4k Display Problems

[thecrazyman]

Hey guys,

I recently bought a 4k TV (Vizio M43-C1) and hooked it up to my graphics card (EVGA 960 FTW 2GB). While I don't expect amazing refresh rates or anything that a monitor would be able to deliver, I would hope that a YouTube 4k video would look halfway decent. With that being said, games look great in 4k (when they can run in that resolution), while YouTube videos look like they are in 720 or worse. Both the TV and nVidia control panel say 2160p, so what is going wrong?

A reminder, the videos that have the 4k option look amazing on either my 1080p monitors.

 

[Shaina11]

Have you made sure to set the quality setting in YouTube to 4K instead of auto?

 

[thecrazyman]

Yes, the quality on YouTube is set to 4k and I forgot to mention it is HDMI 2.0 the video is running through

 

[Shaina11]

I don't think this applies to YouTube but is the TV HDCP 2.2 compliant? And how are your monitors connected to the card, HDMI, DVI, etc?

EDIT:
Just looked at the specifications for the model, it appears a few ports are compatible with HDCP 2.2 and 60hz for 4K. Which HDMI port number do you have it plugged into? You might try port 5. Also is your cable HDMI 2.0?

 

[thecrazyman]

I just looked up HDCP 2.2, and I believe it may be but I'm not 100% sure. I assume that would cause some issues? I have two Acer 1080p monitors. One running off DVI, the other Displayport-to-DVI

 

[Shaina11]

I added a few things to my post above.

Do you have any DVI to HDMI adapters around you could test with as well?

 

[jossrik]

This is actually a simple easy answer. While the videos are at 4k technically (3840x2160@60Hz(Maybe 60Hz)), the bitrate, or how much information is encoded in each frame sucks so that you can stream it. So while the resolution is great, the picture quality is crap. When you downscale for 1080p, your computer codecies take out a lot of the noise that's present in the full resolution, cause that's what decoders do in part. If you want to see videos that look like they're in 4k, you're going to have to wait until 4k blurays start coming out en masse. Meanwhile, games in 4k look amazing.

 

[Shaina11]

jossrik could very well be right, and in that case, all of what I've said is irrelevant. I forgot about YouTube's encoding and compression, video bitrate, etc. I was also going to ask about your internet speed, but that is most likely irrelevant with jossrik's answer.

Perhaps you'll achieve better visual quality with 1080p instead. Given the storage needed for 4k, being 1080p x 2, I could understand why it would be a much lower bitrate to save their storage space.

 

[thecrazyman]

The cable is plugged into port 5, and it is 2.0. I made sure of this because I accidentally brought home 1.4

Jossrik, that actually seems like what's going on. It looks like 8-bit 4k if you can imagine.

 

[Shaina11]

Also, this is possible off-topic, I found this article, and under 4K Streaming, it states the following:

Unlike many 2015 4K TVs, the M series lacks the VP9 decoding necessary to play 4K YouTube videos, so its YouTube app won't deliver 4K resolution. This is a hardware limitation so it can't be fixed via a software upgrade. I don't consider this omission a big deal, especially since YouTube's 4K content hasn't proved the sharpest in our tests, but it's still a knock worth noting.

As jossrik has said, it seems the best way to get the 4K experience is to wait for UltraHD Blu-rays to come around.

 

[thecrazyman]

Thanks for that! I didn't buy it purely just for 4k, I just wanted a smart TV that would be able to double as a monitor and the 4k one seemed like the best future proof option. UltraHD Blu-Rays aren't out yet are they?

 

[jossrik]

Also, this is possible off-topic, I found this article, and under 4K Streaming, it states the following:

Unlike many 2015 4K TVs, the M series lacks the VP9 decoding necessary to play 4K YouTube videos, so its YouTube app won't deliver 4K resolution. This is a hardware limitation so it can't be fixed via a software upgrade. I don't consider this omission a big deal, especially since YouTube's 4K content hasn't proved the sharpest in our tests, but it's still a knock worth noting.

