Buzz
It might still be a little too soon to declare 4K as the new standard, but it's fast approaching. The advantages are undeniable, particularly for those with 4K-compatible equipment. Remember, building a 4K PC involves more than just a screen with high pixel density. Here’s what you’ll need—and what you should know—to create a 4K desktop that can handle anything you throw at it.
Is 4K the Right Choice for You?
If you enjoy multitasking with multiple open windows or simply love having more screen space, 4K is a great choice. If you’re into full-screen gaming and have a system capable of supporting a 4K display, then you’re in for a treat. But who exactly can benefit most from 4K right now? Just because 4K displays and TVs are becoming more common doesn't mean they’re necessary for everyone. Let’s explore who would get the most out of 4K:
Developers, traders, and anyone who loves multiple windows: For productivity enthusiasts, the first major advantage of 4K is the abundance of screen real estate. This allows for more windows and apps to be visible at once, which is fantastic if you need everything up simultaneously. However, there's a limit to how much screen space is beneficial. At some point, having too much on-screen can make things too small to be useful. More screen space doesn’t always equal greater productivity. For personal insights, check out developer John Somnez’s review of the 39” Seiki 4K display, and Brian Hauer’s “4K Is for Programmers”.
Video and audio editors: For video editors, 4K displays offer additional space to view video tracks in full detail. Users of After Effects or Final Cut will appreciate how a 4K screen allows them to see more tracks and media files at the same time without shrinking them down to an unreadable size. If you're working with 4K video, the benefits of this increased resolution become even more apparent.
High-end PC gamers: If you’re the kind of gamer who loves cranking up the settings to their max, and you prefer games with high system requirements, 4K will blow you away. Developers are already embracing 4K, so many upcoming titles will support it, and a number of games currently scale well with 4K resolutions.
4K isn’t for everyone. If you're on a tight budget, this may not be the best investment for you just yet. We discussed this in our previous conversation about 4K displays. While 4K monitors offer significant benefits for those who need them, the price-to-performance ratio isn’t ideal for budget-conscious buyers—you’ll need to spend quite a bit. Video editors and photographers should be cautious about low-quality panels with poor color accuracy and viewing angles. Gamers should also be wary of viewing distance problems and slow refresh rates. Mac users must confirm their device supports 4K and ensure they’re running macOS 10.9.3 or later.
That said, 4K display prices have significantly dropped recently. More options are now available, and 4K gaming has gained more traction. So what would it take to embrace a 4K display for both gaming and productivity? Let’s break it down.
How to Make Your PC Ready for 4K
Driving all those pixels is a challenging task. Ideally, a 4K-capable computer should support your needs at the monitor’s native resolution (3840 x 2160). Before you rush to buy a discounted 4K display and set it up, take a look at these essential components and ensure they can handle the workload:
The display: The first thing to consider is the display itself and whether it will meet your needs. If you’re opting for 4K primarily for 3D gaming, the budget-friendly Seiki monitors mentioned earlier won’t be your best choice as they’re capped at 30Hz. However, if you're a developer, writer, or someone who doesn’t need 60Hz, this display works just fine, with the price usually hovering around $400. For 60Hz and 3D gaming, more power (and cost) will be required—but fortunately, it’s not that much more.
Your graphics card(s): To ensure top-tier performance on your 4K display, you’ll need a graphics card (or two) that can handle the pixel load, particularly if you’re aiming for 60Hz. It should connect to the display through DisplayPort on your PC or Thunderbolt 2 on your Mac (or HDMI 2.0, though fewer graphics cards support this). If you plan on gaming, you’ll need a high-end card. Your current PC card likely won’t suffice unless it’s a recent build with top-tier components. Fortunately, both AMD and NVIDIA's flagship cards, along with their latest drivers, support 4K.
Your processor: The processor doesn’t directly affect whether your computer can handle a 4K display, but it (along with your RAM) determines how many applications you can run simultaneously without compromising performance. A critical factor is ensuring that your CPU matches your graphics card in power, especially if gaming is a priority. Don’t skimp on the CPU or risk creating a bottleneck that hinders overall performance.
There’s a balance to strike. You’ll likely spend more on a 4K display and graphics card (or multiple cards) than a budget system builder would invest in an entire PC build. This can make it out of reach for many people. However, if you’re willing to make the investment, the cutting-edge experience can be quite impressive.
Our Versatile, 4K-Ready Build
To envision what a modern, 4K-capable PC looks like, we put together a build on PCPartPicker. (Keep in mind that prices may fluctuate, as many of these components are high-end at the moment and will likely decrease over time.) If you already have a sufficiently powerful PC, you may only need a few upgrades instead of an entirely new system, and we’ll dive into that shortly. For now, you can check out our complete parts list in the image below, and view the build at PCPartPicker here.
Our high-end 4K PC totaled about $3000, which includes a Samsung 60Hz 4K monitor and dual AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics cards.
Of course, we made certain assumptions about what a “do-anything” PC would require. For instance, we selected an Intel i7 processor because the goal is to create a machine capable of handling everything—video editing, audio work, transcoding, and more, beyond just gaming. If your main focus is gaming, an i5 would do just as well.
We even added a Cooler Master TPC 812 aftermarket cooling unit to keep your processor temperatures in check, especially if you plan to overclock. Prefer AMD? No problem—there's no reason an advanced AMD FX processor wouldn't fit in a 4K setup, as Forbes demonstrated earlier this year. Just ensure the processor you choose matches the power required by your GPU. The same goes for the other essential components like the case, memory, and motherboard—those are mainly a matter of personal preference.
Ultimately, this is just a sample build—most of the components are up to you. Here are the two critical parts that matter, and the reasoning behind our selections:
The Samsung 28” U28D590D display. Samsung’s 28” 4K panel has been a favorite we’ve highlighted before whenever it goes on sale—and for good reason. It may not be the largest 4K display available, but it’s highly rated and regularly affordable, offering 60Hz with the proper graphics configuration. If you prefer something different, consider the Dell 28” UP2414Q, which also supports 60Hz. You could opt for the well-reviewed ASUS PQ321Q 31.5” 4K monitor or the Dell UP3214Q 31.5” display, though both are priced over $2,000. Alternatively, if 60Hz isn't a requirement, the previously mentioned 39” Seiki is priced around $400.
The pair of AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics cards. We could have gone with different graphics options, but we chose the dual R9 290X setup because AnandTech recommended it, and the pair is still cheaper than the $1500 AMD Radeon R9 295X2, which was recently released and is being hailed as the ultimate 4K graphics card (though you could say the same about the $1100 NVIDIA GeForce Titan Black). If you’re looking for an alternative, you could use a pair of NVIDIA GeForce 780 Ti cards in SLI, as Forbes did in January, but AnandTech pointed out some issues with that configuration, plus it costs about $150 more for identical performance and less VRAM. Either way, depending on your brand loyalty, both options are solid. For those truly on the cutting edge who prefer a single-card solution, the R9 295X2 is an excellent choice to avoid dual-card complications.
One thing is clear: To be on the bleeding edge, you’ll definitely pay a premium. This setup is out of reach for many, but the silver lining is that as time goes on, high-end components will become more affordable. Displays will lower in price, graphics cards will drop, and mid-range cards capable of native 4K support will emerge. If you’re on a budget, it might be better to hold off. However, if you’ve got the funds to spare and are building a new system, this is the setup you need to experience the full benefits right now.
Title photo made using Fabio Berti (Shutterstock), and Robin2 (Shutterstock). Other photos by wccftech and Samsung.
