Looking for advice on 4K Monitors

[flehman]

I recently upgraded the video card on my MP 4,1->5,1 to a flashed EVGA GTX 980 and I am now interested in upgrading my monitor to a 4K display. I am running the latest version of El Cap. Can anyone who has experience with purchasing 4K monitors shed light on the topic? I am just getting started with my research on this topic - thanks so much for any help.

1) Are there any general compatibility issues I need to be aware of - i.e. do any brands play more nicely with a cMP?

2) Will I have any problems getting 60 Hz refresh on a 4K monitor? It sounds like this is only an issue with 5K but can anyone confirm.

3) Are all new 4K monitors SST at this point, or do I still need to watch out for any that are MST?

4) Any other miscellaneous advice?

 

[shaunp]

I have the Dell P2715Q and I like it a lot. It's not a gaming monitor, although I do play games on it, I got it because it's and IPS display that has good uniformity and accuracy for the price - 99% sRGB.

Text is very sharp and clear and once calibrated photo editing is great.

I ran it on a nMP and found that the nMP had problems waking it up some times - this is a known issue with the nMP. However since I moved it to a PC (GTX 780) it has been great. I imagine on your cMP with a GXT 980 will provide you with a similar experience to the PC as in you won't have the wake from sleep issues.

Also the price of this monitor is very good.

 

[Asgorath]

I have the Dell P2715Q and I like it a lot. It's not a gaming monitor, although I do play games on it, I got it because it's and IPS display that has good uniformity and accuracy for the price - 99% sRGB.

Text is very sharp and clear and once calibrated photo editing is great.

I ran it on a nMP and found that the nMP had problems waking it up some times - this is a known issue with the nMP. However since I moved it to a PC (GTX 780) it has been great. I imagine on your cMP with a GXT 980 will provide you with a similar experience to the PC as in you won't have the wake from sleep issues.

Also the price of this monitor is very good.

I have this monitor as well, and have been really happy with it. I like this one because it's a single panel and uses SST instead of MST like the earlier 4K monitors (i.e. multiple internal panels stitched together to make the display).

 

[scott.n]

I third the P2715Q. If you're in the US, take a look at Adorama and B&H who often have it on sale.

 

[zhenya]

another for the p2715q. The bezel and stand are functional not pretty, but the panel is excellent.

 

[thermodynamic]

I recently upgraded the video card on my MP 4,1->5,1 to a flashed EVGA GTX 980 and I am now interested in upgrading my monitor to a 4K display. I am running the latest version of El Cap. Can anyone who has experience with purchasing 4K monitors shed light on the topic? I am just getting started with my research on this topic - thanks so much for any help.

For content consumption or creation? If for creation, then high contrast ratio (real, not the "dynamic" garbage) is extremely important, so you don't crush blacks or bloom whites. As is color accuracy, so a true 8-bit panel is a must - at least for digital content since most panels on consumer hardware is 8-bit. Some wide-gamut monitors don't convert down to RGB all that well, either, so 10-bit and higher may not always be a great solution. All the articles that focus on content with added verbiage such as "packing more pixels to appease the hunger of enthusiasts who want a crisp display with buttery smoothness" are simply tabloid trash, stick to review sites that stay technical and remain professional in content. For centuries graphic designers didn't need 4K, which would have been helpful for print media - which is being replaced by digital - and considering how many tablets are 1080P or 1440P, and won't go higher because the human eye cannot see that level of detail in a 10" or smaller screen... it becomes a pathetic waste of processing power, executable memory, and storage space. Unless the goal is to make 32GB storage obsolete and giving more money per month to 4G wireless providers when going over the monthly bandwidth usage quota... on the flip side, the higher density renders individual stuck or dead pixels harder to find, so fewer returns are needed on otherwise mostly good equipment. But on the down side with frequent upgrades the landfills still get filled quicker so all the downsides still apply, a rabid waste of everything involved.