As jossrik has said, it seems the best way to get the 4K experience is to wait for UltraHD Blu-rays to come around.

Ya, that doesn't count, he's not using the TVs built in decoder for 4k content, he's using his PC which has the correct codecs for 4k, it's just that 4k content is very very rare right now. I know, I got my 4k setup well, started it like 7 months ago, bought my 49in 4k monitor, has HDMI 2.0, so all good, then had to trade my AMD video cards which didn't have HDMI 2.0 for my nice Nvidia ones, just got my second 980Ti a couple days ago actually, the upscaled video from across the room looks great, but up close you can see a lot of artifacting, and the games look great, but man do they take some horsepower to run well. I've been patiently awaiting good 4k content for a while now.

 

[thecrazyman]

jossrik, thanks again. 4k isn't a huge thing for me right now, but I'm sure in a few months I'll be upgrading to Polaris or Pascal and making sure it can support 4k.

 

[Shaina11]

Thanks for that! I didn't buy it purely just for 4k, I just wanted a smart TV that would be able to double as a monitor and the 4k one seemed like the best future proof option. UltraHD Blu-Rays aren't out yet are they?

There may be a couple out, but there's not many at all, it'll take some time.

Ya, that doesn't count, he's not using the TVs built in decoder for 4k content, he's using his PC which has the correct codecs for 4k, it's just that 4k content is very very rare right now. I know, I got my 4k setup well, started it like 7 months ago, bought my 49in 4k monitor, has HDMI 2.0, so all good, then had to trade my AMD video cards which didn't have HDMI 2.0 for my nice Nvidia ones, just got my second 980Ti a couple days ago actually, the upscaled video from across the room looks great, but up close you can see a lot of artifacting, and the games look great, but man do they take some horsepower to run well. I've been patiently awaiting good 4k content for a while now.

I knew he was using the PC to watch it, I just thought it would be useful to have that information as well.

Meanwhile, I still play games in 720p! (Oh! The horror!) Seriously though, and this is purely my opinion, I'm not judging anyone, I personally see almost no reason to play any higher than the original HD resolution, not only does it require less horse power, it allows the components to run cooler, especially when you limit FPS to 40 which is fine for me, as long as it's at least 30. I don't see enough of a difference between 30 and 60 to care. Though to be honest I'm also used to older games with crappy graphics compared to today, and DOS games.

I will still admit though, 1080p is nice and clearer, and if my hardware could keep up, sure, I'd use it just for the sake of it, but otherwise, I really don't care either way. And 4K in my opinion is going to be a niche market, unless you're uber close to the screen/TV, the human eye isn't going to see a huge difference, unless you have a habit of zooming in on frames for screenshots or what have you, in which case, definitely better. That and the improved color on the UHD Blu-rays.

As I said, not judging anyone, not putting anyone or their equipment/preferences/opinions down, I mean no offense whatsoever, just my two (s)cents. If you like 4K, I say go for it. 😉

Also thecrazyman, I'm glad your question has been solved, I definitely overlooked what jossrik found right off.

 

[thecrazyman]

My Life is Tech, you helped and introduced me to the whole compliant thing! I will definitely have to look for now when purchasing anything regarding this TV.

As far as resolution and frame-rates to each his own I say! You both were very helpful.

 

[jossrik]

Thanks for that! I didn't buy it purely just for 4k, I just wanted a smart TV that would be able to double as a monitor and the 4k one seemed like the best future proof option. UltraHD Blu-Rays aren't out yet are they?

There may be a couple out, but there's not many at all, it'll take some time.

Ya, that doesn't count, he's not using the TVs built in decoder for 4k content, he's using his PC which has the correct codecs for 4k, it's just that 4k content is very very rare right now. I know, I got my 4k setup well, started it like 7 months ago, bought my 49in 4k monitor, has HDMI 2.0, so all good, then had to trade my AMD video cards which didn't have HDMI 2.0 for my nice Nvidia ones, just got my second 980Ti a couple days ago actually, the upscaled video from across the room looks great, but up close you can see a lot of artifacting, and the games look great, but man do they take some horsepower to run well. I've been patiently awaiting good 4k content for a while now.

