PC - HDR Gaming - Sharing Experience

[Yongkit]

Recently i bought a new 27' 4K HDR monitor and just started with HDR gaming using windows 11 version 22H2 auto HDR setting.

Overall the experience was better than I imagined using HDR for gaming.

Watching youtube contents with HDR capable as example below also give me a new experience too:



I also try using the Geforce Experience to records my gaming session for benchmarking reference and uploaded to youtube, it was able to display "HDR" contents just like the youtube example as above.

If you have HDR capable monitor you can test if you are able to see the "HDR" content.

 

[jasonwsc]

Depends on your monitor TBH, if it is some HDR400 monitor with no local dimming then might as well don't have HDR. Everything is just bright, and you can kiss shadows goodbye.

For true HDR you need OLED, Mini LED or at least some local dimming zones.

If your monitor is the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ then erm yeah, just no. Might as well get the LG 49inch OLED for the same price. Or just get something like the 1440p Gigabyte M27Q P and save half the amount. I just don't think 4K is worth it at 27in.

 

[Yongkit]

Depends on your monitor TBH, if it is some HDR400 monitor with no local dimming then might as well don't have HDR. Everything is just bright, and you can kiss shadows goodbye.

For true HDR you need OLED, Mini LED or at least some local dimming zones.

If your monitor is the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ then erm yeah, just no. Might as well get the LG 49inch OLED for the same price. Or just get something like the 1440p Gigabyte M27Q P and save half the amount. I just don't think 4K is worth it at 27in.

Good comments

Can share any examples of screenshot or video playback from your HDR system and how shadow come into play instead of over bright?

Cause this is still something I am trying to figure out.

And yes mine only entry level hdr400 (windows show 427nits brightness) which definitely unable to compete with high end HDR monitor but it is already exceed my experience using SDR.

Currently I am able to use the auto HDR for non native HDR gaming too through window 11.

May I know if you have any references how to calibrate HDR contents?

 

[tsteo77]

Good comments

Can share any examples of screenshot or video playback from your HDR system and how shadow come into play instead of over bright?

Cause this is still something I am trying to figure out.

And yes mine only entry level hdr400 (windows show 427nits brightness) which definitely unable to compete with high end HDR monitor but it is already exceed my experience using SDR.

Currently I am able to use the auto HDR for non native HDR gaming too through window 11.

May I know if you have any references how to calibrate HDR contents?

Maybe this reference > https://mashtips.com/windows-11-hdr-calibrate/ can help you calibrate hdr content.

 

[watzup_ken]

I feel the issue may not be that apparent when you are watching HDR content in well lit room. But if the room is dark when the monitor is using HDR and displaying images with contrasting brightness, the blacks are not black but more grey. For example, a scene where there is sunset/ sunrise where the ambient is dark, but the sun is very bright. Edge lit monitors are unable to dim the area that is supposed to be dark/ black, but instead, it has to boost brightness to showcase the brightness of the sun. The difference is most apparent when you have say an OLED or mini LED display that is showing the same video in HDR. I generally switch HDR on monitors off because it seems to mess up the color of the image. This applies to all edge lit monitors, regardless of whatever HDR brightness rating, i.e. HDR400, HDR600 or even 1000.

 

[Yongkit]

Maybe this reference > https://mashtips.com/windows-11-hdr-calibrate/ can help you calibrate hdr content.

Many thanks I have try using this tool in windows 11 nevertheless the new version have slight change & HDR Calibration is currently unavailable:

 

[Yongkit]

I feel the issue may not be that apparent when you are watching HDR content in well lit room. But if the room is dark when the monitor is using HDR and displaying images with contrasting brightness, the blacks are not black but more grey. For example, a scene where there is sunset/ sunrise where the ambient is dark, but the sun is very bright. Edge lit monitors are unable to dim the area that is supposed to be dark/ black, but instead, it has to boost brightness to showcase the brightness of the sun. The difference is most apparent when you have say an OLED or mini LED display that is showing the same video in HDR. I generally switch HDR on monitors off because it seems to mess up the color of the image. This applies to all edge lit monitors, regardless of whatever HDR brightness rating, i.e. HDR400, HDR600 or even 1000.

