4:4:4 Chroma Subsampling

[bbeberle]

I currently use a 55" LCD TV to game on, movies, browse the net, Netflix/hulu, I do literally everything on it. I also just built a new computer and I think its time to go big on the TV.

My specs are 4790k, 16gigs of RAM and a 980TI. Can someone explain to me exactly what 4:4:4 Chroma Subsampling is? I ask because I am seriously considering grabbing a Vizio P-Series 4K TV, they I believe are the only ones to offer a 4K@60hz HDMI 2.0 port. Which is very appealing to me, not to mention the 1080P@120hz on the rest of the ports. Unfortunately I read that the TV does not accept 4:4:4 Chroma Subsampling. Will this is a major problem for me? Will the picture quality be lower or color saturation? If someone can help me understand what Chroma is, perhaps I can make a decision on buying this TV. Thanks everyone

 

[spagalicious]

HDMI 1.4a is only capable of 60Hz, and only 30Hz at 4K. TV's often advertise internal refresh rates of 60/120/240Hz but are still limited by their external speeds, 60Hz.

As far as 4:4:4 subsampling, it basically means there is no subsampling. Chroma subsampling is the practice of encoding images/digital input towards luminance rather than color accuracy. Basically at 4:4:4, there is no comprimise in RGB accuracy. 60Hz is definitely something you will want with a 980 Ti, the HDMI 2.0 is a great feature for a 4K TV.

Here's more from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_subsampling

 

[bbeberle]

Ya the Vizio P-Series says it has an "effective" rate of 240hz but as far as I can tell from the research i've done it's truly only capable of 120hz max from the panel. Would you not buy a TV that couldn't support 4/4/4? If it effects encoding I would imagine not having it would cause the picture quality to go down drastically on the 4K....which defeats the purpose. Any thoughts? thanks for much for the response too sir!

 

[spagalicious]

I would not really worry about it, any 4K TV is going to have its idiosyncrasies when you benchmark specs against something like a TN/IPS 144Hz monitor. Color accuracy, refresh rate, response time, and input lag are going to be noticably worse when compared to a higher end monitor. That said, TV panels are obviously much larger in size and probably present a bigger cost:enjoyment ratio when compared to a monitor. If you aren't picky about the aforementioned, find a 4K TV in your budget that passes your "eye test" and bring it home. People will argue specs make the device all day over the internet but really if you satisfied with a TV and it fits your budget, pick it up and you will be satisfied.

EDIT:
Definitely get a panel with the HDMI 2.0 though. You are going to want that with your 980 Ti.

 

[bbeberle]

I would not really worry about it, any 4K TV is going to have its idiosyncrasies when you benchmark specs against something like a TN/IPS 144Hz monitor. Color accuracy, refresh rate, response time, and input lag are going to be noticably worse when compared to a higher end monitor. That said, TV panels are obviously much larger in size and probably present a bigger cost:enjoyment ratio when compared to a monitor. If you aren't picky about the aforementioned, find a 4K TV in your budget that passes your "eye test" and bring it home. People will argue specs make the device all day over the internet but really if you satisfied with a TV and it fits your budget, pick it up and you will be satisfied.

EDIT:
Definitely get a panel with the HDMI 2.0 though. You are going to want that with your 980 Ti.

Well I mostly play my large campaign single player games on my TV currently, shooters and what not I stick to the console. I guess before I spend the money, would not having 4/4/4 reduce the quality of the picture going through a 2.o port on a graphics card? The point of a 4k TV is to have the best picture and resolution available, if it cannot support 4/4/4, then why even spend the money.

Granted 4/2/2 isn't a far cry from 4/4/4, it still isn't it. I think as it stands the P-Series stands to be one hell of an incredible 4k TV for the price but in the end I think I'd rather give myself peace of mind that I am getting everything I want out of this set up. I am sure there are some TV panels out there that offer 4k@60hz/1080p@120hz, low MS, 2.0 port and 4/4/4. Just gotta find it!

Thanks so much for the help Sgagalicious