4k monitor

bagas · Apprentice Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 206

Hello.
I'm going to take a 4k monitor, how is support for 4k content in linux?

asturm · Developer Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 8936

Linux doesn't mind 4K at all. Maybe you do have a specific desktop environment in mind?

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 4:07 pm Post subject:

bagas,

I have 4k and use Mate-1.20. Its gorgeous. :)

There are two schools of thought in 4k.
a) Standard size displays with smaller pixels
b) Standard size pixels but more of them to make a bigger display.

a) needs you to use bigger fonts
b) just works.

You need a graphics card that supports 4k. Older cards max out at 2560x1600, so you need to read the fine print.

I went with option b), since I even with corrected vision, I can't really resolve individual pixels any more.
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ct85711 · Veteran Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1791

asturm · Developer Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 8936

I've got a 4K@12" laptop and a 4K@24" display, both make for gorgeously looking fonts. It's an entirely different matter for TVs where you are sitting far away and more than 1080p does not really matter below 50".

bagas · Apprentice Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 206

Monitor 28 inches, more inches I do not need.
The computer is home.
Without a video card, only the i7 8700 processor, the video card after the add-on.
Working in the console, watching movies, reading instructions.
Graphics are planned to use either xfce4 or kde.

Ant P. · Watchman Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 6920

At 28" you might want to familiarise yourself with /etc/conf.d/consolefont settings. The default console font is readable at that size, but pretty tiny.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 7:36 pm Post subject:

ct85711,

I've got a Dell P4317Q. I didn't buy it from Amazon as Ballicom had a sale on and I got a much better price.

It won't be difficult to spot my review there. :)
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NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

szatox · Advocate Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 3136

I have a curved 32". 34 would probably be more comfortable, going down from this size is a no-no.
One very good thing with a single, large display is that you don't have that annoying gap in the middle of your screen, so by all means take 4k over 2 small displays.

If you need to customize your workspace, fakexrandr does a pretty good job splitting your screen on arbitrary widths and heights. Bonus points if you can find a way to toggle settings without reloging.

Akkara · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:21 pm Post subject:

I love 4K. 28" monitor here. A 3 or 4-stack of large xterms on the left, kdevelop in the middle, and a browser on the right, all fit very comfortably and make for a productive environment. Crisp and easy to read. I used to a similar arrangement on 1920x1080, but the fonts looked noticeably blocky there and couldn't get as much text up. Moving to 4K allows for smaller fonts (relative to the display area) while remaining readable. There's more than 120 lines of code all visible at once in the kdevelop window. Coding heaven.

I use the same setup on the recent 4K laptop. That's a 15" screen, same pixel-size fonts (smaller physically), nose closer to the screen, and it still works well.
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1clue · Advocate Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 2569

ct85711 · Veteran Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1791

Thanks for the information, it gives me some things to think about. I know for me, the part that would be the biggest concern would be the small font size. Going in and changing the font size isn't something I like when I know from experience that ends up being hit or miss on it being applied uniformly to everything. I'll have to decide on if going up to a 40 inch monitor would be acceptable, but I think I may see about hooking up my 40 inch tv (1080p) and see how it sits for eye level wise (I tend to sit up higher, so it may be better for me).

1clue · Advocate Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 2569

Consider a nonstandard desk. Maybe put the TV on the wall and adjust the height. Smaller table for the keyboard and mouse, separate cup holder on your chair to keep the caffeinated beverages from damaging your electronics.

1clue · Advocate Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 2569

One thing to consider with respect to screen size:

You can always scoot back to get a view of the entire screen. You can't always scoot forward to make things bigger.

bagas · Apprentice Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 206

Thanks for the consultation.
I assumed that there would be a problem with the fine print.
40 inch monitor is a bomb, room tanning is provided! )))
You need to sit 2-3 meters in front of such a monitor.
The optimal monitor for work is 28-30 inches, the rest is not practical.

I think I'll buy a normal fullhd 27 inch monitor.
4k content topic for another 5 years will be optimized.

Anon-E-moose · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:08 am Post subject:

I use a 27 inch 1080p monitor and it's fine (I sit appx 28 inches back from it) far enough to see whole screen, close enough to read reasonable small print.
I do want to move up to 4k (I use an nvidia 720 and it says it will run at that resolution) but I'm waiting for the prices to drop a little more and the monitor I've got is only a couple of years old, so no hurry for me.

Although I did see a nice 44 inch monitor that I thought about buying, 4k as one screen, ability to split into 4 screens (effectively 22 inch 1080p) with 4 hdmi inputs.
But I would have had to figure out a way to set it back further for full screen viewing and bring it in closer for split screen (probably a wall mount option)

Like Akkara, when I went from 24 to 27 inch I could see more on the screen as I kept the same font size, which allowed me more lines on the xterms.

Thanks for the discussion though, much food for thought.
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:43 pm Post subject:

Anon-E-moose,

The only time I use all 4k 43" in the same window is for films. Yes, you do need to sit back a bit for that. :)
I normally use three or four windows, still overlapping, of which I only work in one at a time.

My main reason to upgrade to 4k was that my bairn wanted my 'old' 27 inch 2560x1440 because it was colour calibrated.

I did consider a curved screen but was put off by two things
1) they are manufactured flat, then bent. I shudder at what this might do for the reliability.
2) I usually sit slightly to the left of the centreline, I don't know why, that may make a curved screen suboptimal.
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NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

szatox · Advocate Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 3136

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 2:56 pm Post subject:

szatox,

I am right handed but I don't lean on my arms.
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Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

1clue · Advocate Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 2569