Intel to support 4K resolution with Ivy Bridge

The next generation of Intel’s GPU chip – dubbed Ivy Bridge – will support up to 4096x4096 pixel resolutions. The 4K support could pave the way for higher resolutions in Windows/OSX and higher-resolution PC monitors in the next few years.

4K resolution with Intel Ivy Bridge
At the IDF 2011 presentation Intel talked about their next generation of GPU called Ivy Bridge. Ivy Bridge is aimed for both Apple and Windows based computers and both operating systems are expected to support higher-resolution monitors.

Ivy Bridge supports up to 4069x4096 pixels – commonly referred to as 4Kx4K. Most monitors today utilize the 16:9 aspect ratio and that would give a resolution of 4096x2304 pixels, which is significantly higher than the maximum 2560x1600 pixel resolution supported by Intel’s current Sandy Bridge chip. Intel also says that they will support multiple 4K videos at once.


Intel Ivy Bridge will support 4K resolution

A 4096x2304 pixel resolution with 60 Hz refresh rate and 24-bit color support requires approximately 20.2 Gb/s to be transmitted from the graphic card to the monitor. DisplayPort 1.2 supports up to 21.6 Gb/s.

But also Microsoft and Apple are talking about the so-called Retina monitors. At Microsoft’s Windows 8 developer conference, Microsoft said that Retina Display desktop monitors with 250 DPI+ are coming. A 19-inch monitor with 4096x2304 pixel resolution is close to 250 DPI (247.34 DPI to be exact).

Also Apple seems to be preparing for higher-resolution monitors and Macs. Earlier this year users found 3200x2000 desktop wallpapers in a developer preview of Apple’s latest Mac OS X Lion. Furthermore, Apple recently added 4K supports to the Final Cut Pro video editing suite.

The first Retina display on the market was introduced with Apple iPhone 4 that comes with a 326 PPI (pixels per inch) LCD panel.

- Source: VR-Zone