4K cinematography is a technology you can view Netflix Video, with a resolution of around 4000 pixels horizontal screen resolution, giving you a deeply rich and clear picture.
But just because a Video is reordered at 4k resolution, doesn’t mean every television or computer/laptop, device or screen can view it at the size.
To watch 4K Netflix on your computer the planets really need to line up. This post will try and make the whole process a little clearer.
The Right Netflix Account
Not all Netflix accounts are the same.
Currently in Australia Netflix has 3 different types of accounts. Basic, Standard and Premium.
And yes, you guessed it. To watch Netflix at close to 4K in Ultra High Definition you will need to purchase the Premium account for $17.99 per month. This will also allow you to view Netflix all content on 4 different devices.
The Right Graphics Card
Not all graphics cards will be able to play 4K video on your computer.
For the most part you will need a graphics card which can handle 10-bit HEVC encoding such as one of the Nvidia 10 series graphics cards including: GTX 1060, GTX 1080, GTX 1070 or GTX 1080 Ti Series cards.
The Right Computer Screen Monitor
You will need to buy a computer screen capable of playing Ultra High Definition also if you would like to play 4K TV.
Older monitors will simply not be able to display at such a high resolution so it is important to speak to your sales person when making the choice of what computer screen you will need now and in the future. Make sure you let them know you will need to display 4k Video.
The Right Internet Connection
The more bandwidth your internet connection has, the more information it can pass through to you at a time.
Most ADSL/2 connections will not be enough to support 4K video on Netflix.
Not even all NBN connections will be fast enough either. You will need a internet connection of at least 25mbps and if there is more than one person using the internet, or watching Netflix at the same time you will need a lot more.
Most NBN re-sellers will offer connection speeds 10/25/50/100mbps and there isn’t a lot of difference in price as they go up in speed.