Latest news with #1440p
Geeky Gadgets
10 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Build a 1440p Gaming PC on a Budget That Crushes Consoles
What if you could build a gaming PC that delivers stunning 1440p performance without emptying your wallet? Imagine playing graphically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring at high settings, all while staying under the cost of a modern console. It might sound too good to be true, but thanks to recent advancements in hardware and the rise of Linux-based gaming platforms like SteamOS, this dream setup is now within reach. Whether you're a seasoned PC builder or a curious first-timer, assembling a budget-friendly gaming rig has never been more accessible—or rewarding. In this guide, ETA Prime uncovers how to craft a compact, cost-effective gaming machine that doesn't compromise on performance. From selecting the perfect GPU and CPU to optimizing your system with SteamOS, we'll walk you through every critical decision. You'll also discover clever ways to cut costs, like sourcing refurbished components, while still achieving buttery-smooth gameplay at 1440p. But this build isn't just about gaming—it doubles as a versatile Linux desktop for everyday tasks, making it a true multitasking powerhouse. By the end, you'll see how this setup rivals the best consoles while offering the flexibility only a PC can provide. Budget 1440p Gaming PC Guide Key Components for Optimal Performance Selecting the right hardware is essential to balance performance and affordability. Each component plays a critical role in making sure your system runs efficiently while staying within budget. Here's a detailed breakdown of the essential parts for this build: GPU: The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the ideal choice for 1440p gaming, offering excellent performance at a reasonable price. If you're looking to cut costs, consider the RX 6700 XT or RX 6600, which provide slightly lower performance but remain highly capable for most games. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the ideal choice for 1440p gaming, offering excellent performance at a reasonable price. If you're looking to cut costs, consider the RX 6700 XT or RX 6600, which provide slightly lower performance but remain highly capable for most games. CPU: The AMD Ryzen 5700G is a standout processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of up to 4.6 GHz. Its integrated graphics also serve as a reliable backup for troubleshooting or light tasks. The AMD Ryzen 5700G is a standout processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of up to 4.6 GHz. Its integrated graphics also serve as a reliable backup for troubleshooting or light tasks. Motherboard: A B550 MicroATX motherboard ensures compatibility with your CPU and GPU while supporting PCIe 4.0 for faster SSDs and GPUs. It's a cost-effective option that doesn't compromise on features. A B550 MicroATX motherboard ensures compatibility with your CPU and GPU while supporting PCIe 4.0 for faster SSDs and GPUs. It's a cost-effective option that doesn't compromise on features. RAM: Opt for 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200 MHz to handle multitasking and gaming seamlessly. If your budget is tight, 16GB is still sufficient for most gaming scenarios. Opt for 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200 MHz to handle multitasking and gaming seamlessly. If your budget is tight, 16GB is still sufficient for most gaming scenarios. Case: A compact PC case, often found as an affordable 'Amazon special,' keeps your build portable without sacrificing airflow or cooling efficiency. A compact PC case, often found as an affordable 'Amazon special,' keeps your build portable without sacrificing airflow or cooling efficiency. Power Supply: A reliable 550W power supply unit is more than capable of meeting the system's power demands while maintaining stability. Installing SteamOS for Gaming SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system optimized for gaming, serves as the foundation for this build. To install it, download the Steam Deck recovery tools, which are freely available online. After installation, ensure you update to the latest version, such as SteamOS Hollow 3.79, to access the newest features and compatibility improvements. SteamOS offers both beta and stable updates, allowing you to choose between innovative features or a more stable experience. The operating system is designed to maximize gaming performance while maintaining a user-friendly interface. Its integration with Steam ensures seamless access to your game library, making it an excellent choice for this build. Watch this video on YouTube. Below are more guides on SteamOS from our extensive range of articles. 