How can I play a 4K UHD disk on 2K monitor?

[davidm71]

Hi,

Few months ago I bought Logan UHD version but got a small problem.. I don't own a UHD blueray player. So was wondering if I got a UHD bluray drive is it possible to use handbrake to convert it to 2K?

Thanks

[mduell]

1) You don't need a "UHD" Bluray drive, just a Bluray drive.

2) You can't use HB to author a Bluray video disk.

[davidm71]

Oh ok..

[Woodstock]

It gets "better" - 4K disks carry a copy protection scheme that has, so far, defied breaking. There are groups that claim to have done it, but they have only (so far) posted a limited number of files to back their claims.

If you play the "regular" BD that came with Logan, your 1080p monitor will be fine, and there are software packages that can rip that content so that handbrake can process it.

Alternatively, 4K UHD bluray player should be able to downsize it to 1080P for you when it detects that your TV cannot handle 4K.

Also, computer drives that can handle 4K content will say so; UHD BD is based on the "BD-XL" standard, but if your drive doesn't have the right firmware, it won't read a UHD disk.

[davidm71]

So I won't need a HDCP 2.2 Capable screen? The bluray player will downsize it? Will it look better than the 1080p version when downscaled?

Thanks

[Woodstock]

Given the crashing costs of real 4K displays, I've not bothered with trying to play 4K content on a 1080p display. I just added two 50" 4K TVs as computer monitors because they were cheaper than a 1080p monitors in the same size class, even after buying 4K-capable video boards.

As for whether or not 4K content on a 1080p screen "looks better" than 1080p content on the same screen, I'd have to say, "probably not". You're combining detail from 4 pixels into 1, and the result is... average. I have a 720p projector that accepts 1080p input, and the display looks "mushy" to me. Anything not being displayed at its native resolution is a compromise.

[davidm71]

Ok. Thanks

[rollin_eng]

1) You don't need a "UHD" Bluray drive, just a Bluray drive.

You do need a UHD player to play UHD discs.

[Deleted User 11865]

1) You don't need a "UHD" Bluray drive, just a Bluray drive.

It must be able to read 66 and 100 GB discs, however -- not any drive will do.

[davidm71]

Was thinking of getting an UHD bluray drive and Powerdvd 17 upgrade but doubt it would play on my 1080p plasma or my 2K Acer gaming monitor.

[rollin_eng]

Was thinking of getting an UHD bluray drive and Powerdvd 17 upgrade but doubt it would play on my 1080p plasma or my 2K Acer gaming monitor.

No reason why that wouldn't work as long as everything is compatible, you just wont see 4k until you get a 4k monitor in which case you might as well wait until then to upgrade.