Thanks for your feedback.
For the sake of completion, on top of my previous reply, I need to give one more input.
I do agree that it is better to check the new 2 monitors side-by-side at a physical shop selling them. Hope the colour issues happen rarely? At the moment, I am trying to save by buying online. I guess I have to risk it a bit, haha.
Thanks for the insights.
In short, you are saying that it is best to use native resolutions and to hold on to the 4k monitors for now?
And to get the 4k ones once I have upgraded my GPU?
I don't have immediate plans to upgrade the GPU yet.With the above said, I was thinking that 4k monitors are much cheaper now and are slightly more expensive than 1440p monitors of the same size for a similar config (27 inches).
So my initial thought was to future-proof it, just in case I am getting a new PC/laptop end of the year (with RTX 30 series) or early next year, making me ready by having my 'new' 4k monitors. Otherwise, my 'new' 1440p may become obsolete?
The choice of whether to upgrade to the soon-to-be-released RTX 40 series as my GPU, will be another story.
Your feedback about the current 4k monitors being not 'matured' yet and not of value yet, is indeed good feedback. I am considering these seriously.
Yes, fully agree. The GPU of a laptop cannot be upgraded. Not for typical end-users unless one is a hardcore person or professional that tinkers with the soldering and has access to mobile components to break the supported factory configuration... a super-risky thing that shouldn't be done. Better to upgrade those on a desktop one instead.
Another way is to use a eGPU, right? But that's more expensive and the return of investment may not be worth it because of the limited bandwidth of the connection (maybe TB4 or TB5 connectivity may address it) and the expensive eGPU case.
When I mentioned upgrading my GPU, I meant to say either I buy a new lappy or a desktop.
The laptop in discussion is a 2018 version with GTX 1060 6GB that comes with a mini dual-mode DP, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a USB Type-C Thunderbolt that provides DP output. I hope that means it can connect to 3 external monitors via 1 HDMI port and 2 DPs? Both the DPs are of version 1.2.
I am going for a minimum of 60Hz for all my external monitors.
To clarify, I have an existing 34-inch 3440X1440 UW as the main external monitor. I am thinking of getting 2 units of 27-inch 1440p as 2nd and 3rd external monitors (portrait) for productivity reasons (or is this overkill?). Then it dawned on me that, maybe I should get 4k monitors instead of 1440p monitors for future-proofing. Hence, the question came about.
The current UW has a PPI of around 108. The corresponding 1440p monitors have similar PPI, at around 108. I prefer such parity.
If I am going to get 4k monitors instead, then I have to downscale it to maintain that parity. Hence that question also.
Here where many people (including you).... gets wrong/do not understand...2D display resolution is always mainly depends on the display output(s)... both your DP 1.4 outputs (1060 supports 1.4) can support 4k@120hz and the HDMI 2.0: 4k@60Hz... You can have three 4k monitors@60Hz with no issues
All usb-c with DP out.... will output the supported DP of the GPU, in your case DP 1.4... you'll need a "cheap" converted for this (RM50 or less)... This DP by-pass output uses the same wires as the TB signals (only one [of the 2] will work at a time); taking a pure TB signal and you can split the TB signal to 2 or 3 monitor outputs that requires an "expensive" TB dock (RM500+ to 1k).
Most monitors with usb-c in are taking the DP signal and not the TB signal.... <<< Apart from Apple there maybe one other monitor that takes a TB signal input...
Example: I've a mini-PC with an intel 8265U that could run three 4k@60Hz outputs through its iGPU...