Is HDR worth it for Gaming? [2024]

Recently, HDR has drawn a lot of attention. Over the past couple of years, a lot of HDR monitors have been produced, and many more are anticipated in the future. Does this imply that HDR is the next big thing and a requirement for your forthcoming display? It depends, really. When promoting the cutting-edge graphics of a new game, game developers frequently mention High Dynamic Range, or HDR, as if it were a standard feature that PC players could readily take advantage of. Reality is not like that.

HDR is an ideal illustration of a truly game-changing technology at its best. With its one most obvious improvement in gaming images, HDR may hit you square in the face. This post will cover everything you want to understand about HDR gaming on PCs, including the latest developments, cable and GPU issues, and setting adjustments. But let’s slam on the brakes before jumping into the bliss: is HDR worth it for gaming like for real or is it just hype for selling? We are about to describe intricacies that can be challenging to comprehend.

What is HDR?

Let’s first build a basic understanding of what HDR is before exploring its worth for gaming. A high dynamic range image is an HDR image. Greater brightness and color depth may be produced by TVs and monitors thanks to this color accuracy technology. The contrast ratio is enhanced by this technology. Even mid-range gaming monitors generally support it. An HDR monitor using this technology displays better information in both light and dark settings. Highlights are brighter on televisions and displays that handle them.

What does HDR accomplish?

By expanding the contrast ratio, color palette, and peak brightness of compatible content, HDR accomplishes the contrast between light and dark areas by enhancing the picture quality and bringing the display closer to how its developer intended it. Despite the fact that there are other HDR formats, HDR10 is the most significant one for PC gaming as it is an open platform that is primarily used by game developers and display makers. You won’t receive the same visual experience on every HDR10 monitor. While some give noticeably higher visual quality, others only make a slight improvement.

Is an HDR display worthwhile?

Investments in HDR monitors with HDR displays are worthwhile. They create visuals that are more realistic. You, as a user, can see colors well, considerably improving your viewing experience. Here, we searched for the finest HDR monitor while also including reviews of Samsung and Sceptre displays. You could find this function to be very helpful if you are an expert photographer, a competitive gamer, a graphic artist, or a casual user who enjoys watching films online. It erases dark areas and reduces exposure to light areas.

What are the benefits of HDR displays?

Enhances the contrast ratio

The difference between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks that a display or monitor can create is known as the contrast ratio. Better picture quality is produced when these display settings are balanced well. Games and other stuff, including videos, will all look great. A display performs better with increased contrast. One between 1000:1 and 3,000:1 is suggested. HDR makes these settings better. In actual life, it improves the appearance of photos. They will enhance the constant ratio of your display and your ability to see clearly in low-light situations.

Better images are produced

The best way to achieve vibrant visuals is by investing in an HDR TV, display, or screen. To give an image more depth, bright areas are made more vibrant, while dark areas are made darker. You would choose the TV with a decent display system if you were to compare two TVs or displays, one with a better resolution and the other with a better contrast ratio. Video editors, professional gamers, photographers, video editors, and everyone who appreciates high-quality images should be interested in this color revolution.

Enhance colors

With HDR, the luminance images are represented differently in the signal, allowing for the portrayal of highlights. Because they have a wide color gamut, many HDR monitors offer more enhanced colors. As a result, the colors appear richer and deeper than you had hoped. The green of numerous plants, the rich violet of eggplants, and the blue of the sky are all extremely visible. The material looks much better now, and the colors are enlarged to reveal more vibrant reds, blues, greens, yellows, violets, pinks, and everything in between.

HDR hardware requirements

When considering either buying an HDR display or improving their system to support HDR, consumers should pay attention to a few key areas. First off, despite what a lot of people think, an HDR-compatible monitor does not require an all-star GPU. The first graphics processing units (GPUs) to be created with HDR capabilities in consideration were released in 2015; examples include the Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 and AMD Radeon r9 380. However, you must look toward the 10 series and upwards if you want a real 4K output that utilizes Nvidia’s G-sync HDR standard.

As an alternative, using AMD, a GPU that enables freesync 2 is required, and your options range from the Pro Duo to the RX 590, providing you with lots of good flexibility. You should also be aware that HDR compatibility with the ports on your device has only been available as HDMI 2.0 and Display port 1.4. In spite of this, the majority of contemporary GPUs support these ports. Go with the display settings and see whether you can enable HDR. If you can, make your monitor HDR-ready.

Is HDR superior to 4K?

Unbelievably, HDR is superior to 4K. Compared to 4k or SDR displays, it has the highest brightness. Although they are both intended to improve your viewing and gaming experiences, HDR displays, monitors, or TVs are better options due to their improved visuals. HDR is more visually striking than 4K because it offers a better contrast—or wider color and luminance range than Standard Dynamic Range. However, 4K produces an image that is clearer and more detailed. Both are increasingly prevalent among high-end digital televisions, and both produce stunning visual quality.

Conclusion

In the end, HDR is a technological advancement that enhances your enjoyment of your gaming monitor. The fact that HDR is here to remain cannot be disputed at this point. It is vitally necessary to make in-game graphics more lifelike, a goal that the industry has been working hard to accomplish for, well, over a decade at this point. It is most certainly not a temporary novelty, as stereoscopic 3D was. Because of its exceptional peak brightness and wide color gamut, both experts and novices will want to use it right away.

Many video games are HDR-compatible. As a result, the gaming experience is more authentic and intense, and a wider variety of colors and brightness can be presented. So, is HDR worth it for gaming in real life or not? The answer is yes. However, while purchasing one, it is undoubtedly important to keep in mind the lack of support. Naturally, having an HDR display will increase its future-proof versatility, but if you’re spending more money just to acquire HDR, you might want to wait for now.

Atif Liaquat

Tech Hardware Expert

A graduate in Computer Engineering from the prestigious NUST, Atif Liaquat possesses an innate passion for computer technology that dates back to his childhood days of experimenting with hardware and software. In the past six years, he has parlayed this passion into a successful writing career, delivering a wealth of knowledge to his readers with his unique blend of technical expertise and clear, engaging prose. His rare ability to demystify complex tech concepts for a broad audience distinguishes him in the industry. Atif's insightful and educational content continuously piques the curiosity of readers, cementing his position as an invaluable voice in the tech world.