1440p Gaming Performance This system is specifically designed to handle 1440p gaming with ease, even in demanding titles. By allowing FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), you can enjoy high or ultra settings in popular games while maintaining smooth frame rates. Here's a closer look at what you can expect from this build: Cyberpunk 2077: With FSR enabled, you can achieve consistent frame rates above 60 FPS on high settings, making sure a fluid and immersive experience. With FSR enabled, you can achieve consistent frame rates above 60 FPS on high settings, making sure a fluid and immersive experience. Elden Ring: Runs flawlessly at ultra settings, showcasing the system's ability to handle graphically intensive games with ease. Runs flawlessly at ultra settings, showcasing the system's ability to handle graphically intensive games with ease. Horizon Zero Dawn: High settings deliver stunning visuals and smooth performance, making the most of the hardware's capabilities. The combination of the RX 6750 XT GPU and Ryzen 5700G CPU ensures that this build can handle a wide range of AAA titles and indie games alike, providing a premium gaming experience without breaking the bank. More Than Just a Gaming PC This build isn't limited to gaming—it also functions as a full-fledged Linux desktop. Its versatility makes it suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video playback, and even light content creation. The compact form factor is particularly advantageous for living room setups, offering a sleek and unobtrusive design that blends seamlessly into your entertainment space. Additionally, the Linux-based SteamOS provides access to a wide range of productivity tools and software, making this system a practical choice for users who need a multipurpose machine. Overcoming Challenges and Maximizing Cost Efficiency Building a budget-friendly gaming PC comes with its challenges, but careful planning can help you avoid common pitfalls. For example, an initial attempt to use an RX 960 XT GPU revealed driver compatibility issues with SteamOS. Switching to the RX 6750 XT resolved these problems, highlighting the importance of selecting components optimized for your operating system. Similarly, overheating issues with a used RX 7600 XT were mitigated by opting for a more reliable GPU. To further reduce costs, consider incorporating used or refurbished components. For instance, purchasing pre-owned GPUs and RAM can significantly lower expenses without sacrificing performance. Here are some additional tips to maximize cost efficiency: Shop for used or refurbished GPUs and RAM to save money while maintaining performance. Start with a smaller SSD and upgrade your storage capacity later as needed. Choose a compact case that balances affordability with adequate cooling and airflow. This build offers a cost-effective alternative to modern gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, which typically cost around $500. By carefully selecting components and exploring second-hand options, you can achieve comparable or even superior performance for less. Media Credit: ETA PRIME Filed Under: Gaming News, Guides, Hardware Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
CNET
07-05-2025
- CNET
1440p vs. 4K: What's the Right Resolution for Your Monitor?
There's a lot to consider when picking out the best monitor for your needs. Brands will hype up their features, their integration of AI and all sorts of trumped-up specifications that may mean little to the average monitor user (and might have little relation to real-world performance). But of all the specifications you'll encounter, resolution is often one of the first to consider. It's a question of clarity, and you don't want a display that's not clear. These days, 1080p displays are a dime a dozen, and their clarity is really lacking at larger sizes. Meanwhile, 1440p and 4K monitors are now much more accessible -- in numbers and in price -- while significantly improving clarity. If you're on the hunt for a new monitor and struggling to choose between 1440p and 4K, I'll run through the key aspects of each and additional details to consider when making your choice. What is 1440p? At its most basic level, 1440p is an indication of the number of pixels a display has. In the case of a typical 16:9-aspect-ratio display, it indicates a resolution of 2,560x1,440 pixels: 2,560 pixels horizontally by 1,440 vertically (and that little "p" indicates progressive scanning along each of the 1,440 rows of pixels). Sometimes you'll see this written as 2.5K instead, denoting the horizontal resolution instead of the vertical. A typical 1440p display will have 3,686,400 pixels. Occasionally, you can find monitors with 16:10 aspect ratios as well, and in those cases, you'll likely see 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution. Ultrawide monitors have also become popular, and you'll find many with a 3,440x1,440-pixel resolution, effectively extending the horizontal aspect of a 1440p display without adjusting the vertical aspect. The Innocn 49Q1R curved gaming monitor is an ultrawide 1440p display with a 32:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 5,120x1,440 pixels. Josh Goldman/CNET What is 4K? With the mainstream adoption of 4K, we saw a shift in the standard naming convention. Where 1440p (and 1080p before it) referenced the vertical resolution of the display, 4K switched to reference the horizontal resolution. For monitors, 4K (sometimes called Ultra HD, UHD or 2160p) has a horizontal resolution of 3,840 pixels (close enough to 4,000 for it to get its "4K" nickname) and a vertical resolution of 2,160 pixels. In the DCI cinema standards, the resolution is actually 4,096x2,160, but you won't find many displays with that resolution. Like 1440p, this is the resolution of a 4K monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio. You can find different aspect ratios, especially on laptops, where 16:10 has become more popular in recent years, but these will still usually be referred to as 4K since the horizontal resolution remains unchanged. A typical 4K monitor will have 8,294,400 pixels. Which is better: 1440p or 4K? There's no easy answer for which is better. It would be easy to assume that 4K is better -- after all, why wouldn't more pixels be better? But more pixels won't always be beneficial. A 4K display may require more power than