Also, powering 4k requires a fast video card, even for 2D desktops. The GTX970 can be slowed using two 2560x1440 monitors... but the 980 is much faster...
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I third the P2715Q. If you're in the US, take a look at Adorama and B&H who often have it on sale.

another for the p2715q. The bezel and stand are functional not pretty, but the panel is excellent.

Dell often uses the same panels Apple does. Dell and Apple are probably going to be the best quality output. My 27" ACD is well over 3 years running, and I chose it over a competing Dell because Apple's was 8-bit whereas Dell's was 10-bit... Dell had the wider gamut but converting down was not its strongest point... times have changed since, but 8-bit is always going to be more affordable too.

If anything, stick to industry standard port types (DVI, HDMI, etc. MiniDisplay port is dead as an interface, unfortunately...)

 

[flehman]

For content consumption or creation? If for creation, then high contrast ratio (real, not the "dynamic" garbage) is extremely important, so you don't crush blacks or bloom whites. As is color accuracy, so a true 8-bit panel is a must - at least for digital content since most panels on consumer hardware is 8-bit. Some wide-gamut monitors don't convert down to RGB all that well, either, so 10-bit and higher may not always be a great solution. All the articles that focus on content with added verbiage such as "packing more pixels to appease the hunger of enthusiasts who want a crisp display with buttery smoothness" are simply tabloid trash, stick to review sites that stay technical and remain professional in content. For centuries graphic designers didn't need 4K, which would have been helpful for print media - which is being replaced by digital - and considering how many tablets are 1080P or 1440P, and won't go higher because the human eye cannot see that level of detail in a 10" or smaller screen... it becomes a pathetic waste of processing power, executable memory, and storage space. Unless the goal is to make 32GB storage obsolete and giving more money per month to 4G wireless providers when going over the monthly bandwidth usage quota... on the flip side, the higher density renders individual stuck or dead pixels harder to find, so fewer returns are needed on otherwise mostly good equipment. But on the down side with frequent upgrades the landfills still get filled quicker so all the downsides still apply, a rabid waste of everything involved.

Also, powering 4k requires a fast video card, even for 2D desktops. The GTX970 can be slowed using two 2560x1440 monitors... but the 980 is much faster...
[doublepost=1452889450][/doublepost]



Dell often uses the same panels Apple does. Dell and Apple are probably going to be the best quality output. My 27" ACD is well over 3 years running, and I chose it over a competing Dell because Apple's was 8-bit whereas Dell's was 10-bit... Dell had the wider gamut but converting down was not its strongest point... times have changed since, but 8-bit is always going to be more affordable too.

If anything, stick to industry standard port types (DVI, HDMI, etc. MiniDisplay port is dead as an interface, unfortunately...)

Thanks very much for the detailed response. It sounds like overall I am hearing many votes for the Dell model. I would mostly be using the monitor for content consumption (web, movies, some gaming) but I also am looking forward to having more screen real estate for creating/editing home movies and photographs (i.e. my livelihood does not depend on the monitor).

I think the 980 I just got should have no problem running a 4K monitor, which is why I am only starting to look at 4K now. I believe the MVC-flashed cards still have working HDMI ports AND mini Display Port, so my options should be open there.

Unless anyone has any additional dark horse candidates to suggest, it sounds like I will be looking closely at the Dell. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[SaxPlayer]

Late to the party... Story of my life.

I have an LG 31MU97. It's true 4K (4096 x 2160) unlike most "4K" monitors that are 3840 wide. Having said that, the extra width isn't very much although nice to have.

This panel is excellent. 10-bit colour and sharp, clear text. It runs fine on a nMP (even shows the boot screen under El Cap which many 4K screens don't). I can't comment on your particular set up with your cMP and graphics card, but just talking about the screen, it's very good - nice looking too. The stand it came with was very good, although I've since taken it off that and attached it to a monitor arm.

Whatever you go for, you won't look back. Using a scaled/virtual resolution on a 4K screen is fantastic. Not a pixel in sight!