Question What determines the maximum resolution of a monitor?

[teoteodore]

I have a Dell XP 8700 running W10. Graphics card shown below. I use a 32" Samsung TV as a monitor. The recommended resolution is 1366 x 768. If I wanted the highest possible resolution to produce 3D like picture quality for watching movies what would I need to buy or change? What most determines the highest resolution possible?

Name AMD Radeon(TM) R9 270
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6811&SUBSYS_0B041002&REV_00\4&519621C&0&0008
Adapter Type AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x6811), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. compatible
Adapter Description AMD Radeon(TM) R9 270
Adapter RAM (2,147,483,648) bytes
Installed Drivers C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0315687.inf_amd64_374fae4a4c5ce87a\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0315687.inf_amd64_374fae4a4c5ce87a\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0315687.inf_amd64_374fae4a4c5ce87a\aticfx64.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\c0315687.inf_amd64_374fae4a4c5ce87a\amdxc64.dll
Driver Version 22.19.172.769

 

[SkyNetRising]

I have a Dell XP 8700 running W10. Graphics card shown below. I use a 32" Samsung TV as a monitor. The recommended resolution is 1366 x 768. If I wanted the highest possible resolution to produce 3D like picture quality for watching movies what would I need to buy or change?

To get higher resolution image, you need to get a higher resolution display.

What most determines the highest resolution possible?

For LCD type displays maximum resolution is native resolution.
You have to look at technical specs of your Samsung 32" TV to find info about its' native resolution.
Find full model name of your Samsung TV first.

If native resolution of your screen is 1366 x 768, then that is also max possible resolution.
For Full HD screen resolution is 1920x1080.
For 4k screen resolution is 3840 x 2160.

Higher resolution screen can also display lower resolution image.
Lower resolution screen can not physically display higher resolution image (without down-scaling).

 

[Glenwing]

It's a physical property of the display. If you look at the panel with a microscope you will see a grid of pixels which is 1,366 columns wide and 768 rows tall.

 

[teoteodore]

To get higher resolution image, you need to get a higher resolution display.

For LCD type displays maximum resolution is native resolution.
You have to look at technical specs of your Samsung 32" TV to find info about its' native resolution.
Find full model name of your Samsung TV first.

If native resolution of your screen is 1366 x 768, then that is also max possible resolution.
For Full HD screen resolution is 1920x1080.
For 4k screen resolution is 3840 x 2160.

Higher resolution screen can also display lower resolution image.
Lower resolution screen can not physically display higher resolution image (without down-scaling).

Here's the monitor:

The Samsung UN32EH4003 is a 32-inch LED TV with a 720p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. It has two HDMI ports, one USB port, and one component input. The TV also features Samsung's Wide Color Enhancer Plus, which is designed to deliver vibrant colors and natural-looking images.

 

[stonecarver]

https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/dh-032

You could try and see if you like it or don't. If your watching movies that means your most likely sitting on the couch. But not sure if the control panel for the AMD Radeon(TM) R9 270 has this feature age generation wise.


I use it on a 1920x 1080 native monitor and side step it in my GPU's control panel but on Nvidia's side to 2560x 1440 works just as well on a 1680x 1050 native monitor to a 2560x 1440 we have.

There is one issue that being as yours is a TV some complain with a ----Out Of Range--- pop up on TV. Some will work some won't. No biggie change it back and know you've at least tried all you can and feel yup time to upgrade.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Samsung UN32EH4003

Native resolution of your screen is 1366 x 768, then that is also max possible resolution.

https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201406/20140627170213074/[UE4003-ZC]BN68-04466A-02ENG-1016.pdf

 

[teoteodore]

So, in layman's terms, if I got a 32" TV that had the capability of 4K resolution, there is nothing about my PC or graphics card that would prevent me from getting 4K resolution. It is entirely dependent on the TV?

 

[USAFRet]

So, in layman's terms, if I got a 32" TV that had the capability of 4K resolution, there is nothing about my PC or graphics card that would prevent me from getting 4K resolution. It is entirely dependent on the TV?

It is also the display output.

If the PC or whatever cannot produce the required pixels, you will not get a true 4k.
Maybe the display panel (TV) can simulate/upscale, but not native.

 

[LinuxDevice]

I will add that for any given resolution the memory required to fill that resolution changes. A lot goes into that, e.g., the actual pixel count, plus things like color bit depth, and the number of color channels (most consider alpha, or transparency, to be a channel, and most have this, but the point here is that memory is required for both real colors and for transparency). On top of all this there is a data fill rate...more data (memory) going to a monitor implies a higher memory throughput is required. A faster refresh rate multiplies this even more. Your display might be an 8K high dynamic range, capable of over 200 Hz refresh, but it doesn't mean your video card can keep up with it. In terms of televisions though, this is usually just 60 Hz. You need to consider the GPU or video source as well to say if a given display is practical.

 

[Eximo]

That is trickier.

R9-270 can certainly output a 4K signal, however, over HDMI this would be limited to 30hz. It could do 4K 60hz over Display Port.

Most TVs don't have a display port input.

And if you wanted to play modern games on it, your system simply isn't fast enough to run those settings except on much older lighter games.

 

[teoteodore]

When I asked Samsung about their 4K TV, they responded: The Samsung Q60C QLED is good for use as a PC monitor. It displays chroma 4:4:4 signals properly, which is essential for clear text from a PC.

Amazon.com

 

[teoteodore]

That is trickier.

R9-270 can certainly output a 4K signal, however, over HDMI this would be limited to 30hz. It could do 4K 60hz over Display Port.

Most TVs don't have a display port input.

And if you wanted to play modern games on it, your system simply isn't fast enough to run those settings except on much older lighter games.

But I could simply change resolutions based on what I was watching. Lower for games, higher for video, right?

 

[Eximo]

But I could simply change resolutions based on what I was watching. Lower for games, higher for video, right?

Within reason. Some TVs won't properly display below 720p.