Help Figuring Out 4K HDR 60FPS Upgrade Requirements & Equipment

[Ransome]

The 4K 60fps HDR upgrade process has been troubling me for ages.
Because with all the factors involved, false information and marketing, and lack of info on the web - it became very confusing and complicated.

The Goal is Simple:
4K HDR 60 FPS full support.
That is, somewhere in the future.

My Equipment:
Home Theater System 5.1:
-55" TV: Samsung UA55D6400 TV 1080p @ 60 MHz
-Pioneer VSX-823-K AV Receiver
-PC geared with 2 GTX 980 in SLI
-PS4, PS3. Might replace to PS4 soon (still undecided, open for suggestions).
-Cables are all High Speed HDMI cords (high quality 1.4 at least):
HDMI IN: 10 meter cord hooking my PC to the AVR. 3m cords hooking each console. 3m hooking to my TV (HDMI Out).

The Problem:
Getting full support for 4K + HDR + 60 FPS to work properly, without buying unnecessary electronic devices or upgrading to the wrong hardware.

The Question :
If and when I choose to upgrade - and replace my TV to a 4K HDR TV (probably OLED too, which is possibly bigger than HDR) - in the future when the technology won't be that fresh, under-evolved (latency-lag, new tech with less features and weaker specs), and expensive as hell:

WILL I NEED TO BUY A NEW AV RECEIVER TO PLAY 4K + 60FPS + HDR ?
In other words:
Must I buy a new AV Receiver specifically dubbed as:
"HDMI 2.0 and/or 4K and/or 60FPS and/or HDR - Compatible / Certified AV Receiver" ?

Is there even such a thing as "HDMI 2.0 Receivers" or "HDR Receivers" or even "4K Receivers"?
Or are those just false marketing ploys like "HDMI 2.0 Cable" - which is just manufactures trying to get unknowing consumers to pay double the price for standard hdmi cords.

Please I really need a clear, precise answer. This laborious research to get 4K + 60fps + HDR support - has become extremely confusing, full of question marks and deceptive advertising.

 

[Ransome]

I'd also like to point out a "best answer", which I've found on another thread (which didn't mention AVRs) :
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basroil December 6, 2015 4:40:14 PM: No such thing. All HDMI 1.4(a) cables can handle HDMI2.0 Now, you MUST HAVE HDMI2.0 COMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT to have 4K60 output. It is impossible any other way.
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What does "equipment" cover exactly?
I hope, that I would only have to upgrade my TV, without replacing anything else. And if I- DO - have to upgrade other stuff - I really need to know what to look for EXACTLY (official certification requirements). Thanks in advance fellas.

 

[kansaw]

If you're converting everything to 4K HDR I suggest replacing your PC graphics cards with a single RX480 card and upgrading to a Play Station 4 PRO gaming console. Both have great 4K HDMI 2.0b 60fps HDR outputs. This simplifies your whole set up.

I've been driving a 4K TV with an RX480 card in my PC for several months and everything works great. I use a regular high speed HDMI cable. I don't have an HDR TV.

Make sure your new TV has at least two HDMI 2.0 input ports. Your TV must be set to "PC Mode".

Use the audio output from your TV to drive your existing audio equipment. Best output is digital fiber optics from your TV, but other outputs would work just fine. The audio will switch to the HDMI channel selected on the TV.

Don't worry about HDMI cables. Your high speed HDMI cables should work fine with your setup. If one cable doesn't seem to work correctly, just purchase a more expensive one with more shielding later, if needed. All HDMI cables are the same except for the amount of shielding.

 

[Ransome]

If you're converting everything to 4K HDR I suggest replacing your PC graphics cards with a single RX480 card and upgrading to a Play Station 4 PRO gaming console. Both have great 4K HDMI 2.0b 60fps HDR outputs. This simplifies your whole set up.

I've been driving a 4K TV with an RX480 card in my PC for several months and everything works great. I use a regular high speed HDMI cable. I don't have an HDR TV.