I knew he was using the PC to watch it, I just thought it would be useful to have that information as well.

Meanwhile, I still play games in 720p! (Oh! The horror!) Seriously though, and this is purely my opinion, I'm not judging anyone, I personally see almost no reason to play any higher than the original HD resolution, not only does it require less horse power, it allows the components to run cooler, especially when you limit FPS to 40 which is fine for me, as long as it's at least 30. I don't see enough of a difference between 30 and 60 to care. Though to be honest I'm also used to older games with crappy graphics compared to today, and DOS games.

I will still admit though, 1080p is nice and clearer, and if my hardware could keep up, sure, I'd use it just for the sake of it, but otherwise, I really don't care either way. And 4K in my opinion is going to be a niche market, unless you're uber close to the screen/TV, the human eye isn't going to see a huge difference, unless you have a habit of zooming in on frames for screenshots or what have you, in which case, definitely better. That and the improved color on the UHD Blu-rays.

As I said, not judging anyone, not putting anyone or their equipment/preferences/opinions down, I mean no offense whatsoever, just my two (s)cents. If you like 4K, I say go for it. 😉

Also thecrazyman, I'm glad your question has been solved, I definitely overlooked what jossrik found right off.

I have extra time and money, for me it was kind of a go for it what else am I gonna spend it on? Sure when I was 20 booze and women, but I'm almost 40 and a gamer, but not a console gamer, I still love my PS2, and frequently emulate it with my rig now, and for real, the cutscenes look like crap, but the emulator has updated graphics options so the games themselves actually look better than they did. Not as good as remastered, but better none the less. Got an xbox 360 for Final Fantasy, and waiting on the PS4 for Final Fantasy 15, 7 remake, and horizon zero dawn, well, star ocean ya, I want to play that one too and Kingdom Hearts 3... Anyhow, still waiting, when I build my next beast box, I'm give this one to my little brother for some VR fun. Right now we only have the Oculus DK2, but by the end of the year I'm pretty sure we'll have the Vive or Consumer Rift or both...

 

[Shaina11]

I have extra time and money, for me it was kind of a go for it what else am I gonna spend it on? Sure when I was 20 booze and women, but I'm almost 40 and a gamer, but not a console gamer, I still love my PS2, and frequently emulate it with my rig now, and for real, the cutscenes look like crap, but the emulator has updated graphics options so the games themselves actually look better than they did. Not as good as remastered, but better none the less. Got an xbox 360 for Final Fantasy, and waiting on the PS4 for Final Fantasy 15, 7 remake, and horizon zero dawn, well, star ocean ya, I want to play that one too and Kingdom Hearts 3... Anyhow, still waiting, when I build my next beast box, I'm give this one to my little brother for some VR fun. Right now we only have the Oculus DK2, but by the end of the year I'm pretty sure we'll have the Vive or Consumer Rift or both...

Man, virtual reality is going to be so amazing once they have full body suits and movement, and once they refine walking in place in open-world games, that's about when it's really going to take off. Imagine playing Skyrim or whatever TES game they have at that point, or other huge games, and feeling like you're actually in the world. Not to mention suits and gloves that actually apply pressure so you feel like you're touching things and running into things.

....just hope they can't read your mind. 😀

I've never actually had any VR experience, but I imagine it's pretty darn cool. Though I'd probably get motion sickness and headaches.

One of the games I played most frequently on the PS2 was Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, that and a little bit of Spyro. Though I've always been a fan of The Legend of Zelda.

My Life is Tech, you helped and introduced me to the whole compliant thing! I will definitely have to look for now when purchasing anything regarding this TV.

As far as resolution and frame-rates to each his own I say! You both were very helpful.

I'm glad we could help, have fun! 😉