Why Can't I Run 2K / 1440p On My 4K Monitor? | Quick Tips

Summary

The video script discusses the importance of choosing the right monitor resolution for your PC's capabilities. It advises against buying a 4K monitor and downscaling it to 1440p, explaining that native resolution provides the best image quality. The script clarifies differences between 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions, and uses calculations to show why downscaling can result in a blurry image. It recommends getting a monitor with a native resolution that matches your PC's capabilities for optimal gaming or viewing experience.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The native resolution of a monitor refers to its maximum display capability, with Full HD (1080p) being 1920x1080 pixels, 2K/Quad HD/1440p being 2560x1440 pixels, and 4K/Ultra HD being 3840x2160 pixels.
• 💡 When downscaling a 4K monitor to 1080p, the pixels on the monitor enlarge, resulting in a less sharp image because each pixel now represents four pixels' worth of information.
• 📉 Attempting to display 1440p on a 4K monitor results in a non-integer scaling factor (2.25), which can cause blurriness and an uneven image quality due to the uneven distribution of pixels.
• 🚫 The speaker advises against purchasing a 4K monitor with the intention of downscaling to 1440p, as the image quality may suffer from the non-integer scaling.
• 💼 For those looking to play games at 1440p, it's recommended to invest in a 1440p monitor to ensure the best image quality and to avoid the blurriness associated with downscaling from 4K.
• 📺 If the primary use is gaming on a 4K TV but without the budget for a 4K gaming PC, downscaling a 4K monitor to 1080p can be a useful compromise.
• 🛒 When choosing a monitor, consider the native resolution that matches your current and future needs to ensure the best visual experience.
• 🔁 It's easier to sell monitors later on, so if one starts with a 1440p monitor and later upgrades to a 4K monitor, this approach is more practical than downscaling a 4K monitor.
• 💻 For optimal performance, match the monitor's native resolution with the PC's output capabilities to prevent image degradation from downscaling.

Q & A

Why does the speaker advise against buying a 4K monitor if one plans to downscale to 1440p?

The speaker advises against it because downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p does not result in a clear image. The pixel splitting does not create an even picture, leading to blurriness and a less optimal visual experience.

What is the native resolution of a monitor?

The native resolution of a monitor is the maximum resolution that the monitor can display, which is the number of pixels it has horizontally and vertically.

What are the three main resolutions mentioned in the script?

The three main resolutions mentioned are Full HD (1080p or 1920x1080), 2K or Quad HD (1440p or 2560x1440), and 4K (3840x2160), also known as Ultra HD or 2160p.

How does downscaling a 4K monitor to 1080p affect the image quality?

Downscaling a 4K monitor to 1080p results in each pixel on the 1080p display being represented by a group of four pixels on the 4K monitor, which can still provide a good image quality as it's an even multiple.

Why is downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p not recommended?

Downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p is not recommended because the number of pixels in a 4K monitor does not divide evenly by the number of pixels in a 1440p monitor, resulting in an uneven distribution of pixels and a blurry image.

What is the mathematical relationship between the pixels of a 4K monitor and a 1440p monitor?

The number of pixels in a 4K monitor (3840x2160) is not an even multiple of the number of pixels in a 1440p monitor (2560x1440). Dividing the total number of 4K pixels by that of 1440p results in 2.25, indicating an uneven scaling.

What is the recommendation for someone who wants to play games at 1440p resolution?

The recommendation for someone who wants to play games at 1440p resolution is to get a 1440p monitor instead of a 4K monitor and downscale it.

Can a 4K monitor be downscaled to 1080p, and is it useful for any purpose?

Yes, a 4K monitor can be downscaled to 1080p, and it can be useful for those who want to use their 4K TV for gaming from a PC without investing in a high-end 4K gaming PC.

What is the advantage of using the native resolution of a monitor?

Using the native resolution of a monitor ensures the best possible image quality as it is the resolution the monitor is designed to display optimally.

What is the speaker's advice for someone who might want to upgrade their monitor in the future?

