4k tv as a monitor

[piasabird]

Can you connect a 1080p computer to stream to a samsung UHD 4k tv? What are the requirements. My computer only has HDMI 1.4, it claims to be 4K Compatible.

 

[VirtualLarry]

When you say, "1080P computer", do you mean a PC, with an HDMI output, that is currently connected to a 1080P monitor?

Or, for example, one that is, in fact, directly limited to a 1080P output over HDMI?

Intel iGPUs, since Haswell (Core i3 and above), have supported 4K@30 output over their HDMI 1.4 ports, and all newer Intel CPUs, like Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake.

Intel Haswell Pentium, and below / older, are limited to 1080P. (*)

AMD FM1 APUs, are limited to 1080P. Not sure about FM2/FM2+ Trinity/Richland/Kaveri/Godaveri/Carizzo. AM4 Raven Ridge (Ryzen) APUs can do HDMI 2.0, and 4K@60 4:4:4.

(*) Mostly a Windows' software driver limitation. I've used G3258 Pentium CPUs, overclocked, on H81 motherboards, under Linux Mint, and they will drive a 4K display under Linux, but may artifact, which indicates that the HDMI port wasn't tested to those specs in the silicon. Or possibly mobo output limitations.

 

[mnewsham]

AM4 Raven Ridge (Ryzen) APUs can do HDMI 2.0, and 4K@60 4:4:4.

The newer intel motherboards can do 4k@60 4:4:4 (8bit) as well. Certain H370/Z370/Z390 I know have DP 1.2(doesn't have HDCP 2.2 for DRM streaming) and or HDMI 2.0. Though most I believe still have just HDMI 1.4, so it's something to look for if you're buying new intel and specifically want this function. Though you also need to make sure it supports HDCP 2.2, as some motherboards have the proper ports, but don't have the proper HDCP support, and thus they can be used for 4k gaming, or 4k desktop use, but actual 4k streaming is limited.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The newer intel motherboards can do 4k@60 4:4:4 (8bit) as well.

Only if they have additional chips onboard, such as Alpine Ridge, or another DP-to-HDMI2.0 converter onboard. Intel's actual CPU iGPUs are still HDMI 1.4.

(Has that changed with the 8C 9th-Gen dies?)

 

[mnewsham]

Only if they have additional chips onboard, such as Alpine Ridge, or another DP-to-HDMI2.0 converter onboard. Intel's actual CPU iGPUs are still HDMI 1.4.

(Has that changed with the 8C 9th-Gen dies?)

Nope, which is why I said you need to look specifically for motherboards that have HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 support, which is generally the higher end motherboards. I know the high end Asrock Z390 board has HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, but their lower end boards use HDMI 1.4 provided by the chipset.

If you just want 4k gaming, or 4k pirated media, then any new intel motherboard with displayport will work, since the intel chipset supports DP 1.2 and HDMI 1.4, DP 1.2 has the bandwidth for 4k, just doesn't have the HDCP 2.2 support for DRM'd 4k content.

 

[spacejamz]

Can you connect a 1080p computer to stream to a samsung UHD 4k tv? What are the requirements. My computer only has HDMI 1.4, it claims to be 4K Compatible.

HDMI 1.4 can do 4k at 30hz but not 60hz which is pretty noticeable...

 

[VirtualLarry]

HDMI 1.4 can do 4k at 30hz but not 60hz which is pretty noticeable...

Ehh, maybe "by spec", but my Kepler-based NV GT630 (Zotac) cards, can do 4K60 over HDMI1.4, at a reduced color-depth. Don't ask me, maybe NV is overdriving the port with a driver hack, or maybe my 4K UHD TV has some special mode.

 

[piasabird]

I decided to purchase a Gforce 10550 Ti 4 GB DDR5 video card and it seems to be working fine. For streaming this will probably be fine. It has an HDMI 2.0 port to run off of. I noticed the Samsung UHD 8000 series 4KTV gave me a notice that it was changing the settings to enhance the video when viewing HULU.COM . The picture looks great so I cant complain. Thanks for the suggestions and comments. Even my XBOX 360 connected well.

 

[MrCoyote]

I would never use any TV as a computer display. TV's may be a bigger screen, but due to dot pitch, etc, are never better then dedicated computer monitor.

 

[VirtualLarry]

are never better then dedicated computer monitor.

My 40" 4K UHD and my prior 24" 1080P LCD beg to differ... I've had "good" computer monitors, and "bad" computer monitors, and the TVs that I have currently, as well as previously, were JUST AS GOOD as any computer monitor(s) (LED/LCD) that I've had in the past. Making something a "monitor" doesn't magically make it better. As a matter of fact, the color was better on the TVs than the monitors. Probably because my 26" LCD monitor was a TN screen, and the TVs are better type screens.

And although my prior LED/LCD was native 1920x1080, I ran it at 2560x1440, and it still LOOKED GREAT!

 

[CP5670]

I've started using a 55" 4K OLED TV as my main monitor. It works well at a 4' viewing distance, and the pixel size is comparable to my old PC monitor (27" 1080p). It has a few drawbacks but the size and image quality offer an experience unlike anything you can get on a PC monitor. Dark games in a dark room look amazing. It doesn't do 4K at 120hz but I choose between 1080p at 120hz (for fast paced games), 4k at 60hz (for Windows) and 4k at 60hz with BFI (for slower games with large textures).

