Are you planning to buy a 4K monitor for gaming soon?

[Warsam71]

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year!

I’m curious to learn about your thoughts on 4K monitors, and gaming at said resolution in general. Personally, I’m planning to purchase one in a few months; and to be completely honest with you I’m already imagining myself squinting at the display when not gaming (I’ve been debating whether I should keep my multi-display setup – I just can’t make up my mind).

I’d like to know if you are planning to purchase a 4K monitor in the near future. In addition, could you please post your thoughts as well? (Listing the Pros & Cons for whether you are planning to buy one or not).


Thank you!

 

[hawtdawg]

I don't know.

Having become a 120hz convert over the last 6 months, going to 4k@60hz from 1440p@120hz would probably seem like more of a side-grade. It's very tough for me to decide between 4k and 120hz. I'm sure we're a good ways from 4k 120hz monitors and video cards that could power them.

 

[RussianSensation]

I am waiting for 4K IPS monitor prices to come down, more options in the 32-37 screen sizes, FreeSync Vs. GSync to get sorted out, for GPUs to get a lot faster, and for Windows DPi scaling to improve. I have pencilled in my 4K upgrade around late 2017 to early 2018, unless my current monitor dies before then. I don't really want to run medium settings on a 4K and today even 980 SLI struggles to be great at 4K. 2560x1440/1600 is the sweet spot for current cards, unless one plays less demanding games or doesn't mind turning off some settings. I think dual GM200s will get us half way there and dual Pascal GP200 will be the ticket.

I am a bit hesitant to bite on 4K yet because monitor prices are dropping like crazy. 5K was $2500 12 months ago and now HP is launching 5K for $1300. Asus 31 inch 4K was $2500-3000, and now BenQ and Acer'a 32 are at $900-1000. With such dramatic price instability, I want to wait a bit. Also, I spent quite a bit of money on headphones this past Xmas so budget is tight to accommodate both GPU, CPU and a monitor upgrade.

I think one of the major cons is that since we are just starting the next gen console generation (I guess current gen now), games like Witcher 3, The Division, Dead Light, etc. will get even more demanding and whatever 30-50% gains 2015 cards bring could be wiped out by the more demanding graphics of newer games. It seems we really need MUCH faster GPUs, but yet GPU performance increases are basically at a 1 year stand-still since 290X/780Ti as far as 4K is concerned. This is worrying because 4K panels are dropping in price a lot faster than the speed increase of GPUs.

 

[Warsam71]

I don't know.

Having become a 120hz convert over the last 6 months, going to 4k@60hz from 1440p@120hz would probably seem like more of a side-grade. It's very tough for me to decide between 4k and 120hz. I'm sure we're a good ways from 4k 120hz monitors and video cards that could power them.

You've made a very good point. I'm also considering the cable requirements. Length, type, make and model will definitely play a big role in my opinion.

 

[Bateluer]

Yes, I plan to purchase a 4K monitor. But not for a while. I'm mostly waiting for prices to drop, technology to improve, and more options to be available. Its not a tech I'm willing to pay the early adopter tax on. Hopefully, Windows 10 brings UI scaling improvements as well.

Also want to do a GPU bump. Looking at fall 2015 for these upgrades.

 

[hawtdawg]

I don't think i'll be truly happy with a display until I have a 4k OLED 120hz monitor.

It seems like we could maybe get that all at once too. I can't imagine anyone releasing a consumer OLED monitor that was sub-4k when they finally do come out, and I think 120hz+ is also something they should be capable of from the start. Maybe when HDMI 3, or whatever, becomes the standard? I dont think HDMI 2.0 can really handle 4k@120hz.

So, yeah, gimmie and OLED@4K@120hz+, and then i'll finally be happy with computer displays.

 

[Silverforce11]

Waiting for a good Freesync 4K. Then go with CF R390X to give it grunt.

 

[Shmee]

I am perfectly happy with my current monitor.

 

[NTMBK]

4K scaling is still a mess on Windows, video content is almost non-existent, and performance requirements for gaming are way too high. Sticking with 1080p for a few more years.

 

[psolord]

I use a 1080p 40'' Samsung HDTV as a monitor. 3D and all.

I find the immersion to be fantastic, the picture quality very good, the 3D astonishing and whatever recent graphics card I use, I can drive it adequately.

I like 4K but only when I can get a 40'' 3D HDTV with good price and good motion resolution.

