Q Is gaming at 1440p, 4K or 8K vs 1080p worth it?

A Higher resolutions are rarely optimal for gaming: refresh rate > size > resolution.

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The number of pixels on a monitor are roughly proportional to the GPU performance required to power it. At 8k, 16 times more GPU performance is required than at 1080p. Higher resolutions also require more GPU memory.

Resolution	Horizontal pixels	Vertical pixels	Total pixels
1080p	1920	1080	2 Million
1440p	2560	1440	4 Million
4k	3840	2160	8 Million
8k	7680	4320	33 Million

Monitor Refresh Rate

A 60 Hz monitor updates 60 times per second. 60 Hz is ok for desktop use but during fast paced gaming 60 Hz is noticeably jerky. At 120 Hz games appear smoother and are far more immersive. Beyond 120 Hz diminishing returns set in fast. Most users struggle to tell the difference between 120 Hz and 240 Hz. Refresh rates beyond 240 Hz are wasted on human eyes.

Game Frames Per Second

High game fps enable lower input latency which results in more responsive inputs and therefore more immersive gameplay. Unlike monitor refresh rates, which offer little value over 240 Hz, game fps as high as 480 can offer improved user experience, especially in competitive games.

Monitor Size

Larger monitors are generally better. For desktop tasks, there is more space to arrange windows and whilst gaming, a larger screen is more immersive.

Resolution

For a given monitor size, as resolution increases, pixel density also increases.

Conclusion

Large high resolution monitors increase productivity significantly but gamers that own high resolution monitors are often better off running games at lower resolutions. Whilst gaming just 150cm from a 65 inch screen, the difference in quality between 1080p and 4K is quickly forgotten. Running games at 1080p results in higher frame rates and therefore smoother, more responsive and ultimately more immersive gameplay. Users looking for a more screen space should consider multi monitor setups. Stacking two 24” 1080p screens vertically is a cost effective setup for productivity. The additional vertical space reduces scrolling and allows gaming at 1080p native resolution on the lower screen. Alternatively, for a larger desk, three monitors side by side also work well. IPS screens are preferable in multi monitor setups because they display a clear image even when viewed from an angle.