Many thanks for sharing this details as it really help me to understand better.

personally I am a bright preference person, and always turn on all light at home, while my other half prefer to turn off all when not in use. So when I used my pc normally are in well lit room.

I am curious if I do my recording on this HDR monitor, does the video affect those with better HDR monitor (OLED or mini LED display ) as in perhaps they can display better color and image shadow?

 

[Yongkit]

using this video as the test, at 0:18 i can see the different using my phone HDR mode compare to my monitor HDR mode.

my phone HDR can see the sun within sun flare but my monitor unable to see the sun in the flare:

 

[watzup_ken]

Many thanks for sharing this details as it really help me to understand better.

personally I am a bright preference person, and always turn on all light at home, while my other half prefer to turn off all when not in use. So when I used my pc normally are in well lit room.

I am curious if I do my recording on this HDR monitor, does the video affect those with better HDR monitor (OLED or mini LED display ) as in perhaps they can display better color and image shadow?

Some times, it is nice to see a nice bright and colorful image. But you have to bear in mind if the monitor gets too bright, you lose darker details. There is/are flipside to everything.

As for HDR recording, I don't think there is a bearing on the monitor used. You basically need to record in a HDR video format from what I understand. At the end of the day, the TV/ monitor will decode and display as per how the manufacturer configures the display.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

den again which HDR rating consider a good enough for ave user?
As there are quite a number of it and there are a few differences when going up the rating.

 

[watzup_ken]

den again which HDR rating consider a good enough for ave user?
As there are quite a number of it and there are a few differences when going up the rating.

Personally, I find the HDR ratings to be quite pointless. I can’t speak for others, so this is purely my own opinion. The best way to experience HDR is probably with OLED and Mini/Micro LED technology, because on the same image, these display technologies will be able to display super bright and deep darks at the same time. I feel a lot of high end edge lit monitors try to upsell themselves by throwing some higher than usual HDR600 or so numbers, but in reality, the panel does display very bright images, but you get greys when it is supposed to be dark/ black. So as long as you know that the monitor uses edge lit LCD, then I don’t recommend that you spend extra money for the supposed HDR rating.

 

[Yongkit]

I think even though I do not have the OLED & Mini/Micro LED tech monitor but I still enjoy using this HDR feature come with the new monitor even it is only HDR400 capable with some tuning.

Nowadays monitor selection is up to individual preference and budget.

reasons I choose this new monitors due to its attractive price as the entry level for 4k experience, and upon longer period of time once I figure out what is missing from current unit, I will be more wiser to choose the right monitor in future. I need to experience it to know what am I missing just like any other pc components I have for now.

 

[Yongkit]

This is what I have been tested recording using Geforece Experience with windows 22H2 both Native HDR & AUTO HDR (only able to view the HDR color with HDR monitor or phone (full screen mode) capable of HDR) :

Spoiler: Native HDR game - Forza Horizon 5

Spoiler: Windows 11 Auto HDR game - DOA6

 

[Rogue]

It's a waste, either you go broke and get the best or avoid HDR on monitor at all cost. Minimum is an oled equivalent panel with a super high constrast ratio is needed in addition to the other requirements of HDR like >=100 sRGB 10 bpc.

Nice to test out a bit, and pretend but it sucks so hard that you have to keep HDR off most of the time.

Of course, you can go for a TV. But problem is lack of displayport usually...

 

[Yongkit]

 

[zephxion]

Playing HDR games on my AW3423DW really was a big jump in visual quality. Using AutoActions on W10 for quite a pleasant experience.

 

[Yongkit]

Playing HDR games on my AW3423DW really was a big jump in visual quality. Using AutoActions on W10 for quite a pleasant experience.

Currently I am using windows 11 ver. 22H2 the auto hdr display is very well adjusted and I am on HDR mode all time.

I do not experience any washout picture quality as experienced by some other users mentioned so far.

I am using 2 monitors (both using DP cable) right now = main HDR ; second display SDR.

 

[Yongkit]

 

[darkmatt]

HDR is beautiful. But so many issues with screenshots, snipping tool etc.

Ownself see is good. want to SIC is gg

 

[Yongkit]

https://computerinfobits.com/hdr-wa...to resolve,profile for your specific monitor.
Some quick tips on resolving HDR washed out issue