The speaker advises getting a monitor with the current desired resolution and then selling it later to upgrade to a 4K monitor, as monitors hold their value and are easy to sell.

Outlines

00:00

🖥️ Understanding Monitor Resolutions and Scaling

The paragraph discusses the reasons why one should not purchase a 4K monitor if they intend to downscale it to 1440p. It explains the concept of native resolution and provides an overview of the three main resolutions: Full HD (1080p), 2K/Quad HD/1440p, and 4K/Ultra HD. The native resolution of a monitor, such as the Gigabyte Aorus F43V, is its maximum display capability. When downscaling from 4K to 1080p, pixels are enlarged, which can lead to a less sharp image. The speaker uses a calculator to illustrate how the number of pixels in a 4K monitor does not divide evenly by the number of pixels in a 1440p monitor, leading to a non-uniform scaling that can result in a blurry image. The recommendation is to buy a monitor that matches the native resolution you intend to use for the best image quality.

Keywords

💡4K monitor

A 4K monitor refers to a display with a resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels, which is four times the number of pixels found in a Full HD 1080p display. In the video, the speaker advises against purchasing a 4K monitor with the intention of downscaling it to 1440p, as the native resolution of the monitor is not utilized effectively, leading to a less sharp image.

💡Downscaling

Downscaling is the process of reducing the resolution of a display or image to a lower resolution. The video discusses the practice of downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p as a temporary measure until a more powerful PC can be afforded. The speaker explains that this results in a less optimal viewing experience due to the non-integer scaling factor.

💡Native resolution

Native resolution is the actual, physical resolution of a display, which is the number of pixels it can display in its original, designed format. The video emphasizes the importance of using a monitor at its native resolution for the best image quality, as opposed to downscaling from a higher resolution.

💡1080p

1080p, also known as Full HD, is a display resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. The video uses 1080p as an example of a lower resolution that can be achieved by downscaling a 4K monitor, but it points out that this results in pixel enlargement and a less sharp image.

💡2K or Quad HD

2K or Quad HD refers to a display resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, which is higher than 1080p but lower than 4K. The video mentions 2K as an intermediate resolution that some users might consider, but it is not the focus of the discussion, which centers more on 4K and 1080p.

💡Pixel splitting

Pixel splitting occurs when a display's native resolution is not an exact multiple of the desired output resolution, causing the display to divide a single pixel's worth of information across multiple physical pixels. The video explains that this is a downside of downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p, as it does not result in a clean, crisp image.

💡Ultra HD

Ultra HD is a term often used interchangeably with 4K, referring to a high-resolution display format with approximately 3840 horizontal pixels. The video script mentions Ultra HD as one of the names for 4K resolution, highlighting the various terms used to describe the same technology.

💡2160p

2160p is a term used to describe a vertical resolution of 2160 pixels, often associated with 4K displays. The video script uses 2160p to further clarify the 4K resolution, which is a part of the broader discussion on the importance of matching a monitor's native resolution with its usage.

💡Gigabyte Aorus F43V

The Gigabyte Aorus F43V is a specific model of a 4K monitor mentioned in the video as an example. It is used to illustrate the concept of native resolution and the implications of downscaling such a high-resolution monitor to lower resolutions like 1080p or 1440p.

💡Blurry image

A blurry image is the result of an improper display resolution that does not match the native resolution of the monitor, causing pixelation or a lack of clarity. The video warns that downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p can lead to a blurry image due to the non-integer scaling factor.

💡Integer scaling

Integer scaling is a method of upscaling or downscaling a display's resolution where the number of pixels in the original and scaled image is in whole number ratios. The video discusses the importance of integer scaling for maintaining image quality, contrasting it with the non-integer scaling that occurs when downscaling a 4K monitor to 1440p.

Highlights

Advising against buying a 4K monitor for downscaling to 1440p until a more powerful PC can be afforded.

Explanation of the importance of a monitor's native resolution.

Definition of Full HD (1080p) resolution as 1920x1080 pixels.

Definition of 2K or Quad HD (1440p) resolution as 2560x1440 pixels.

