"Next Gen" gaming - beyond 1080p? (4K)

[tulx]

Hello techies!

With the current generation of consoles (finally!) nearing the end of their life cycle, there should also be a leap in PC gaming quality, once we're not limited by DX9 and low VRAM of the XBox 360 and PS3, right?
Is it generally predicted that we'll be moving past 1080p as the mainstream resolution standard?
Beyond-full-hd monitors are relatively very rare at the moment. Would the current top-end video cards with 3GB VRAM be able to properly deliver 4K resolutions (3840 x 2160 or 4096 x 2160) already?

I currently have a Crossfire setup of AMD 5870 cards, and I'm pretty sure I won't need to upgrade as long as I'll be playing on 1080p. I'm wondering if series 8 or 9 will be tailored for higher resolutions...

 

[boxleitnerb]

For 4K you primarily need processing power. 3840x2160 versus 1080p costs roughly 70% in performance:


It will be a long long time before 4K takes off. Next gen consoles likely won't be much faster than their predecessors, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[AtenRa]

We need better Image Quality games even in 1080p not 4K resolutions. Take a 1080p BluRay movie and a 1080p game, both have the same resolution but the movie has far superior Image Quality. We need Ray Tracing or any other higher image quality technology and higher performing hardware, 1080p if enough for today and the next 10 years or so.

 

[kami]

The next set of consoles will just render games in 1080p as opposed to 720p like they do now.

Affordable 4k panels for TVs are years and years away. Only recently has HDTVs (in US households) become mainstream and a huge chunk of those are only 720p... half if not more probably.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The next set of consoles will just render games in 1080p as opposed to 720p like they do now.

Affordable 4k panels for TVs are years and years away. Only recently has HDTVs (in US households) become mainstream and a huge chunk of those are only 720p... half if not more probably.

^^ This.

Remember any silly dream about 4K panels also requires new decoders, new formats, more bandwidth on the networks for TV. New cameras, editing gear etc.

Plus 4K doesnt actually make sense. The possible benefit of 4K vs just 1080p is very small.

 

[BFG10K]

Beyond 1080p? That’s already here. It’s called 2560x1600, and I’ve been using it for about three years now.

 

[BrightCandle]

Jeez I haven't gamed as low as 1080p for a very long time, I use 5760x1200.

But I think in the next few years we will see higher DPI monitors and that will start to reduce the aliasing effect we have today and in turn require a bit more pixel pushing power than we currently have on offer.