27-Inch 4K Monitor VS 27-Inch LED HD TV Monitor

If you are using HDMI 1.4, then you aren't at the full 4K experience. Yes, your pixel dimensions are correct, but the amount of detail is not. This is a function of fps/data rates.

HDMI 1.4 supports 4K at 30 frames per second, or, more specifically a 6 Gb/s data rate. HDMI 2.0 brings 4K at 60 frames per second (12 Gb/s) data rate. To experience 4K in all its glory, you need to run 60 frames. Essentially, in any given vertical period, you are getting half the resolution if you are using HDMI 1.4. If we want to be perfectly accurate, the data rates are 5.94 Gb/s and 11.88 Gb/s respectively.

I have inquired multiple times with Apple but can't seem to get an answer as to wether they are supporting 4 displays @60 frames or @30 frames. It's twice the data rate at 60 frames.

Another point of contention, which is not directed at you per sé, people need to understand that 4K and UHD terms shouldn't be interchangeable. Otherwise, you are mashing two different resolutions into one term: 4K.

4K is 4096 (h) x 2160 (v) and UHD is 3840 (h) x 2160 (v). 4K is a 17:9 resolution primarily used for the film industry, and UHD is 16:9 embraced by the broadcasters. Albeit, SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) has yet to approave a standard for it.

My ultimate point: If you have the equipment that supports 4K/UHD at 60 frames, don't compromise the experience by using an HDMI 1.4 adapter.

You should not be using HDMI at all, unless you are hooking up a TV set.

For a Monitor, the best interface is DisplayPort, a slightly-larger connector than the Mini DisplayPort provided directly by ThunderBolt, and a direct cable-conversion. Second best would be Dual-Link DVI, which requires an expensive adapter because the adapter contains signal re-Drivers.

I agree about not using hdmi. But for a monitor, the best interface is to use what the broadcaster is using: SDI. But most people won't pay for it. Our new 32" TV Logic display for the lab was somewhere around $35,000 dollars. But, when you're actually engineering 4K products, I guess you need it, no?

Right now 4k is without a doubt the best way to go and the prices are really coming down. I picked up a 39" Seiki for less than $500.