4k recording on 1440p monitor

[aviation]

I am sorry if it already has been answered before, but I couldn't find it.

Is it possible to record real 4k content with 2k monitor? Can I record "native" 4k If I turn on NVidia DSR and and select 4k in game options with 2k monitor?

If so, do I need to change resolution to 3840x2160 on OBS Settings -> Video -> "Output (Scaled) Resolution
or
Settings -> Output -> Recordings -> "Rescale Output"?

I think first option. But DSR will downscale content to monitor resolution (I know it will be better than native 2k but it is not my point). Does OBS record after that point or it records directly on rendering process (GPU).
I confused a little bit. If I am correct ->
If OBS records after DSR downscaling process OBS will upscale it to 3840x2160 again after DSR downscale it to monitor resolution. After that point it won't be like native 4k. If OBS records directly game's resolution (game settings) it will be native I guess.

So, How it works exactly? DSR or any other option?

 

[FerretBomb]

DSR only outputs at the monitor resolution. OBS cannot grab the internal higher-res image texture, no.
If the game is set to run at 4K, and nVidia is acting as a 'glue' layer with a fake 4K display, OBS *may* be able to capture that and record it on a 4K canvas as-normal.

1440p really needs to be kicked into a pit, set on fire, be buried and forgotten forever, just like 1050p and 1200p.

 

[aviation]

Problem is 4K monitors are a little bit pricey. Higher refresh rate ones at least. Just I am wondering if I can get same 4K recording results with 2K monitor. I couldn't be sure that OBS can record native 4K if game is set to run 4K with DSR even I have 2K monitor.

 

[koala]

@aviation You can use Nvidia DSR to turn your monitor into a 4k monitor from Windows' point of view. Windows sees a native 4k monitor. Desktop and apps are rendered for 4k., and OBS captures 4k. The display driver scales this down to the monitor resolution internally, but this is only internal and never visible to any app.
I used DSR in the past to capture games in 4k and 5k, since I did not have such monitors. It works.

@FerretBomb 1440p isn't the devil. It's just a resolution between full hd and 4k. They are affordable, not only the monitor itself but also the GPU for game performance. For 4k you need a 2 times more powerful GPU than for 144p. I rather have 1440p with good fps than 4k with bad fps. Current top GPUs are able to handle 4k well, but they are obscenely expensive for years.
And 1200p - ha. I do have a 1200p monitor for 10 years and still love the additional screen space. What is bad about this? If I need to capture a game on that, I switch the game to 1080p and nothing is different to a true 1080p monitor. The game isn't even scaled with this, just small black bars appear to eat the additional space.

 

[aviation]

@koala What about DLSS? What is the proper usage of DLSS in this scenario? (I mean best possible fps and quality with 2K monitor / 4K output file.) Using both DLSS and DSR same time makes sense?

 

[koala]

DLSS has nothing to do with DSR. It is an independent feature. It aims at improving picture quality, regardless of the resolution. It can be used with any resolution. I don't know how good it is, since I don't have a RTX card, so I cannot say any more about it.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

I'm with you @koala I have an almost 20yr old Dell UltraSharp 20" 1600*1200 that has been fantastic (typing on it now). I'm not a fan of widescreen (old-school) and my eyes aren't really good enough to utilize 4K.
With that said, for 1080p streaming, and needing to Window Capture a PPTx windowed slide show, I went with a 27" 1440p monitor, so I could have the PPTx window set to a size that wouldn't have to be re-scaled in OBS. And 4K was simply overkill for HoW livestream setup, but 1080p inadequate. Then using DisplayPort MST, I got another (cheaper 24" 1200p) DP monitor for dual display, and drive both monitors using a single 50ft DP fiber cable. Along with a 50ft long active dual-port USB cable for keyboard and mouse, works great and is a perfect fit for my use case.
So, when GPU prices come back to earth, and price premium for 4K monitors drops, then sure, I'm happy to see interim resolutions go by the way side ;^) until then....