Both the Xbox One S and the PlayStation 4 support streaming Netflix in 4K. Handy for the people who not only have the requisite screens, but also the bandwidth to spend on having the crisp fidelity of ultra HD.
That’s an area where PC falters, because it can natively barely manage 1080p. It’s not because of processing power, but rather a limit of browser technology. Chrome and Firefox will only let you stream Netflix at 720p, while only Microsoft’s browsers will let you watch in 1080p.
4K? That’s out of the question. That’s changing though, and soon PC pundits will be able to stream Netflix in glorious 4K. Provided, of course, that they meet a strict set of requirements. To watch Netflix in 4K on Pc, you’ll need Windows 10 PC, Microsoft Edge, and a seventh-generation processor from Intel. Yup, you’ll need to be sporting A Kaby Lake CPU. There’s no mention of whether AMD cpu’s – even the future Zen – will be up to the task.
But why? We know it’s not down to CPU or even GPU powers, if the consoles are capable of processing a 4K signal. Unfortunately, it’s because of DRM. Content networks have been very worried about the potential piracy of 4K content on a PC, so the only way it’s been possible to placate them is with a hardware-and-software-based solution. It’s called PlayReady 3.0, and it’s part of Windows 10’s newest update.
While technically capable, older processors lack the necessary 10-bit HEVC codec support that Netflix uses, with the 6th Gen chips sporting 8-bit HEVC in their hardware. Technically, Nvidia’s Pascal GPU’s support the codec, but aren’t listed as being compatible. Odd.
Anyway, if you want to stream Netflix (or other streaming content) on PC, you’re probably going to have to upgrade.
Last Updated: November 23, 2016
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 12:34
And so begins the hardware DRM.
Gavin Mannion
November 23, 2016 at 12:40
You will also need an internet pipe that can handle at least a steady 25mb download… and a whole heap of bandwidth
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 12:41
That is the most important requirement that most people don’t understand
Andre Fourie
November 23, 2016 at 12:44
Almost doesn’t seem worth all the shit.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 12:47
4k is amazing, but it is not a must-have for me
Andre Fourie
November 23, 2016 at 12:47
Precisely.
HvR
November 23, 2016 at 12:43
You need about that stream 720p on the DSTV explora
Grimsupanoob
November 23, 2016 at 13:42
go go 100MB Fibre
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 12:40
[spelling in article successfully fixed before the nazi’s swoop in]
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 12:48
Why you spoil all my fun? 🙁
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 12:49
haf sum fan wiff dis on to match
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 12:52
ouch…
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 12:55
Feling bettir nao, or is I havin to slap in som theres over theyre?
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 12:56
To the real Admiral: I think Hammer broke into your account. 😛
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 13:07
Just providing you some entertainment, and now you scoff at it.
YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME TO TYPE WEIRD SHIT LIKE THAT?
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 13:09
Well, it DID kinda look like what Hammer types on a regular basis…
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 23, 2016 at 13:41
He’s bad, but not THAT bad
Civ Scrub Bob
November 23, 2016 at 12:53
Purge the Ork threat before it infects the entire planet 😉
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 12:53
So to get Netflix to work at your house in 4K you’ll need:
PC specific parts which isn’t cheap at all.
That 4K TV/monitor you’ll need (kak expensive).
Neflix account.
An uncapped fibre line of R2 200 per month which is 40mbps
(the 20 won’t do it since you need a stable 25mbps like Gavin Mannion said).
And to even think about 4K netflix you’d better hope there is fibre where you live.
All that money and trouble to watch some shows……. Thanks I’ll stick with DSTV.
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 12:55
DSTV can go suck a CoD fish
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 12:58
Beats the hell out of SABC at least.
Lu
November 23, 2016 at 12:58
The ads at the beginning of youtube vids beat the hell out of SABC…..
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 13:01
I wanted to check out the new Audi ad on youtube, and the ad before the vid started playing was the actual ad I wanted to watch.
Lu
November 23, 2016 at 13:05
Hahaha ironied!
Skyblue
November 23, 2016 at 14:20
Adblocker, the real users choice ;-p
Lu
November 23, 2016 at 14:27
But if I use Adblocker how will I know about all the singles in my area?
Skyblue
November 23, 2016 at 14:30
There is always the “practical” approach https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aa0f5cb54511dbcbc697672c625d839397d2d6c4bb61eef22c00117ea2bde3bb.jpg
Lu
November 23, 2016 at 15:00
Nah. Duct tape is too expensive these days
Lord Chaos
November 23, 2016 at 12:59
Stop Swearing!!
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 13:01
SABC!
HvR
November 23, 2016 at 13:00
That is like saying you run faster than the kid in a wheelchair
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 13:01
I do, that’s how I roll.
Dresden
November 23, 2016 at 13:18
XD
HvR
November 23, 2016 at 13:01
R1000/month next year for 720p IF they do not fook it up like they do 2 weeks in a month
HairyEwok
November 23, 2016 at 13:03
R1000 for netflix 720p…. wow
HvR
November 23, 2016 at 13:56
??? are you being sarcastic or just being porra?
DSTV
HairyEwok
November 24, 2016 at 09:44
I’m a sarcastic porra XD
Lu
November 23, 2016 at 13:11
But DSTV isn’t 4k so the comparison is a leetle skewed. The windows Netflix app plays at 1080p (or so they say), and with my LTE package included it costs me R850 a month. Plus I have uncapped internet, can watch my shows when it rains, and NO DAMN ADS!
HairyEwok
November 24, 2016 at 09:42
True DSTV isn’t 4K, but I bet you now if DSTV had 4K you wouldn’t pay nearly R3k a month for the service.
Lu
November 24, 2016 at 10:24
Netflix costs +-R165 a month. That is the cost of the service. Again my uncapped LTE can handle 4k streaming (Albeit I will be throttled after long). If you solely use your internet for video streaming then yes it will cost you 2350 grand a month by your estimations, but if you use it for other things, like gaming, downloads etc, only a portion of the interweb costs should be calculated into the Netflix running cost. EG: If I play Dota for 35 hours in a month, and Netflix for 35, then my cost of use is +- R450 (My internet is 700 a month). At 40 meg uncapped fibre, 4K Netflix at the same amount of hours would be +- R1250, which would probly be comparable to what DSTV would charge.
Kromas Ryder
November 23, 2016 at 13:40
DSTV has no 4k shows.
Actually right now neither do Netflix. TV shows are filmed at 1080p most of the time cept for Imax nature documenteries.
Grimsupanoob
November 23, 2016 at 13:43
100MB fibre for 1299 …… uncapped, unshaped, non-Telkom Fibre
Kromas Ryder
November 23, 2016 at 13:46
So basically what you are saying is add another +- R1million.
Cause to get that type of fiber you need to buy a house in an area that has it.
Grimsupanoob
November 23, 2016 at 13:48
Eish Bra… Vumatel and MetroFibre are rolling out massively at the moment…
Kromas Ryder
November 23, 2016 at 13:56
Vumatel has a coverage map of a startup isp and Metrofiber takes 4 months to expand 1 block.
It will happen eventually … just not in the next 5 years unfortunately.
Grimsupanoob
November 23, 2016 at 18:23
have you checked out the list on Mybroadband, they compiled a full list across all providers of fibre for coverage
HvR
November 23, 2016 at 13:58
Over here they are actually skipping past the expensive houses because it is owned by old people that still use dial up.
Trev would actually love it here
Raptor Rants
November 23, 2016 at 13:45
Lol. Nope.
chimera_85
November 24, 2016 at 15:08
Luckily by the time I even have money to get a 4k screen I’d hopefully have the PC hardware too haha.