27" iMac 5K Screen Real Estate

Gangster · 19 Dec 2017 at 23:03

I'm looking at venturing into a new setup, debating between 4K and a new pc or an iMac - I am not sure yet.

What I can't quite understand is, what benefit would a 5K monitor at 27" give me? I have tried 4K with a 28" before, and everything had to be scaled, so the extra gain in real estate was gone due to the scaling.

I am assuming the same thing happens with the iMac? Just wondered why Apple haven't gone 32"+ on their iMacs. I've read 40" is decent 1:1 scaling with 4k (although I realise it is large for a desk).

Thoughts?

v0n · 20 Dec 2017 at 00:53

Factory set resolution on iMac 5k is 2560x1440 scaling with DPI of 5120x2880. You can of course set it higher, and it will become hard to read, but yes as with all "retina" screens - the benefit is that it's a "sharper 2.5k".

spoffle · 20 Dec 2017 at 01:07

Looking for more screen space by way of resolution is antiquated thinking. More resolution is used for better sharper imagery.

If you want more space, then you go for a bigger monitor.

Feek · 20 Dec 2017 at 08:49

I have a new 5k iMac and I still have a 2011 27" iMac. Because I use the new one all the time, I forget how the old one is. It's not bad but I really notice the difference when I use it.

Gangster · 20 Dec 2017 at 19:29

v0n said:
Factory set resolution on iMac 5k is 2560x1440 scaling with DPI of 5120x2880. You can of course set it higher, and it will become hard to read, but yes as with all "retina" screens - the benefit is that it's a "sharper 2.5k".

I see. Am used to 3440, so will need to think!

Feek said:
I have a new 5k iMac and I still have a 2011 27" iMac. Because I use the new one all the time, I forget how the old one is. It's not bad but I really notice the difference when I use it.

I see, thanks.

spoffle said:
Looking for more screen space by way of resolution is antiquated thinking. More resolution is used for better sharper imagery.

If you want more space, then you go for a bigger monitor.

I see. So I should go for a 60" 1080P TV then?

spoffle · 20 Dec 2017 at 19:39

Gangster said:
I see. Am used to 3440, so will need to think!

I see, thanks.

I see. So I should go for a 60" 1080P TV then?

Yeah, that's exactly what I said.