What is the Best Screen Resolution for Gaming?

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There are many different screen resolutions available in the market today. It can be tough to determine which one is best for your needs.

In this article, I will explain some of the most common screen resolutions, and I will also go over their differences.

Screen Size vs. Screen Resolution

The screen size is measured in inches, and it is the distance from the lower-left corner to the upper right corner of the screen (the diagonal). It refers to the physical dimensions of the screen.

The resolution is the number of pixels that can be displayed within these physical limits. Pixels are the smaller size an image can have. Each pixel carries a single piece of information and a single color. So, when combined with the other pixels, they form the image you see on the screen.

Pixels

Pixels are arranged horizontally in rows and vertically in columns. Therefore, the resolution is the measurement that indicates how many pixels there are in each row and each column of your screen.

The screen has a resolution of 1920 by 1080, which means that there are 1920 pixels in a row and 1080 pixels in a column. The first number always refers to the number of pixels horizontally, and the second number is vertical.

So, the more pixels there are, the more detailed and richer the image will be because more information is being displayed on the screen.

Different Resolutions

Also Read: How to Overclock Your Monitor for Gaming

Now let’s take a look at some of the standard resolutions.

HD or 720p Resolution

With the emergence of LCD, LED, and plasma screens, manufacturers have created a resolution standard called HD (high-definition). This resolution is 1280 by 720 pixels, and it is compatible with a widescreen display.

Images with high definition but without as much detail as the higher resolutions is recommended for those who need or work with only basic video.

The term 720p is the denomination indicating HD resolution, but what does the letter P stand for? The P refers to the “progressive scan technique.” The term indicates that the screen refresh occurs on all lines from top to bottom, which means all displayed content is refreshed in a single step simultaneously.

There is another different scan technique called the “interlaced scan,” identified by the letter “I.” Here the update happens on alternative lines. Although, progressive scan is predominantly used.

Full HD or 1080p Resolution

Since HD has good image results, Full HD offers an even better visual experience. The term represents the resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.

This resolution gives you an image with more quality and clarity. It is one of the most widely used resolutions on the market today. It’s recommended for those who work with more popular video formats on the market and games with high resolution.

4k, Ultra HD, or 2160p Resolution

4k resolution is four times higher than Full HD, and the name 4k represents an incredible resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels. It is also known as Ultra HD, UHD, or 2160p.

As the number (3840 x 2160 pixel) is very close to 4000 pixels, it has been rounded up to the next whole value and has been named 4k. Of course, the 4k has a vibrant image in detail and is one of the highest qualities on the market.

With high definition image, four times richer and more detailed than Full HD, it’s perfect for anyone who works professionally with movies or image editing. Even more games today are starting to have 4k quality resolution.

8k, Full Ultra HD or 4320p

Last but not least, there is an 8K resolution. It has an amazing combination of 7680 by 4320 pixels which makes it 16 times larger than Full HD, 1920 by 1080.

However, 8k screens are still being developed. So, there isn’t much on the consumer market yet. Although, we will probably first start to see them available in movie theaters.

Keep in mind the purpose of your monitor, and whether it be for simple applications or games, your use will define which monitor is right for you.

Also Read: 1080p vs 1440p vs 4K – What’s Best for Gaming?

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