One of the newest buzzwords in gaming is 4k. Over the last few years, more and more games and equipment supporting 4K resolution have come out, especially since the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and the advancement in PC gaming technology. 4K gaming cab be expensive, is 4k gaming even worth it?
4K gaming is worth it, assuming you already have a good setup. 4K Is far more crispy and vibrant than 1080p, especially when playing graphically intensive games like RPGs and action-adventure titles. 1080p is still the standard as performance is better, but this will change over time.
4K is only worth it if your gaming PC is good enough to support it never sacrifice resolution for framerate. If you have a PS4 or Xbox One, I highly recommend upgrading your console to a PS5/ Xbox Series X to get the best gaming experience possible.
Keep reading, and I’ll explain if 4K gaming is overrated and if you can tell the difference between 1080p and 4K
See the latest pricing for the best 4K gaming equipment on Amazon below.
[amalinkspro_table id=”2957″ aff-id=”undefined” new-window=”on” nofollow=”on” addtocart=”on” /]
Is 4K Gaming Overrated?
In total, 4K gaming is overrated in the level of importance gaming companies put over it compared to performance. More stable frame rates, native support, and overall gaming performance are far more crucial for gaming. But 4K is a noticeable improvement over 1080p and makes your experience far more immersive.
Just because certain companies and developers put such an emphasis on 4K doesn’t mean that you have to. After all, gaming has been popular since the 16-bit resolution. Just look at the likes of Super Mario. That franchise didn’t need true-to-life graphics to succeed. All it required was quality gameplay and solid performances across Nintendo systems.
4K gaming is more than worth it if you can afford it. If you have a few hundred dollars and decide between a 4K monitor and a CPU upgrade, take the CPU upgrade.
Having a 4K resolution is a luxury to enhance an already high-quality gaming experience. It’s an extra, rather than being a focal point of your setup as a whole.
As gaming technology continues to advance, 4K is going to become more common, and as a result, more affordable.
graphics aren’t the be-all and end-all of your gaming, wait a year or two before you invest in a visual upgrade. You could potentially save yourself thousands by doing so.
If your a console gamer, then playing true 4K on a PS5 or Xbox One X is a sight to behold, all the pixels and character models look that extra bit crispy, and games like God Of War have improved frame rate modes where you can enjoy 4K gaming in beautiful 60FPS which is a GAME changer.
What is the Best Looking Game in 4K?
There are a few:
- Red Dead Redemption 2.
- The Witcher 3.
- Tomb Raider.
- Dying Light.
- The Last Of Us 2
Countless other titles look stunning in native 4K. However, these four are easily the most impressive. RDR2, in particular, is one of the best-looking games ever made in 4K. If you’re already a fan of the game, you owe it to yourself to play it in 4K.
The number of games supporting 4K is ridiculously long; even titles with simple graphics have begun to introduce native 4K support.
Chances are, most of your games library from the last few years can support 4K even older games have received patches that allow them to support 4K.
The amount of 4K games justify the price of 4K gaming a lot. Compared to VR, which is very limited in terms of what you can play, 4K gives you a lot more bang for your buck.
Again, though, this is only if your setup is ready for an upgrade of that magnitude.
Curious how long your gaming PC is expected to last? Learn the truth in my article.
Can You Tell the Difference Between 1080p and 4K Gaming?
4K(3840 x 2160 pixels) has four times more pixels than 1080p(1920×1080), resulting in far more crisp, immersive and detailed images than 1080p. 4K can cause a sharp drop in frame rate if you don’t have the proper hardware; consoles can choose between prioritizing resolution or frame rate.
If you decide to dabble in 4K and notice your frames drop by a significant margin, switch back to 1080p. If the drop is only by a handful of frames, then you can afford to sacrifice that minor performance hit for the stunning visual display that 4K will deliver.
Investing in a quality GPU will make the difference in enjoying what 4K gaming has to offer. To see how long your GPU is expected to last and how to keep it healthy, see my article.
Is 4k the Standard Resolution for Gaming?
As of right now, 1080p is still the gaming standard; however, 4K is gaining popularity at a polarizing rate. We will likely see it become the standard soon as computer hardware continues to improve.
To simplify that down, you’re not going to be missing out by using a 1080p monitor. Most, if not all, modern games are developed with those visuals in mind, so there’s no need to go taking out a second mortgage for a 4K display.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t treat yourself to a 4K monitor, though. 4K gaming is a joy; it’s an entirely different experience to playing on lower resolutions. If you already have the right tools to support it, it’s more than worth the investment; 4 K gaming monitors always fall in price. See the best monitors for your budget on Amazon.
Just make sure that the games you’re planning on playing in 4K support it. Otherwise, you’re not going to be able to squeeze those graphics out of them, playing 1080p on a 4K setup, instead.
Frame rate is a WAY more critical metric than resolution; if you go from 30-60FPS, you are doubling the number of frames shown on the screen at one time to see if 120FPS is worth the upgrade; check out my article.
Are 4K Gaming Monitors Worth it?
In total, 4K gaming monitors are worth it as they have reduced in price dramatically and provide the most immersive gaming experience possible. 4K gaming monitor also can be used for productivity and consuming 4K content like YouTube or Netflix.
The overall appeal is what sells a lot of people on 4K. You don’t have to use it exclusively for gaming. Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Universal, Disney, and more all have shows supporting 4K displays.
Gaming is one thing, but the difference between 1080p and 4K for TV is staggering. You can see every single blade of grass, a strand of hair, and spect of dust that appears in the frame in extreme detail.
With gaming, gameplay combines with visuals to create the overall experience. However, watching a show or movie is a much more visual experience, justifying your investment in 4K tenfold, even if you don’t care too much about online TV.
Curious if a gaming keyboard makes a difference to your game? See the facts in my article.
Treat yourself to the best 4K gaming experience possible; see the latest pricing for 4K gaming equipment on Amazon down below.
See the latest pricing for the best 4K gaming equipment on Amazon below.
[amalinkspro_table id=”2957″ aff-id=”undefined” new-window=”on” nofollow=”on” addtocart=”on” /]
