

A stable 60 frames per second at 1080p might end up as 30 frames at 4K if you don't have a sufficiently capable setup. Playing at 1080p, however, generally allows for smoother and more precise gameplay, which is especially important if you game competitively. Even if you have powerful hardware, 4K gaming can cause noticeable frame-rate dips. Half the resolution also means half the price.įinally, performance can be a key factor in sticking with a less-taxing resolution. Waiting for better pricing and availability might be worth it, so you can take advantage of both of these technologies. Dell announced an introductory price of $700 for its first HDR monitor. It's also worth noting that 4K is greatly improved by something called high dynamic range lighting or HDR, which isn't even on the market yet. The aspect ratio of 16:9 is the same across a 4K and a 1080p image.Īnd while 4K prices continue to fall, a competent 1080p setup will come at a much more budget-friendly price, which will leave you more cash for components and accessories. While the image is less detailed than what you get with 4K, the resolution jump to 4K doesn't put 1080p in the dust quite like the jump from standard definition to high definition did back in the early 2000s. MORE: Best Gaming Monitor - Budget, G-Sync and 4K Monitors Reasons to Stick with 1080pĪ resolution of 1080p is still the HD standard that most PC games support, and just about any PC monitor purchased in the last decade will handle this resolution. This means that if you're in the market for a new PC or are looking to overhaul that loud and dusty tower, then you might want to land on the 4K side of things to get the most mileage out of your upgrade.

You'll also be looking at a rapidly expanding library of games that support this new resolution. Reasons to Upgrade to 4KĪ 4K image is effectively twice as sharp as a 1080p image, affording you a lot more detail - especially if you have a 4K monitor that you'll be sitting very close to. There are currently plenty of options for 4K-ready hardware, but not all games support this resolution, and capable 1080p hardware can cost considerably less than a 4K setup. The BasicsĤK is poised to be the next standard in image resolution size, with a pixel count of 3840 x 2160, which doubles the traditional HD dimensions of 1920 x 1080, or "1080p." This means your monitor and, chiefly, your graphics card are going to need a nice upgrade before you can enjoy 4K content. Here's what you need to know about 4K and 1080p gaming before deciding what hardware to buy, and how much to spend.
