1080p @ 120mhz or 4K @ 60mhz which is better?

[Felix]

I'm not sure if this really the right area of the forums, but as it's kinda hardware related I thought this is as good as any.

I currently run my PC through a 43" LG LED HDR 4K TV which has a gaming/computer mode. I'm able to have 1080p @ 120mhz or 4K @ 60mhz. With my rig, that means 120fps or 60fps. I'm using an GTX1080Ti , so I'm able to play a lot of racing games with really high settings and keep a consistent frame rate.

Is it more important that my system keeps a very steady FPS, rather than it being able to hit higher and higher numbers, but it then drops the odd frame?

I've just ordered myself a Fanatec CSL Elite PS4 starter kit as I have gotten sick to death of my T300RS suffering with FFB fade way too often. I've been on iRacing again , but I also play Forza, Assetto Corsa, F1 , RF-2 . I built myself a "budget" PC using older spec parts and I've been able to play most racing games at a much higher detail.

I am not a very fast driver, but I really want to get into iRacing properly and it's why I finally gone and got the Fanatec CSL Elite after 4-5 years of fighting with the T300RS (damn thing has had to be replaced 3 times). Is racing at 1080p with 120fps better than 4k @ 60mhz? 4K the FPS counter is showing a steady 84FPS, which I expect to drop a fair bit once I am in a race.

Cheers,

Felix

 

[Skinny McLean]

Is racing at 1080p with 120fps better than 4k @ 60mhz? 4K the FPS counter is showing a steady 84FPS, which I expect to drop a fair bit once I am in a race.

I haven't tried racing with a 120 Hz display, myself. But I'm positive that I'd prefer 1080@120 Hz with a solid, steady frame rate (e.g. if you're getting 84 fps w/ 4K@60Hz driving solo, you might experience frame-skipping with many opponent cars on-screen, giving the game an unwanted jerky feel.)

Also, if your car is going at 360 km/h, in the 1/60 s it takes the hardware to draw each new frame (@60 Hz) you'd be traveling 1.67 m. At a 120 Hz refresh, that distance is halved to 0.83 m.

But, give it a try, if it's just a question of changing video config.

And about that T300, it's possible to activate an always-on cooling option to remedy the FFB fade (you might need to update the firmware first, though.)

 

[Rob Brown]

@Felix
I did a fair amount of research recently on refresh rates with TVs and monitors. Unless you get 55 inch or larger, the refresh rates are 60 Hz. (Source: RTings.com). (To my understanding the marketing hype twists some TV processing to call it 120Hz). I expect the best performance would come from locking in at 60Hz. This may not be possible without free sync (or in your case, G-sync).

 

[Felix]

I haven't tried racing with a 120 Hz display, myself. But I'm positive that I'd prefer 1080@120 Hz with a solid, steady frame rate (e.g. if you're getting 84 fps w/ 4K@60Hz driving solo, you might experience frame-skipping with many opponent cars on-screen, giving the game an unwanted jerky feel.)

Also, if your car is going at 360 km/h, in the 1/60 s it takes the hardware to draw each new frame (@60 Hz) you'd be traveling 1.67 m. At a 120 Hz refresh, that distance is halved to 0.83 m.

But, give it a try, if it's just a question of changing video config.

And about that T300, it's possible to activate an always-on cooling option to remedy the FFB fade (you might need to update the firmware first, though.)

I have the T300RS with the fans always on (they are so loud) , even with a lower FFB setting I find after a few laps they strength drops. When I say FFB, I really mean the dampening as I like a heavy wheel as I've always driven sports coupes or sports cars that have a heavier PAS setting than your typical car. I've had one wheel base fail 3 weeks past the expiry on the warranty and Thrustmaster wouldn't replace the unit. I bought another base and it was the first unit that I had fade problems with. I got it replaced as faulty and the unit they sent to me was almost as bad. If it wasn't for the fact I have the 3PA-Pro pedals, I would have gone over to the Fanatec much sooner.

@Felix
I did a fair amount of research recently on refresh rates with TVs and monitors. Unless you get 55 inch or larger, the refresh rates are 60 Hz. (Source: RTings.com). (To my understanding the marketing hype twists some TV processing to call it 120Hz). I expect the best performance would come from locking in at 60Hz. This may not be possible without free sync (or in your case, G-sync).

When I am in settings in Windows/Nvidia control panel, it does see my LG TV as having 120Hz for 1080p (it also has 50Hz and 60Hz options for 1080p) I have the LG 43UJ630V. I've just checked a site and it's only showing it as 50/60Hz for 4K. Sadly I don't have G-Sync on the TV. I'm tempted to get myself a new TV now (I do need to get another TV for my living area).

 

[Daz555]

If your system can't maintain the target refresh rate of your display (e.g. 120Hz) then you risk screen tearing - individual experiences will vary based on equipment of course.

Personally, given I'm very close to my 50" screen when I'm racing I'd want 2160P/60 over 1080P/120 as visual fidelity is very noticeable at close distances.

In terms of iRacing performance - your 1080 Ti will munch through it no problem. If you are only getting 84fps though I suspect you are CPU bottlenecked - which is common in iRacing as it is so poorly multithreaded.

 

[VBR]

It all comes down to personal preference, & I myself would go for 4K 60 all day long.