4K Video playback requirements?

Exoon · 5 Jun 2014 at 16:42

Hey,

I was just looking over some components and was wondering what would be the required components for 4K Video playback?

Not worried about games or anything, I found this list of nvidia GPUs (http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/4k/supported-gpus)

What about the rest though, Will it require anything expensive on the CPU / RAM parts ?

Thanks

v3llr · 5 Jun 2014 at 17:23

If your just looking to playback 4k and your not looking to be editing videos in 4k etc then an average CPU should be ok for playback because obviously its mainly your GPU that will be taking the strain.

Exoon · 5 Jun 2014 at 18:54

What would you call a average CPU?

In my current media player i'm using: Intel G1610 Box Celeron Dual Core Processor (2.6GHz, 2MB Cache Socket 1155)

Would that need upgrading ?

v3llr · 5 Jun 2014 at 20:06

I think that will be fine, bear in mind that mobile CPU's are capable of watching 4k video (and they have integrated graphics as well).

Rroff · 5 Jun 2014 at 20:07

Depends if your using GPU/hardware acceleration or not and/or the codec/filters used.

Exoon · 5 Jun 2014 at 20:16

I'm using XBMC/PowerDVD currently, so assume that uses hardware acceleration. So i should only need a GPU Upgrade, not too bad.

Are there any passive coolers for any of them cards in the list, 650/660, Want something silent really.

v3llr · 5 Jun 2014 at 22:03

one of these cards would probably do the job, the fans on this is better than the stock one and i doubt it would spin up too high
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-109-GI&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2379

rare · 5 Jun 2014 at 23:03

^ thats overkill surely.

Are you intending on displaying the video on a 4K TV/monitor? Most modern CPU's should be fine, though some integrated GPU's and motherboards might have refresh limitations at 4K.

CEUOTC · 5 Jun 2014 at 23:28

Would defo recommend a dedicated GPU. a GTX 750 should suffice.

Exoon · 6 Jun 2014 at 10:12

rare said:
^ thats overkill surely.

Are you intending on displaying the video on a 4K TV/monitor? Most modern CPU's should be fine, though some integrated GPU's and motherboards might have refresh limitations at 4K.

Will be on a 55" TV. What do you think would be the bare minimum? Main spec needs to be noise. Budget is around £150 if I can make it passive even better.

CEUOTC · 6 Jun 2014 at 10:25

Exoon said:
Will be on a 55" TV. What do you think would be the bare minimum? Main spec needs to be noise. Budget is around £150 if I can make it passive even better.

I would suggest a min of a GT 630 upwards, just depends on what you want. A GTX 750 is a very power efficient card and will do the job nicely. And well below 150 quid.

Below is a link to the Nvidia site.

4K Ultra High Resolution Development

"NVIDIA GPU support for 4K Resolutions
All GeForce GTX 600 and 700 series GPUs can support 4K resolutions through DisplayPort. The NVIDIA driver automatically detects 4K 60Hz tiled format, so no special user set up is required. In order to power games at this resolution with settings turned up NVIDIA recommends GTX 780 SLI or better."

Exoon · 6 Jun 2014 at 19:58

Would a HD7950 play 4K Videos Ok ? I've located a cheap 2nd hand one.

Thinking of getting that along with a Alpenföhn Peter 2 from OC, Would this be able to passively cool a HD7950 ?

rare · 6 Jun 2014 at 22:02

A 7950 will easily play 4k video. No problem at all, its overkill in many respects.

Exoon · 7 Jun 2014 at 11:16

What's the lowest spec graphics card for 4K Video from the list supported by the Alpenföhn Peter 2 if i wanted to run it passively ? The case has intake / outtake fans so there is airflow.

Compatibility:
- Hole spacing: 43/48/51/53/54/58/61/80 mm
- AMD Radeon (reference design)
- HD 3850/3870
- HD 4830/4850/4870/4890
- HD 5830/5850/5870
- 6790/6850/6870/6950/6970
- HD 7750/7770 / 78XX / 79XX
- R7 260 (X) / R9 270 ( X) / 280 (X) / 290 (X)
- NVIDIA Geforce (reference design)
- 7800 GT / GTX / 7900 GS / GT / GTX
- 8800 GS / GTS (G80 and G92) / GTX / Ultra
- 9500 GT / 9600 (GT and GSO) / 9800 GT / GTX / GTX +
- GT 130 / GTS 150 / GTS 240 / GTS 250
- GTX 460/460 SE / 480
- GTS 540 / GTX 550 Ti / 560/560 SE / 560 Ti / 570/580
- GTX 670/680
- GTX 770/780