UHD

I recently purchased the Dell 30Hz 28" 4k UHD panel. While AussieTimmeh was down for a visit, a few of the local members got together to put it through its paces. We wanted to see how each game handled 4k UHD resolutions, how they would perform with a single Radeon R9 290, and how 30Hz impacted the gameplay experience. In total we tested: Battlefield 4, DiRT Showdown, Natural Selection 2, Guild Wars 2, Torchlight II, Lego Batman 2, Pac-Mac Championship Edition DX+ and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.K.

Embedded below is the YouTube playlist of all the videos. There is a lot of analysis, and a lot of good commentary by all of the members. Some games worked perfectly, some faired okay, and others were simply unplayable. Come see how your favorite game performed, and whether 4k UHD was preferred over 1080p, Eyefinity or 21:9.

Tek Syndicate got the details from Dell. It is a TN panel (but apparently a good one), has DP and mini-DP inputs, and DP out. With it being 30Hz at 4k, I wonder if it can do 60Hz at 2k (2560x1440) or 1080p.

Based on two reports from Engadget, both LG and Samsung are poised to showcase 105" Ultra HD TVs sporting a 21:9 "ultra widescreen" aspect ratio. Both displays are curved, and sport a resolution of 5,120 x 2,160 - a total of 11.06M pixels.

By comparison a "4K UHD" display has 8.29M pixels, making these sets basically 5.3K UHD". By way of comparison, a 5x1-Portrait Eyefinity configuration has 10.4M pixels, and an aspect ratio of 25.3:9 - just wider than the 21:9 aspect ratio here. Recently announced 3440x1440 21:9 displays have 4.93M pixels (roughly 2.5 HD), and just under half the pixels of these new massive panels.

If you've got the money for one of these new displays, you can compare performance to any 5x1-Portrait Eyefinity benchmarks out there. Until this resolution makes its eventual way to PC displays, you can keep on the lookout for the 34" 3440x1440 panels which will require half the horsepower.

Dell has released its first two 4k UHD panels. The UltraSharp UP2414Q is a 24" model sporting an anti-glare IPS LED panel with mini-DP, DP 1.2a and HDMI connections. The UltraSharp UP3214Q is a 32" panel with the same connections and an anti-glare IGZO LCD panel.

Both models sport USB 3.0 hubs. They can do 60Hz over the mini-DP or DP connections, and 30Hz over the HDMI. The UP2414Q retails for $1,399, and the UP3214Q retails for $3,499. Dell is also promising a 28" 4k UHD panel at "sub $1,000" pricing in early 2014. I'm wondering what features will be cut for to get this panel under $1000. I don't see them going non-IPS, as a TN panel at this resolution would be a waste. I'm guessing that it won't be part of the UltraSharp line.

The 24" seems a bit small for this many pixels, but the price is in line with the existing 30" panel. I'd love to get the 32", but right now that price is out of reach. Here's hoping the 28" panel has the right features.

HDMI Licensing officially announced HDMI 2.0. The v2 spec has 18Gbps bandwidth and can carry 3,840 x 2,160 resolution video at @ 60fps. The connector itself is unchanged, and HDMI Licensing claims current high-speed Category 2 wires can handle the increased bandwidth. Additionally, some companies have suggested upgrade paths for UHDTVs already on the market, and the new spec will natively support 21:9 widescreen displays.