• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

For all those who are scared of 1440p

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Most people tell me that if I can't play a game at 1440p Ultra with 4x MSAA then I haven't maxed it out. My point is, I can max it out at 1080p Ultra 4x MSAA but I prefer to play it maxed out at 1440p Ultra without the MSAA because although I can max out at 1440p, I can't maintain MSAA at 1440p.

Don't worry about what most people will tell you. Most people are average, do you want to be considered average?
 
I don't understand why it's a choice between TN 120Hz or 60 Hz IPS. And why we still don't have a 1440 IPS 120Hz panel.

Haven't there been 120 Hz IPS TVs out for a while now?

One of the drawbacks to IPS monitors is response time, the time it takes a pixel to change color. This results in ghosting and to see appreciable smoothness increases, you need much faster response times than current IPS monitors offer.
 
One of the drawbacks to IPS monitors is response time, the time it takes a pixel to change color. This results in ghosting and to see appreciable smoothness increases, you need much faster response times than current IPS monitors offer.

I'm totally speaking as a guess here, but I would think that it would take a lot more processing power and improved circuitry for that to happen inside the monitor itself, on that little digital processing PCB. As I understand it, on TN panels you have a 6-bit process, so the info is quickly converted into that format, and it's easier to feed that much smaller gamut into the panel at a high rate of speed. With IPS, you are running 8 or even 10 bit panels, which doesn't sound like a big difference, but actually is a tremendous increase in information out to the panel. This would seem to require a lot more out of that monitor component. I know less than nothing about who makes those processors, but I would hazard a guess that it's the magic that needs to happen to make 120hz doable with IPS. Some models can actually overclock to 100hz and beyond, but with varied results in reliability/longevity. I think the actual pixels on the panel itself can handle it, but the limitations before that signal is generated is where the problem sits.

I'd welcome more info on it for sure 🙂 All of the above is a somewhat educated guess.
 
Also, if I understand it correctly :

6 bit panels = 256k colors
8 bit panels = 16 million colors
10 bit panels = 1 billion colors (pro usage only for the most part)
 
I understand your point Box but 1440P has ~78% more pixels than a 1080P panel spread over 2-3 inches, so PPI is still higher.

Yes, but not by much. 1080p@23" is almost 96 ppi, 1440p on 27" is almost 109 ppi - just 13% higher. I don't think one would notice the difference at all aside from the larger display of course.
 
Haha, it would be a ludicrous proposition requiring significant custom PCB and fabrication work, but it would be hilariously awesome to take four cheap Kindle HDs apart, and make a relatively small 3820x2400 screen out of them. I think the panels themselves have something like a .2mm internal bezel, so it would look fairly good.
 
I'm totally speaking as a guess here, but I would think that it would take a lot more processing power and improved circuitry for that to happen inside the monitor itself, on that little digital processing PCB. As I understand it, on TN panels you have a 6-bit process, so the info is quickly converted into that format, and it's easier to feed that much smaller gamut into the panel at a high rate of speed. With IPS, you are running 8 or even 10 bit panels, which doesn't sound like a big difference, but actually is a tremendous increase in information out to the panel. This would seem to require a lot more out of that monitor component. I know less than nothing about who makes those processors, but I would hazard a guess that it's the magic that needs to happen to make 120hz doable with IPS. Some models can actually overclock to 100hz and beyond, but with varied results in reliability/longevity. I think the actual pixels on the panel itself can handle it, but the limitations before that signal is generated is where the problem sits.

I'd welcome more info on it for sure 🙂 All of the above is a somewhat educated guess.
They do make 6-bit IPS panels as well, and they do have better response times, but not on TN levels. There is likely more to it than purely a computational one.
 
I'm totally speaking as a guess here, but I would think that it would take a lot more processing power and improved circuitry for that to happen inside the monitor itself, on that little digital processing PCB. As I understand it, on TN panels you have a 6-bit process, so the info is quickly converted into that format, and it's easier to feed that much smaller gamut into the panel at a high rate of speed. With IPS, you are running 8 or even 10 bit panels, which doesn't sound like a big difference, but actually is a tremendous increase in information out to the panel. This would seem to require a lot more out of that monitor component. I know less than nothing about who makes those processors, but I would hazard a guess that it's the magic that needs to happen to make 120hz doable with IPS. Some models can actually overclock to 100hz and beyond, but with varied results in reliability/longevity. I think the actual pixels on the panel itself can handle it, but the limitations before that signal is generated is where the problem sits.

