Many people wonder if gaming at 1080p on 4k monitor is possible or not. From beginners to pros, Gamers are always in search of different ways to upgrade their gaming systems to make the entire experience more immersive and thrilling. One of the important factors that play into that is the graphics and resolutions. 4k monitors have become quite common nowadays, but there is no large variety of games that support 4k. 1080p or 1440p is still common among gaming content. This is why many people wonder if gaming at 1080p on a 4k monitor is possible.
Keep on reading to find out how gaming at 1080p on a 4k monitor looks.
What Is The Difference Between 1080p From 4K:
If you already know the answer to this, you can skip ahead. But if you are a beginner, you need to know the difference.
Both are different resolutions. 1080p is a Full High Definition with a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. The 4k, on the other hand, is called Ultra High Definition (UHD) with 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution and a 1:1.9 aspect ratio. By comparison, the 4k has four times more resolution than 1080p. The images are clearer, bigger, and have much more detail.
Why Gaming At 1080p On 4k Monitor Is A Concern?
Playing games at their native resolution has always been better. The graphics will be of great quality
if you play 1080p on a 1080p monitor.
The thing is, 4k monitors are the best available monitors in the market. Not only movies and videos are fun to watch, but even the working experience also becomes sweat. Additionally, 4k monitors are much more valuable, which is why many gamers jump at the chance to buy one.
Unfortunately, not all games can support 4k. If you limit yourself to just a few games, this is not a concern. However, many like to have freedom in the selection, so this is indeed a problem.
Is Gaming At 1080p On 4k Monitor Possible?
The answer is yes, it is possible. Gaming 1080p at 4k monitor is not just possible; it can also look great. It’s just a matter of graphics, which can be upscaled easily in the settings. Every display screen comes with an in-built scaler these days, so you need to go to the graphics settings and adjust the scaling.
Does Gaming At 1080p On 4k Monitor Looks Bad?
There is quite a lot of misinformation out there about this. Many people claim that gaming 1080p on a 4k monitor looks bad. The pictures are blown up, menus are blurred, and many details are unclear during the gameplay.
Why is all of that happening? Essentially, the 4k monitor is upscaling all the images to the 4k display screen. The 1080p is only one-fourth part of the 4k resolution display, so understandably, the content will blur. But that can be easily adjusted. A simple turning of scaling or adjusting will do the trick.
However, even if you do that, there is still a difference if you play the 1080p game at its native resolution compared to playing it on a 4k monitor. But the difference is very, very slight. It comes from the squareness of the individual pixels. At 1080p, the pixels are, well, slightly more rounded, so they perfectly blend with the neighboring pixels. But at 4k, the pixels have sharper or defined square shapes. This difference is visible only when staring at a distance of 2″ from the screen, so it is very small.
How Can You Make Gaming At 1080p On 4k Monitor Better?
Again, it is a matter of adjusting the scaling. After simply turning or adjusting the scaling, you will see a visible improvement. Personally, you won’t be able to spot any difference if you had played the game at its native resolution unless you are sticking your face only 2” away from the screen.
You can also turn off the scaling entirely on the monitor to avoid the hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do 4k Monitors Support 1080p Gaming?
Ans: Yes, they do. Again, it’s all about graphics, which can be adjusted through scaling.
Q: How Do I Adjust Resolution Settings on a 4k Monitor?
Ans: The process is simple.
- Go to the settings menu.
- Open Display Settings
- Within the tab, you will find a variety of resolution options.
- Scroll to find the desired resolution option.
- Select the desired setting, and close the tab.
Q: Which Games Support 4k Gameplay?
Ans: You can get a complete list of such games from Wikipedia or other sites. However, in our opinion, Assassins Creed III, Grand Theft Auto V, Metal Gear Solid V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are the best picks.
Q: Is It Better To Play 1080p Games At Native Resolution Monitors/ 1080p Monitors Only?
Ans: Actually, it is a personal preference. But at its basics, yes, it is much better to play them at native resolution.
Q: Are 1080p Monitors Out Of Fashion?
Ans: Not at all. They still dominate the gaming community. The fact that any gamers, including professional and e-sport players, prefer to play 1080p games on 1080p monitors is evidence of that fact.