I ain't going smaller and I ain't going 2D only. More than 60hz do not apply for me.

 

[hawtdawg]

120hz is one of those things that you don't know you're missing until you see it in action. It's hard to go back once you've experienced 90hz+ gaming.

 

[AtenRa]

"I do not have plans to purchase one at this time."

And it may take long time to even consider 4K monitor.

 

[ShintaiDK]

"I do not have plans to purchase one at this time."

And it may take long time to even consider 4K monitor.

Same here. And since I already seen 4K in action, it only made it worse in terms of going to 4K.

To even consider 4K I would require 30-32", anything lower isnt really worth it. I would also like to see DP1.3 support. And I want to be sure its not a tiled display.

I rather buy Rift than a 4K monitor as well. So 4K is pretty way down the wishlist.

 

[imaheadcase]

No real point of it atm. Hard to justify going higher than 1900x1200 really.

Unless you are big into photo editing no real reason since gaming is pretty much still hit or miss at that res.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

No. I'm staying with 1440/120hz for as long as hardware cannot reliably lift 4k/120hz.

 

[Sunaiac]

Was waiting to see 4k screens with adaptative sync, but with that benQ 1440p 144Hz and having a 120Hz 3Dvision screen since forever, I doubt I'll be able to go back to 60Hz and will probably take the benQ instead.

 

[Dribble]

4K isn't that massive an improvement tbh, increasing resolution is a thing of diminishing returns. Sure it would be nice, but so would better colours, contrast, blur, higher hz, g/freesync, 3D. Thing is most of the others don't require me to spend a fortune on multiple very high end gpu's for the improvements. They just work with my current pc.

Hence I have no plans for 4K right now, not even that desperate for a 2560 monitor. Already have 3D, 144hz monitor with pretty well no blur and don't want to give those features up, top on my list to add would be g/freesync then probably contrast and colours, then resolution.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

4K scaling is still a mess on Windows, video content is almost non-existent, and performance requirements for gaming are way too high. Sticking with 1080p for a few more years.

Just over 1 week ago, I decided to pick up the LG 31MU97-B. My primary use for the monitor is development, gaming is secondary. I was prepared for the scaling pain after the constant complaints I've heard about that issue. I have to say I was shocked at how much the scaling was a non-issue for me. I'm running Windows 8.1, and to say that it's a mess would be an overstatement in my opinion. The one area where it did impact me was with Remote Desktop sessions to older OS's and scaling. Fortunately there is a simple workaround that completely remedies the issue.

 

[KaRLiToS]

I already have a 4k display.

 

[Black Octagon]

I am waiting for 4K IPS monitor prices to come down, more options in the 32-37 screen sizes, FreeSync Vs. GSync to get sorted out, for GPUs to get a lot faster, and for Windows DPi scaling to improve. I have pencilled in my 4K upgrade around late 2017 to early 2018, unless my current monitor dies before then. I don't really want to run medium settings on a 4K and today even 980 SLI struggles to be great at 4K. 2560x1440/1600 is the sweet spot for current cards, unless one plays less demanding games or doesn't mind turning off some settings. I think dual GM200s will get us half way there and dual Pascal GP200 will be the ticket.

I am a bit hesitant to bite on 4K yet because monitor prices are dropping like crazy. 5K was $2500 12 months ago and now HP is launching 5K for $1300. Asus 31 inch 4K was $2500-3000, and now BenQ and Acer'a 32 are at $900-1000. With such dramatic price instability, I want to wait a bit. .

Took the words right out of my mouth. I also want to wait until screens start consistently coming out with DP1.3 and perhaps USB3.0.

If I had to buy one today I'd go for the 40-inch VA monitor sold by Philips. But then again, 60 Hz...

 

[DiogoDX]

This year is for gpu upgrade for me. Still with a 260X since august waiting for 390X. 2016 I will upgrade the monitor.

 

[Gunbuster]

Have a 39" Seiki 4K. 4k 30Hz for productivity. 1080P 120Hz for gaming. Will be good enough until better sets come out.

 

[motsm]

4K is just another coat of polish on the turd known as LCD, so no thanks.

 

[kasakka]

Nope. No high refresh rates, needs really beefy GPUs (which I do have though) and don't want to deal with the scaling issues with software.

 

[Squeetard]

I'll be looking at the 3560x1440 34" ultra wide IPS with some sort of freesync/gsync solution after reviews of said models.