Is it worthwhile to invest in a 4K display?

Are you debating whether or not you should get a 4K display (also known as an Ultra HD monitor) right now? Right here, in this article, you’ll find the response, which might be a surprise to you.

If you are concerned about the state of your investment in the future, purchasing a 4K display today is a brilliant idea as long as you can also get a GPU capable of running games at a resolution of at least 2K.

If you place a high priority on performance, a monitor with a resolution of 1080p is the best option for the time being.

Invest in a monitor with a resolution of 1440p if you value both performance and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

The first 4K televisions didn’t become widely available until not too many years ago.

The first ones to be produced in 2013 were relatively expensive, and there was little incentive for customers to go out and spend money on them because of the high cost.

Back then, 4K content was almost unheard of, and the available technology couldn’t even meet the performance requirements for running games at a resolution of that magnitude.

However, not long after that, costs started falling, and soon enough, 4K TVs were becoming increasingly accessible to the average customer. This also signified a major shift in gaming, as it signaled a significant resolution increase impending.

But of course, many benefits and drawbacks that would come with purchasing this cutting-edge piece of technology, and we will try our best to address both of those aspects in this guide.

Let’s get started!

How Different Is 4K?

Take a look at this photo to get an idea of exactly how massive the 4K resolution is:

The moniker “4K” comes from a display with 4K resolution containing about four times as many pixels as a monitor with Full HD resolution. Additionally, it is sometimes referred to as Ultra HD (UHD) or 2160p. As soon as it was announced, both Sony and Microsoft rushed to produce “4K Ready” versions of their respective gaming consoles, the PlayStation 4 Pro and the Xbox One X.

If you game on a personal computer, you have probably given some thought to upgrading to a 4K monitor. Given that we now have reasonably priced, high-quality 4K gaming displays, now would be an excellent time to make the purchase, considering that these monitors are finally available.

To assist you in making a decision, let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks of 4k resolution.

Advantages

Bigger Screens

You might already be aware of this, but the “sweet spot” for Full HD displays is a diagonal measurement of 24 inches. The larger the screen, the greater the likelihood you will notice individual pixels and some unattractive aliasing, which makes such displays unsuitable for viewing at close range.

On the other hand, 4K displays can generate exceedingly crisp images even when viewed on much larger screens without the individual pixels being evident. The optimal viewing distance for these displays is currently approximately 27 inches since anything more than that would not be easy to tolerate when seen at close range for obvious reasons.

You have a far more extensive work area with these larger panels with a resolution of 4K, and there is no clarity compromise during this process. As a result, the image you see will be far crisper than what you would get on a 24-inch Full HD display. In terms of gameplay, it makes aliasing far less noticeable and improves your ability to focus on minute details.

Better In-Game Visuals

Some may argue that owning a monitor with a screen size of 27 inches and a resolution of 4K is a waste of money, but such people are mistaken.

The picture will appear to have an incredible feeling of depth when seen in 4K, the type of depth comparable to that of 3D but does not come with the aggravating side effects of headaches, nausea, or wearing 3D glasses.

Take a look at the video that follows if you’d want to acquire a better understanding of what it is that we’re discussing:

Even if you’re watching the movie on a monitor that only supports 1080p resolution, you’ll still be able to perceive the distinction between 1080p and 2160p. Likewise, the visual quality of a game will be superior even if it is played in 4K at a lesser level than when it is played in 1080p at its highest setting.

Is It Prepared for the Future?

Recent years have seen the advent of screens capable of 4K resolution. As a result, it is doubtful that they will become obsolete shortly. In addition, it is unlikely that advancements in display technology will occur considerably over the next couple of years. Because of this, you may feel free to invest in a high-quality 4K gaming monitor without worrying that you will have to sell it at a loss the following year.

The truth is that several businesses have already shipped 5K screens to customers. However, considering that we hardly have technology powerful enough to run games at 4K resolution, they, along with potentially higher resolutions, will be aimed only at pros.

Disadvantages

Demands Powerful Software and Hardware

Only the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti and GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards, together with their respective Ti models, can run the most recent AAA titles at 4K resolution. Because they were released more recently and have better features, the more current versions are the ones that are recommended.

You could play the vast majority of games at frame rates of over 30 with a GTX 1070 Ti, but the GTX 1080 Ti is the only single GPU capable of playing games in 4K at 60 frames per second. Of course, you can improve 4K framerates by using SLI or CrossFireX, but this is hardly a cost-effective option unless you are also purchasing a new 2K gaming card to match your current one.

Compatibility is Questionable

Several games and apps do not support the 4K resolution. This would be especially true for older games since many games need to increase their solution to be displayed correctly in 4K. An image initially captured at a resolution of 1080p can never appear as excellent as a native 2160p image.

Expensive

It should come as no surprise that 4K displays are pricey. Even more so those that are designed to be used for gaming.

Keep in mind that a resolution of 4K is not all that is required of you. In addition, you need a high refresh rate, a low reaction time, and pertinent technologies such as NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, among other things. Having said that, unless you intend to purchase the monitors used or snag them at a bargain, you shouldn’t expect to find an excellent 4K gaming monitor for less than $500.

Conclusion

Finally, is it worthwhile to invest in a 4K monitor? They take the game’s aesthetics to an entirely new level that is impossible with 1080p resolution. The essential question is whether or not you should purchase one.

That certainly presents a challenge. It is entirely dependent on your requirements as well as the circumstances. Suppose you build a solid gaming rig to play games at 2K or update your existing computer to play games at that resolution. In that case, we can confidently suggest a 4K display. This is because

• A 2K image will seem clear and sharp on a 4K display.
• You can increase the resolution up to 4K when you want to, but when you need performance, you should remain with 2K.
• The price difference between decent 2K displays and 4K monitors is not overly significant.
• Because you will need to upgrade to a 4K monitor in a concise amount of time if you purchase a 2K display, purchasing a 4K monitor from the very beginning is the most cost-effective alternative in the long term.

If, on the other hand, you do not foresee purchasing a GPU capable of 4K or 2K anytime soon and you need to get a new monitor, we suggest that you continue with 1080p for the time being.
The cost of monitors and graphics cards is expected to decrease over the next several years. This is a potentially good time for you to update, mainly if you are working within a more constrained financial framework.