GPU Setup for 1440p vs 4k, Advice Needed

[Cameronazzi]

Greeting all,

 

So I am planning to upgrade my current monitor setup from a single 1080p IPS 60Hz panel to either:

(a) 2 x 1440p IPS Panels

(b) 1 x 4k MVA Panel

(c) 1 x 4k IPS Panel

 

I am upgrading due to the fact that a single 1080p display is not enough real-estate for my programming and other productivity.

 

Do consider that my current CPU and GPU setup is the i5 6600k and the R9 390 Nitro from Sapphire; therefore, if I were to go 4k, I would need to upgrade my GPU setup for gaming, whereas the 390 is good enough at 1440p.

 

So, I see my options as:

Option 1: Go for 2 x 1440p IPS panels, stick with the R9 390

Option 2: Go for 1 x 4k panel and sell the 390 to buy a better card (if so, which?)

Option 3: Go for 1 x 4k panel and buy a second 390 for crossfire.

 

Please let me know your opinion on the matter, I do have a budget of roughly £600-ish, but that is flexible (within reason).

 

Many thanks!

-Cameron

[Frosty]

Personally, I would probably go for the 2x 1440p option.

[Cameronazzi]

1 minute ago, Frosty said:

Personally, I would probably go for the 2x 1440p option.

Okay, thanks! One question: why that over 4k? (just curious)

[Bl00dgod]

4k and 1440p are both great for productivity

the problem is that 4k is too hard to run on lower budgets

 

i'd go with the 2 1440p or try getting a nice 34" WQHD IPS panel

[Dresta]

6 minutes ago, Cameronazzi said:

Okay, thanks! One question: why that over 4k? (just curious)

Id go for 2x 1440p displays,mainly because 4k is can i say it this way "unstable" for the moment and in real world gaming you would not notice a difference unless you take a 1440p picture and a 4k picture and look at them closely

[Frosty]

8 minutes ago, Cameronazzi said:

Okay, thanks! One question: why that over 4k? (just curious)

Scaling in Windows and programs isn't really up to where I would want it to be to be to have everything consistently legible. The pixel density is nice, but I think 1440p is good enough, especially for the work that I do (Photoshop and the like). I've also got a similar card (390x), and I wouldn't have to spend more money GPU wise. 

 

My next monitor upgrade is most likely going to be a one of those neat 21:9 monitors.

[Cameronazzi]

7 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Scaling in Windows and programs isn't really up to where I would want it to be to be to have everything consistently legible. The pixel density is nice, but I think 1440p is good enough, especially for the work that I do (Photoshop and the like). I've also got a similar card (390x), and I wouldn't have to spend more money GPU wise. 

 

My next monitor upgrade is most likely going to be a one of those neat 21:9 monitors.

Regarding scaling, what about on a bigger display? Like 40", where the pixel density is lower anyway?
I am leaning towards the 2 x 1440p at the minute though!

[latentjones]

2x 1440 and a gtx 1080

[Cameronazzi]

2 minutes ago, latentjones said:

2x 1440 and a gtx 1080

Haha, and how does that fit (a) my budget (b) my options?

[Cameronazzi]

11 minutes ago, Dresta said:

Id go for 2x 1440p displays,mainly because 4k is can i say it this way "unstable" for the moment and in real world gaming you would not notice a difference unless you take a 1440p picture and a 4k picture and look at them closely

What about on a big 40" panel though? Where it's more like 4 separate 20" 1080p panels? That's gonna be a similar pixel density.

 

I totally agree with your points about gaming though

[latentjones]

2 minutes ago, Cameronazzi said:

Haha, and how does that fit (a) my budget (b) my options?

Easily doubles your budget but can you put a price on happiness?

[Frosty]

1 minute ago, Cameronazzi said:

Regarding scaling, what about on a bigger display? Like 40", where the pixel density is lower anyway?
I am leaning towards the 2 x 1440p at the minute though!

Funnily enough, I actually have a 42" 3840x2160 television that I hook my machine up to when I'm bored. At say, 200+% scaling in windows, most of the windows elements look fine, but every so often programs will scale but their associated UI elements had some issues. I had to increase the scaling value to a fairly high one because I was sitting farther away from the TV. 

[Dresta]

2 minutes ago, latentjones said:

Easily doubles your budget but can you put a price on happiness?

doubles his budget? where did it say that? yes you CAN put a price tag on happiness in this case,its like saying "Why buy a cheap golf car for $20000 when you can buy a buggati for $4m? i mean you cant put a price tag on happiness"

[latentjones]

4 minutes ago, Dresta said:

doubles his budget? where did it say that? yes you CAN put a price tag on happiness in this case,its like saying "Why buy a cheap golf car for $20000 when you can buy a buggati for $4m? i mean you cant put a price tag on happiness"

Woah there fella, chill. I was facetiously suggesting he should buy a GTX 1080 and 2 x 1440 monitors as that's what would run them best. He stated earlier that his budget is £600 with potential room for manoeuvre...

 

1440 monitor roughly £250-600

GTX 1080 £590-750+

 

Easily double his budget.

 

As for putting a price on happiness. It was a joke.

 

Obviously not that funny.

 

 

[App4that]

I think 1440 is the sweet spot right now, in a year maybe 4k will be a better option but for now 1440 is the shit. Buy the time graphics cards make 4k a viable option we'll have better 4k monitors so I'd go 1440.

[i_build_nanosuits]

i would keep the 1080p monitor for the secondary display and i would order a 2560x1440 gaming monitor for main.

[Cameronazzi]

36 minutes ago, latentjones said:

Woah there fella, chill. I was facetiously suggesting he should buy a GTX 1080 and 2 x 1440 monitors as that's what would run them best. He stated earlier that his budget is £600 with potential room for manoeuvre...

 

1440 monitor roughly £250-600

GTX 1080 £590-750+

 

Easily double his budget.

 

As for putting a price on happiness. It was a joke.

 

Obviously not that funny.

 

 

Don't worry man, some of us got the joke! Thanks regardless, ignore them