Definition of 4K resolution as 3840x2160 pixels, also known as Ultra HD.

Demonstration of how pixels enlarge when downscaling from 4K to 1080p.

Calculation of the pixel count for 1080p, 4K, and 1440p resolutions.

Explanation of the pixel splitting issue when downscaling 4K to 1440p.

Observation that downscaling 4K to 1440p can result in a blurry image.

Recommendation to get a 1440p monitor for 1440p gaming to avoid downscaling issues.

Suggestion that downscaling 4K to 1080p can be useful for gaming on a 4K TV.

Advice on purchasing a monitor with the native resolution that matches the user's needs.

Mention of the ease of selling monitors later on for an upgrade.

Recommendation to get a 1440p monitor now and potentially upgrade to 4K in the future.

Transcripts

okay so a lot of people always wonder

why i tell them to not buy a 4k monitor

even if they're going to down scale to

1440p so a lot of people ask me that

because they want to get a 4k monitor

now downscaled to 1440p until they can

afford a more powerful pc and that way

they can obviously turn 4k back on and

get the proper resolution of the monitor

so there's a few reasons why you

shouldn't do that and we'll first just

explain what the native resolution of a

monitor means just to give you a quick

rundown on the three main resolutions

that you're going to find and this is

kind of disregarding ultrawide etc but

the three main resolutions you'll find

is full hd which is also called 1080p

which is

1920x1080 that's the horizontal pixels

and the vertical pixels the next one off

we have 2k or you can call it quad hd or

1440p that's

2560x1440 that's horizontal vertical and

the last one disregarding 8k is 4k

resolution so that's 3840 by 2160 and

sometimes we call this ultra hd so 4k

ultra hd 2160p which no one really says

all of those three things are 4k it's

the same thing basically if you take a

monitor like this the gigabyte aorus

f43v

this is a 4k resolution monitor it's a

43 inch now the native resolution of

this monitor is 3840 by 2160 that's how

many pixels horizontally and vertically

that this has so

what happens is if you go to 1080p

these pixels essentially enlarge so

instead of having a little light on each

individual pixel showing a picture you

have a little light across four pixels

and that gives you 1080p which is

1920x1080 resolution so the easiest way

to explain it and i've got three

calculators up here is if you take for

example 1920

by 1080

multiply that that's how many pixels a

1080p monitor has

now if you go over here we've got the 4k

we have 3840 by 2160 that's how many

pixels a 4k monitor has

so if you take this number

8.3 million near enough and you divide

that by 2073

600 which you can see just here this is

the how many pixels that are in a 1080p

monitor if you press enter and you

divide that

you get an even number you get four now

if you take the same number that's 4k

pixels and if you just look at 1440p

resolution for a second which is 2560 by

1440 that's how many pixels are in a

1440p monitor so you'll notice that it's

not quite exactly half of this

it's not double what this is

so if you take this number 4k pixels

which is how many pixels are on this

monitor right now

and you divide that by 3 6 8 6 400 which

is the number of pixels in a 1440p

monitor if you press enter on that you

get 2.25 so you'll notice that it's not

a round whole number

so what happens is when you get a 4k

monitor and you try to display 1440p

resolution you start splitting the

pixels so instead of having an even

number for example four pixels instead

of one pixel at a time we're getting

2.25 pixels covered up

it doesn't create a nice even picture

and you'll find that at random points on

the screen it looks a little bit more

blurry than it should so generally

you'll find that the best bet is to get

a 1440p monitor now if you want to play

1440p don't get a 4k and downscale if it

doesn't look great you can get a 4k and

downscale to 1080p which is really

useful for you guys that just want to

use your tv which is a 4k tv but you

want to play games from a pc but you

don't want to spend quite you know four

or five grand to get a 4k gaming pc

so the recommendation is get a monitor

where you're going to be able to use the

native resolution which is the maximum

resolution that that monitor will

display stick with that you can easily

sell monitors later on so if you want to

get a 1440p monitor now and then sell it

later and get a 4k that's a much better

option