interesting to see what the differences are.
Bringing this one back. A DIY gaming PC seems far more affordable now to get Zwift in 4k. The used office PC’s listed in this article, are now under $100. The graphics cards listed as being 4k capable are around $300 new, and I’m guessing something capable of 4k exists below that used, although I’m far from fluent in pc’s and graphics cards these days.
Anyone here a pc super user who can list a couple examples of “buy one of these pc’s from the link above, and then grab one of these graphics cards, and a used SSD for $20, and you’ll have a 4k Zwift machine”? sort of like we have for rocker plates etc.
I’m pretty interested in something like Dell Desktop i3 Computer Tower 8GB RAM 500GB HDD Windows 10 PC Wi-Fi DVD/RW, and swap out the HDD for an SSD I’ve got, and throw in a $200 used or maybe up to a $300 new graphics card. Then sell off my Alienware Alpha R1 (which has been great, but I’m wanting to up my experience this winter, as last winter dragged on a long time for me).
Thanks for anyone who can help.
Sounds like a decent plan.
You would only need a 1050 Ti to get full resolution experience.
£180 new maybe half that used 
@kevistraining Thanks. One thing that wasn’t clear, was if a card like a 1050Ti would 1) plug into the power supply already in the office PC’s like the dell 2) if the power supply would have enough power, and 3) plug in (I’ve not built a PC with a separate graphics card for 20 years, and back then the interface standards kept changing, so you couldn’t upgrade beyond a certain point).
Thanks.
