Embarrassingly basic question about 4k in 2025

kute

kute

kute

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I shouldn't ask this but I'm curious about this specifically - I used to game on a generic 60 fps 60 inch 4k TV. My buddy talked me into trying high refresh rates - so I did, and it's ok, I suppose.

I have the alienware awd 165hz 3440x1440 QD-OLED and the 280 hz alienware 28 inch 2k monitor, and they're fine, I like them.

But I have some money burning a hole in my pocket and I'm curious... if I bought a 4k monitor/television, would I be blown away by going back to 4k? I actually don't have 4k anything anymore, I just watch movies on the widescreen alienware - but if anyone jumped from 2k to 4k, were you wowed by it? When I dropped down to 2k, I didn't... really notice tbh. And if I did, it was mainly that I also moved a lot closer to the screen, obviously as I was going from 60 inches to 34.

I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this ancient and vague question, I'm just trying to figure out if I'll be wowed if I re-add a 4k screen back into my setup or will I not even bother watching stuff on it since the alienware looks ok anyways?
 
I wouldn't bother if I was you to be honest. The thing about my Alienware 3225QF 240Hz 4K monitor is I have the power to properly use it. I have a 4090 gpu and a 7800X3D cpu. If I had anything less than that then I wouldn't have bought the monitor. If say stick to 1440p if just gaming and movies whatever. It's cheaper to upgrade gpu wise and there's plenty good cheaper higher refresh rate options out there. Oled i nice but not the be all end all for me. you already have a good monitor also. So depends on your system spec. Hopefully some more knowledgeable person will clue you up better than me but that's my opinion. :)
 
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4K is overrated. you wont miss it or be blown away by it. Sure it's nice. But it's not the be all and end all. There's other things more important to a screen than just a resolution number. I went from 4K to 1080p for a while there and it was fine. You dont really notice it all all. I have an old 1080p LCD TV and the picture on it for normal TV stuff looks better than some of the 4k sets in my household.
 
kute said:
I shouldn't ask this but I'm curious about this specifically - I used to game on a generic 60 fps 60 inch 4k TV. My buddy talked me into trying high refresh rates - so I did, and it's ok, I suppose.

I have the alienware awd 165hz 3440x1440 QD-OLED and the 280 hz alienware 28 inch 2k monitor, and they're fine, I like them.

But I have some money burning a hole in my pocket and I'm curious... if I bought a 4k monitor/television, would I be blown away by going back to 4k? I actually don't have 4k anything anymore, I just watch movies on the widescreen alienware - but if anyone jumped from 2k to 4k, were you wowed by it? When I dropped down to 2k, I didn't... really notice tbh. And if I did, it was mainly that I also moved a lot closer to the screen, obviously as I was going from 60 inches to 34.

I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this ancient and vague question, I'm just trying to figure out if I'll be wowed if I re-add a 4k screen back into my setup or will I not even bother watching stuff on it since the alienware looks ok anyways?
Click to expand...

I have both Alienware QD-OLED monitors and found the 4K 32" to that bit sharper and the 16:9 that bit more usable for general gaming. Text is better too of course due to the sub pixel layout.

Still prefer the 34" version for some open world RPG style games, desktop viewing with side by side windows and because I often have 2nd systems with lesser GPUs such as an RTX 3070 FE with a 12700K i7. Main is 4080 FE ~2x the performance.
 
I think a 4K tv is pretty much the norm and having an OLED TV, or one of the new ultra bright Samsungs, is well worth it. Next level TV! Most new TVs are 120hz I think. For gaming, you’d want one that’s gsync / adaptive sync compatible. The LG C-series is the go to recommendation for a new TV.

When it comes to monitors, it’s a bit more of a deep pockets game. Yes 4k is better but it’s a massive trade off with performance. The current ‘aim’ for most people with a 4k monitor is to have a 240hz monitor, which then requires a beast of a PC to run. You can save a lot of money by having / running a 1440p monitor, which will still look fair at 27”.

I’d prioritise a new 4K TV above a 4K monitor.
 
Also, be mindful that >40” would be uncomfortable for most people for use as a monitor.

I wouldn’t try and kill two birds with one stone unless you’re happy with your PC being behind your TV in your living area. Nothing wrong with that…. That’s what I’ve done for the passed couple of years, using the PC as a console really. But it’s not the same PC experience / comfort as ‘desk use’ and you’ll be hogging the TV when browsing etc if you live with another person.
 
When I game on my S95B 4K TV Vs my 34" 3440x1440 monitor I noticed the increased performance demands more than the increased pixel density!

I agree 4K is a nice to have, but you do need very strong hardware for high framerates, and it's not a transformative difference (e.g. nothing like going from a VA/IPS to an OLED with good HDR capabilities).
 
kute said:
I shouldn't ask this but I'm curious about this specifically - I used to game on a generic 60 fps 60 inch 4k TV. My buddy talked me into trying high refresh rates - so I did, and it's ok, I suppose.

I have the alienware awd 165hz 3440x1440 QD-OLED and the 280 hz alienware 28 inch 2k monitor, and they're fine, I like them.

But I have some money burning a hole in my pocket and I'm curious... if I bought a 4k monitor/television, would I be blown away by going back to 4k? I actually don't have 4k anything anymore, I just watch movies on the widescreen alienware - but if anyone jumped from 2k to 4k, were you wowed by it? When I dropped down to 2k, I didn't... really notice tbh. And if I did, it was mainly that I also moved a lot closer to the screen, obviously as I was going from 60 inches to 34.

I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this ancient and vague question, I'm just trying to figure out if I'll be wowed if I re-add a 4k screen back into my setup or will I not even bother watching stuff on it since the alienware looks ok anyways?
Click to expand...

I gone to a 16:9 4k 32" after many years of using a 34" & 35" UW
One of the main things i noticed is that most media like Youtube/netflix etc is so much better on a 4K 16:9 screen ;)
 
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4k 43" TV user here. I sit around 2-3 foot away, maybe less. The desktop looks great, games look great. It only 60htz but that's perfectly fine for me. Mostly watch YouTube of my other 4k 50" TV. Films look great on both. Although I mostly watch them in 1080p, a few in 4k. I still remember the first time I saw something in UHD on the TV and feeling like they were in the room with me.
 
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