PC Gaming: Is The 4K Difference Noticeable vs 1440p?

► This clip comes from DF InDirect #1 - our Supporter-only Q+A show

[Michformer]

In my experience, 1440p provides a nice balance between quality and performance.

[nicolobartolotta]

1440p 165hrz with my 4080 is a wonderful setup

[Alltimefox]

I just play competitive FPS games on my 27 inch 1440p monitor and story games on my 4k 65 inch c2 oled

[noidsuper]

I think TAA makes 1440p not feel as good anymore. Games just sort of look blurry. On my 1440p monitor, whenever I use DLDSR and DLSS to output a 4K image, TAA issues are significantly reduced. The image is much more crisp, and this is only on a 1440p display. Native 4K should look a fair bit better than even that.

[PainkillerDCXVI]

I play at 4k DLSS quality (1440p) on a 55 inch QLED whenever I can, custom resolutions like 1620p and 1800p too if reconstruction is not possible... Real 4k is rare for newer games, but the details of 1440p is enough and the HDR and level of details that I get out of a big high end tv close to me is outstanding.

[richard-davies]

Went 4K in 2017 for PC gaming and never looked back. Once you exceed 27" then 4K is necessary unless you like looking at the pixels.

[TehNarrator]

I'm glad the main digital foundry guy ("Rich" I think) mentioned pixel density. Because that is the real relevant factor. How pixel dense? and how close are you putting it to your eyeballs?

[Sitti]

Always 4K for me. You don't have to play at 4K because you've got a 4K monitor. I love and appreciate the clarity of 4K monitor for every other non-gaming task. I can't go back to lower resolution monitor.

[datriaxsondor]

The nice thing with 4K, I find, is that when you upgrade your GPU in some generation, it does open a wide range of more games that your GPU can push at 4K.

It's very demanding to run the latest games at 4K max settings, but you can run them on modest GPUs with medium settings, and older games, 3+ years old, you can typically get away with 4K max settings.

4K is also great for emulation, and such things. It's awesome upscaling old PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, Xbox games, to 4K.

In the end, it will come down to the individual. Do you want fidelity, or response time? Not everyone cares about online shooters. Someone may want to sit back with a coffee, and play Baldur's Gate 3, with the absolute best possible image quality they can get, at 60 fps, or even 30 fps.

Myself, I am on a 4K OLED 120Hz, and I wouldn't give it up for 240Hz on a 1440, but, that's just me. Others would, and that's perfectly understandable.

[MichalChojnowski]

Before getting 4K monitor it's worth to check GPU reviews to see how flagship ones are doing in 4K after gen or two.

[subwaystories]

i have a 3440x1440 monitior at 120 hz. I am completely satisified with this setup. I only plan to go 4k at next generation of cards. I currently have 5800x3d and 6800xt. Runs perfectly most games i wanna play at 120 fps.

I might try nvidia next generation due to their superior RT and upscaling technology.

[EspHack]

i think the question is more along the lines of "is the jump worth the hassle?" because nobody even bothers pondering whether 1080 is better than 720 and 1440 is better than 1080, no one would go backwards in those two cases, but 4k, even 10 years after going kinda mainstream, its not regarded in this way and as you can see its pretty normal to "downgrade" to 1440 or just dont mind having either unless its for a big productivity/multitasking monitor

[sapphyrus]

Going from 1440p to 4K was a much bigger upgrade than 1080p to 1440p for me. First time I can't see the pixels or dot pitch, can't go back to lower resolutions now. You have to use upscaling but it actually looks good unlike in 1440p.

[GearGolemTMF]

I game on a 1440p 170hz monitor and I love it. I replaced my old Samsung TV with a 43in 4k 144hz monitor in my living room with my Series X and Shield and its nice too. Out of curiosity, I did lug my PC out there to try 4k and It was nice though I'd say it was more because I had proper HDR on that monitor in addition to the bigger size and resolution. I still like the sharpness of my 1440p close range monitor though.

[kapler]

I have both a 28” 4k144hz and a 27” 1440p144hz.

1440p looks ok. But once you look at a high ppi 4k screen 1440p looks blurry.
The only time i play on the 1440p monitor is when i cant get the fps i want on the 4k monitor which isnt often (i have a 4070ti super).

[julienmarschall]

I have a 5800x3D paired with a 7800XT. My current plan is that i already have a 1440p 144hz monitor so that one i use for FPS Games or Competitive PC Games. When i play a Story Game for example GOW 2018 right now i take a 10m HDMI2.1 cable and put it into my 55 inch 4k60hz TV because honestly i wont get much more than 60 at this resolution in most games. I also have a PS5 but its honestly just for the exclusive Sony Games.

[KoolAidManOG]

1440p output on a 4K monitor is about the same as 1440p native. Anything past last like DLSS/FSR, 80% render scale, or even native is nothing but upside, and on top of that you also have a much better desktop experience. Budget is really the only justification for 1440p IMHO.

[HandsOC]

maxed settings and dlss quality mode at 4k! 🤤

[kenyaswallow]

what monitor should i get with 4080s + 7800x3d? I need screen bigger than 32inch

[EastyyBlogspot]

Got to be honest I have been on 1080p for years still on my 144hz LCD monitor though i am tempted to get a high frame rate IPS or some other one with better color and contrast