Microsoft puts Windows 8 to the challenge by setting up a gaming PC with an amazing 12K resolution with an ASUS HD 7970 and an AMD 7970 graphic card in Crossfire mode to drive 3 32-inch 4K Sharp PN-K321 displays at 60 frames per second.
When combined, three Sharp displays feature a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, for a total of 11520×2160 screen resolution. Microsoft also had to install a special driver package built by AMD, and only then was Windows 8 able to render a whopping 1,492,992,000 pixels per second. With all the settings on “High,” the Dirt3 demo was able to maintain 62-67fps on average, peaking over 70fps.
The downside is that the demo only lasted several minutes before the PC’s power supply gave up.
Even though this project shows the new capabilities of DirectX in Windows 8 and what is possible today with 4K monitors, it also reminds us that it is far from being affordable and easy to set up, as Microsoft would have spent $17,000 — I’m saying “would have” because the displays were just loaners –, and the company had to contact AMD directly for help to have this impressive demo running.
Would you configure this setup if you had the money?
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].