 

[lupi]

I would never use any TV as a computer display. TV's may be a bigger screen, but due to dot pitch, etc, are never better then dedicated computer monitor.

I'm sitting about 3 feet from a 40" samsung. I could go downstairs and look at my 24" ultrasharp, by everything looks better @4k.

 

[Sonikku]

I would never use any TV as a computer display. TV's may be a bigger screen, but due to dot pitch, etc, are never better then dedicated computer monitor.

There's something to be said for a low ms 65" 4k display. A pic I just took from where I'm sitting on the couch.

It's so comfy sitting on a couch instead of a desk chair. And the great size is great for games, movies, web browsing, even text reading and scrolling. I can never go back.

 

[mnewsham]

It's so comfy sitting on a couch instead of a desk chair. And the great size is great for games, movies, web browsing, even text reading and scrolling. I can never go back.

To be fair, you appear to be using GUI scaling, so your text size looks to be 1080p equivalent, not 4k.

Here is my 43" 4k without any GUI scaling. As you can see, native text is very small, but i'm sitting ~2-2.5 feet from this 43" panel, so it's not an issue.

 

[spacejamz]

I use a Sony 65" 4k as my main monitor and I sit about 4 and 1/2 feet from it...I set the windows scaling at 125% and love this set up...

Been using 4k screens for awhile now (started with a samsung 40" about two years ago I think)... I remember having to change the input label to PC so that the text would be sharp. If you didn't, the text would be fuzzy....

 

[mnewsham]

I remember having to change the input label to PC so that the text would be sharp. If you didn't, the text would be fuzzy....

Yeah, that's 4:2:0 and 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. 4:2:0 looks fine for media watching, TV, movies, youtube, etc.

But walls of flat text with lots of small black lines on a white background, you get pretty blurry looking text. So PCs generally run at 4:4:4, so there isnt any problem with text legibility.

It's good your panel even supported 4:4:4, some older 4k TVs didn't at all, though i've found most these days do.

 

[CP5670]

I don't use any text scaling, but rarely have any window open maximized except for games or movies. The actual size of a window is similar to my old 27" display, but I can have several open at once.

 

[sonitt]

Only thing with using TVs as monitors is that I feel I have to strain my neck to look at top parts of the screen. I usually like my eye level with the top of the screen. Try to keep my monitors low.

 

[Muse]

I use a Sony 65" 4k as my main monitor and I sit about 4 and 1/2 feet from it...

I started eyeing 4K displays at Costco some months ago, just glancing and thinking to myself. I thought well, great, is there content? But a couple months ago I checked out the idea of how far you need to be from these displays to appreciate the resolution they are capable of and the answer was pretty darn close! I found myself just a few feet from displays I've seen people sitting 20 feet away from in homes, but those weren't 4K. It would be so easy for people to be sitting 12-15 feet or more away from their 4K displays. They'd have little appreciation for what they're missing.

 

[Muse]

Two questions:

1. Do any of these small 4K monitors have an auto-detect. IOW, if it has 3-4 ports, will it automatically switch to the one that's active?

2. Do any of them have a low power state that it will come out of quickly when it detects a signal?

 

[killster1]

Two questions:

1. Do any of these small 4K monitors have an auto-detect. IOW, if it has 3-4 ports, will it automatically switch to the one that's active?

2. Do any of them have a low power state that it will come out of quickly when it detects a signal?

what kinda use do you have? why do you need these things? leave it always on ? sounds crazy

 

[Muse]

what kinda use do you have? why do you need these things? leave it always on ? sounds crazy

I ask these questions because the display is connected to two separate machines, both of which will be kept in suspend when not being used. Switching inputs won't be necessary if there's auto-detect. This display takes 16 seconds to turn on, whereas the systems come out of suspend much faster, so low power suspend state for display would be a big plus as well.

 

[killster1]

I ask these questions because the display is connected to two separate machines, both of which will be kept in suspend when not being used. Switching inputs won't be necessary if there's auto-detect. This display takes 16 seconds to turn on, whereas the systems come out of suspend much faster, so low power suspend state for display would be a big plus as well.

Never heard of a monitor that is always left on, yea 16 seconds is a while maybe a remote on the wall when you enter the room? the TCL and samsung are way faster then the tv i had used before for start time (i would have the same issue seemed like forever to start) so turn it on and do something else before sitting heh. I wonder what kinda life span you would cut by leaving it on always.

 

[lupi]

Samsung turns on fast, but then leaves the damn menu bar thingy up way too long.

 

[CP5670]

Only thing with using TVs as monitors is that I feel I have to strain my neck to look at top parts of the screen. I usually like my eye level with the top of the screen. Try to keep my monitors low.

This is my biggest issue too. I think a typical desk is too tall for this setup, and I end up just reclining my office chair a lot when gaming, even with the chair at the maximum height. Maybe one of those adjustable height desks or a taller chair would work better. I tend to only use the bottom 2/3 of the TV in Windows (which is still much bigger than a PC monitor).