Digital Foundry: Let's play PC games at 8K resolution

[nvgpu]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-lets-play-pc-gaming-at-8k-resolution

 

[Sweepr]

Rise of the Tomb Raider struggles to maintain 60fps at 4K with a single GTX 1080 Ti, but a series of strategic settings choices allows us to run this title at 30-35fps at 8K, where it still looks spectacular - but it's here where we reach another physical limit of current GPU technology: VRAM. We could only achieve solid performance by running the game's console-level texture assets, not the 4K artwork. GTX 1080 Ti's 11GB simply isn't enough, and judged by today's standards, 16GB looks like the sweet spot. Certainly, that's what Watch Dogs 2's VRAM indicator reckoned would be required to get the job done - we had some initial success with that one, but settings exploration just caused multiple crashes, something we had to contend with throughout the entire testing experience.

...On top of that, 16GB of VRAM is a must. But the fact that we got close to 60fps gameplay in some demanding titles is heartening.

Volta better bring some 16GB GDDR6 goodness.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Volta better bring some 16GB GDDR6 goodness.

Volta GV104 should democratize 4K/60Hz gaming, and GV102 could start making 4K/144Hz possible. We're still a ways off from 8K/60Hz!

 

[mohit9206]

Goddamn i can't believe soon enough 12GB vram isn't going to be enough. 8K monitors are starting to show up and Volta better have a 16gb model that's under $1000.
Has a similar test been done with RX470/480/570/580 at 4K? I assume the same will be true, 8GB simply not enough at 4K. But these are $200 cards so its completely fine.

 

[richaron]

...8GB simply not enough at 4K.

What complete nonsense.

4GB is fine for most "4k" situations, but I'll agree there are some situations where more is needed. I'm sure anyone could go out and cherry pick a few examples to show 4GB is not enough for "4k". But just to be on the safe side I personally would prefer 8GB if aiming for "4k" and "future proofing".

 

[tential]

Volta GV104 should democratize 4K/60Hz gaming, and GV102 could start making 4K/144Hz possible. We're still a ways off from 8K/60Hz!

A Long way? If you consider 4 years a long way away sure. We're definitely close to 8k 60hz. Not all ultra settings, but we're close.
GPU horsepower has moved so fast it's truly mindboggling. 8k gaming should be something we're talking about 2-3 years from now a lot more regularly. Especially with 8k monitors now starting to surface. I wouldn't mind if 4K was the 720p of this era and 8k is where we settle at.

 

[Spjut]

I don't even care about 4k right now. I'd find it much more interesting to see how games would look if those high-end PCs targeted maximum visual fidelity at 1080p.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

It's a little hard to care about 4k having when HFR is paying display port capabilities. It's time to move past 1080p. 1440 is the sweet spot. Is still but a 4k monitor with the right specs tho.

 

[Qwertilot]

Think 4k - and beyond - is very relevant for future VR stuff though. That needs all the resolution it can conceivably get, and them some more.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

VR needs 8k