I'd welcome more info on it for sure 🙂 All of the above is a somewhat educated guess.

What kind of panels are those in the smart TVs then? Their clarity makes me think IPS but they run at 120Hz. It definitely looks better than your regular TN panel.
 
I'm interested in the 1440 panels that can be overclocked to 120Hz, but until we get better gpus I'm not moving off 1080p. Even my 7950 feels rather lackluster at this resolution, certainly not stomping every title into the dirt, even without MSAA on deferred engines.
 
No 120 Hz, no sale.

I don't believe the trade-offs for TN are worth it. TN's are marginal at best for dual / triple monitors due to viewing angles, and having a minimum of dual monitors is something i've always preferred. Plus there are many other trade-offs with TN. I just don't like them at all, 120hz or not.

Everyone has their own preference I suppose - I think the best of both worlds will be 4k OLED whenever that takes off. Sony is going to release some models this year at relatively affordable prices (and when I say affordable, I only mean in comparison to yesteryear's 25000$ prices). They should be around 5000$ to start and if they are adopted by consumers in the HDTV market, they will lower quickly. Sony is also releasing 4k 30 inch monitors (OLED) as well. They will be expensive, however i'm hoping they depreciate rapidly over the next couple of years. OLED at 4k resolution will be the next "big" thing.
 
Last edited:
Don't you also wish you could do 120hz?

At the expense of not being able to do multi monitors? No. To be specific, TN panels make multi monitor useless due to viewing angles. The only workable solution is to run triple monitor in portrait mode, preferably without bezels, so that the monitors are so close that you can't perceive the off viewing angles as much - but if you want dual monitors side by side, angled, good luck with that using TN panels. Using dual monitors with an accessory display being TN is just not very good. If it is angled at even 30 degrees compared to the primary you cannot see anything due to the color shifting.

edit: perhaps my earlier response was inflammatory, for that I apologize. I think TN panels are not ideal whether they're 120hz or not but it is highly subjective. I think the best thing will be when OLED really takes off - that will combine the best of both worlds - very good in motion *and* all of the great benefits of IPS/PLS panels. I cannot wait for 4k OLEDs to become mainstream. In the meantime, i'll stick with high resolution IPS panels - I think they're really fantastic for gaming. Once you've used a 2560x1600 30 incher in games you'll never want to go back to anything else TRUST me 😉
 
Last edited:
No TV runs at true 120Hz.

THIS! I see news about the TV market slowing down and companies like Sharp and Sony having a hard time yet absolutely no one has put out a TV that takes a 120Hz PC input.

It has been years! What is so hard about upgrading your input board to accept a higher Hz?
 
THIS! I see news about the TV market slowing down and companies like Sharp and Sony having a hard time yet absolutely no one has put out a TV that takes a 120Hz PC input.

It has been years! What is so hard about upgrading your input board to accept a higher Hz?

So then what are those "120Hz" TVs doing? My roommate has one and it does look pretty damn good for shows.
 
Will 4k panels be natively 120/240Hz when introduced? Or still 60Hz? 🙁

4k OLED. OLED has none of the nonsense that TN panels have with regard to colors and viewing angles, and look fantastic in motion. That is happening this year courtesy of Sony. But it will be very expensive - 5,000$ US for a 55 inch HDTV. Some 30 inch PC monitors will also follow, not sure on pricing.
 
Great OP, much of my sentiments exactly. I can't wait until a screen of similar size or bigger with even higher PPI than my 30" 2560x1600 comes out. I think it's also a good point that people get misled by viewing rendered screenshots on their same monitor. You really have to see a 30" IPS next to any TN to be awestruck.
 
When can I expect the following?

4k rez TV
which is at least 46"
At least 100Hz

I don't care whether it is a TV or monitor, I just want the cheaper one.

My budget is $1000ish.

Possible in 2-3 years?
 
I agree with the OP, though a modest amount of SGSSAA (2x or 4x) does still make a noticeable difference at 1440p if you can do it and still maintain acceptable performance.

I long for the day when desktop monitor dot pitch and PPI have evolved to levels where AA is simply no longer needed. I mean seriously, there are smartphones coming out that are 1080p at FIVE INCHES, and most desktop gamers are still at the same res despite being on screens around 5x larger.
 
Back
Top