Make sure your new TV has at least two HDMI 2.0 input ports. Your TV must be set to "PC Mode".

Thanks for your reply. I've got a few questions:

1. Why do I need at least 2 HDMI 2.0 ports?

2. When you say set to PC Mode does setting to Game Mode count as well? But HDR doesn't work at Game Modes because it is image processing.

3. Additionally, I read recently that I DO need an HDMI 2.0a HDR HDCP 2.2 Receiver -if I want HDR, 4K and 60 FPS.

4. I also think that my current cards should display 4K 60fps properly, but most big games are just too heavy for 4K at normal fps at the moment.
Therefore I plan on upgradingy GPU to a single GTX 1180p Ti perhaps or something in that caliber when the time comes.
Planning on ditching SLI, for good this time, probably.

It seems too early to upgrade now, because there are no good heavy games coming out in the next 1-2 years.
Therefore I think it is best to wait. I thought about the 1180 (not 1080) card and a Ti to make the most out of it. I might look into AMD though, but I have to admit I don't really know what's going on and what's the latest most powerful AMD lines are.
I am not sure if I will have to fully build a new PC to back up the card replacement. Hopefully I can carry this build a few more years.

Use the audio output from your TV to drive your existing audio equipment. Best output is digital fiber optics from your TV, but other outputs would work just fine. The audio will switch to the HDMI channel selected on the TV.

5. This is very unclear to me -Could you please re-explain this with more - technical and practical info?
How is this done exactly?
Can I use HDMI instead and how to connect? (HDMI is better than Optic and less prone to faults). How will I provide both PC and Pro with 5.1 surround from the AVR and 4K from the TV.
I need to know the exact details and steps.

The problem is that the AVR serves as a hub for the 2 consoles and my PC.

Thanks a lot!!

 

[kansaw]

1. On your new TV you need one HDMI 2.0 input port for each device you plug into it. Some 4K TVs have only one HDMI 2.0 input plus several HDMI 1.4 inputs. Don't fall into that trap. One 2.0 for the graphics card in your PC and one 2.0 for the Play Station 4 Pro console.

2. Not all 4K TVs have a "PC Mode". This is NOT the same as game mode. Most new TVs have it now. PC Mode allows the graphics cards in your PC and game console to have complete control of your TV display. Without it you'll have a huge lag in the HDMI input port, an ugly situation. Both the TV and the PC will both be trying to process the display signals at the same time.

3. Your A/V receiver is HDMI 2.0a. You need HDMI 2.0b to make everything work together.

HDMI 2.0a was released on April 8, 2015 and added support for high-dynamic-range (HDR) video.

HDMI 2.0b enables these features:
Enables transmission of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video
Bandwidth up to 18 Gbps
4K@50/60 (2160p), which is four times the clarity of 1080p/60 video resolution
Up to 32 audio channels for a multi-dimensional immersive audio experience
Up to 1536 kHz audio sample frequency for the highest audio fidelity
Simultaneous delivery of dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen
Simultaneous delivery of multi-stream audio to multiple users (up to four)
Support for the wide angle theatrical 21:9 video aspect ratio
Dynamic synchronization of video and audio streams
CEC extensions provide more expanded command and control of consumer electronics devices through a single control point

4. Your graphics cards are HDMI 2.0. You need HDMI 2.0b, as discussed above. I recommended the AMD RX480 because of my personal knowledge. On May 6, 2016, Nvidia launched the GeForce GTX 1080 (GP104 GPU) with HDMI 2.0b support. TVs are limited to 60 Hz, so the GTX 1080 is overkill ($) at these frame-rates, but the GTX 1080 would work very well. The coming GTX 1080ti will also work very well.

5. Your AVR will not be the hub. It does not support 2.0b, as discussed above. All HDMI 2.0b will go directly to your new TV. Switching will occur only within the TV. The fiber optics output from the TV will contain all surround sound channels needed by your AVR to drive the speakers.