a 1440p display of the same size. A computer will have to work harder to produce 4K output than 1440p because 4K needs more than twice as many pixels rendered. And then there's the matter of diminishing returns: All the extra pixels won't do you any good if you can't even see them. This has been a hotly debated topic for years, with Apple's introduction of Retina displays kicking off a lot of discussion -- and a lack of consensus -- on what resolution and viewing distances are best. Just dig through the Retina display Wikipedia page or CNET's TV size buying guide, and you'll see there's some heavy science involved and still plenty of room for debate. For example, the International Telecommunications Union recommends viewing a 4K display at a distance 1.6 times the height of the screen (e.g., 31.4 inches away for a 4K monitor with a 40-inch diagonal), meanwhile, Sony suggests a viewing distance 1.5 times the height of the display at 4K. The LG 32GS95UE is one of the best 4K displays we've tested. Lori Grunin/CNET That may not make it any easier to choose the right display for you, but it does highlight some important details. The size of your screen and how close you plan to sit are key considerations in figuring out which resolution you should pursue. A huge, 40-inch monitor situated at arm's length will look way better with a 4K resolution (though from that distance, 8K would be better). But if you sit three feet away, the difference between 1440p and 4K will shrink. Similarly, if you compare that 40-inch 4K panel (which has 110 pixels per inch) to a 27-inch 1440p panel (108 pixels per inch), the difference in clarity will be almost imperceptible; you'll get just more screen space with the larger monitor. Sometimes 4K will result in icons and visuals that are too small to see easily. In these cases, you'll probably use scaling to increase their size. This might seem like it defeats the purpose of the extra resolution, but you will still benefit from the extra pixels because they inherently have smaller gaps between them. When viewed from close enough, those gaps can become apparent, giving the picture a "screen-door effect," and that's something you definitely want to avoid. Which is right for you? After you consider the size of the display you want and the distance you plan to sit from it, you'll also want to consider how you intend to use it. If you're doing basic office work on the monitor, there's not much you have to worry about beyond making sure the display will be sharp enough at your viewing distance. A smaller monitor at arm's length will likely be fine at 1440p. But if you want to go with an extra-large screen, then consider 4K. That extra resolution will let you make the most of the screen space, effectively giving you four 1080p displays for some serious multitasking. If you're gaming, you'll still want to make sure you're looking at a sharp display, as you want to be able to make out details in your games. But there's also the question of performance. As mentioned before, 4K resolution calls for more than double the pixels of 1440p. All those pixels demand a lot from a gaming system. It's a lot easier (and cheaper) to get smooth frame rates at 1440p than it is at 4K. You can always lower the resolution of a game in its settings (on PC at least), and modern graphics processors have tricks to lighten the load with the likes of AMD's FSR, Nvidia's DLSS and Intel's XeSS, but these techniques have their drawbacks, sometimes making it simply look like you're running at lower resolution or introducing visual artifacts -- artifacts that are much easier to see with extra resolution. So, if you don't have a high-end graphics processor with plenty of VRAM, 1440p is generally the way to go. If you're a creator, there's a better argument for 4K. Photography tends to be incredibly high resolution, and 4K video is much more accessible these days. Having a higher-resolution display will give you a better chance of viewing your work at its full resolution (or at least close to it), meaning you'll get an accurate representation of it. For instance, if you view a 4K video on a 1440p monitor, you actually won't be seeing more than half of the image. If there are unsightly artifacts in those unseen pixels, you might accidentally leave them in your final edit. Also read: Best Gaming Monitor for 2025 Resolutions aren't all created equally Even if you're looking at two monitors with the same resolution and screen size, they still may not be equally clear. For each pixel, there are a series of smaller subpixels, which provide the different color elements that create the pixel (for instance, if you want a purple pixel, you may see a red and a blue subpixel light up to create the purple). Alas, that subpixel layout can also play into a monitor's clarity. An RGB subpixel layout is fairly common. This sees a row of three subpixels (red, then green, then blue). However, I've used a number of OLED monitors that have a different subpixel layout. And even though these monitors had the same 1440p resolution and 27-inch screen size as others I'd tested, they had issues with clarity in some contexts. For example, small text could have soft edges or unexpected colors showing up. So, after you decide which size and resolution will work in your setup, be sure to check out reviews to get a fuller picture of a monitor's quality. In our reviews at CNET, you'll find more testing data on aspects of monitors that can have as much or even more impact on a monitor's quality than resolution, such as panel type, contrast and color gamut.
