Is 4k a noticeable upgrade with a 42" screen?

You won't find a decent 4K tv at 42". They generally start at 49" or 55" for midrange and above, which would be the minimum you'd want for gaming.

DF just released a good video showcasing some:

My TV has an option for tons of modes and I didn't know what a lot of them meant. I can't remember what some are off the top of my head. Remind me tomorrow. For one thing, I had it in "Animation" mode instead of "Game" mode with a lot of built in picture adjusting/smoothness options turned on.

Anyway, I have this one: Sony XBR43X800D 43-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV (2016 Model) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWIEO2E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_L1ncAbT06NB6F

I thought the picture looked good but then I downloaded that "Insects" demo from Xbox Live and used that to tune my TV. Now, the colors look better, motion is less blurry, blacks are blacker, and details are sharper. Having a good tv with bad settings was my problem.

Nice to see some new people join the 8MP club.

I went from a 27" Toshiba SD TV, to a 50" SXRD 1080p TV in 2006. I later downgraded to a full array 1080p LED for 3D in 2009.

I look at TVs every time I go to Frys, Best Buy, Video Only, or any other place that has high end TVs. I never really saw a huge reason to upgrade to 4K, as my Full Array 1080p TV had, and honestly still does have excellent picture quality.

Then last year I saw the Sony Z9D, and it, for the first time in years, completely blew me away. I went around and checked it out at different locations, side by side with every competitor, and it was like a next gen TV. Every other TV no matter how much the store or myself played with them could not match the pure white that this TV produces. Everything else looks yellow compaired to the Z9D. Add in its ability to combine that brilliant white with inky dark blacks, when calibrated and sitting within its sweet spot, and you have a picture that with drop jaws.

I was convinced, and finally decided to update to 4K HDR. The leap from 1080p to 4K HDR a high quality display is absolutely breath taking, and I would argue that going from my 09 FALED to this 16 FALED is a bigger leap than the old SD to the 06 SXRD.

Yeah.  I like 4k, it's fine.  It's just not worth running out an purchasing right now.  The jump from 480 to 720 and 720 to 1080 was night and day.  But anything past it is... slightly brighter day.

4K vs 1080/1440 is an amazing upgrade when you see it in person!

I got a 4K monitor (replaced a 1440p) a couple of years ago and a new 4K TV to go with my X1X and I can't imagine going back to 2K/1080.

Just think, 4 years ago people were arguing about 900p vs 1080p and now the X1X is rending games like Gears of War 4 at almost 5 times the resolution of 900p!

It's a great time to be a gamer!

I totally 100% agree with you. Once you reach a certain level of sharpness (720p or better in my opinion), It's acceptable. I did buy a 4K and I'm pleased but I wouldn't recommend it to "regular" people. Basically, I know what I like and that's what I get. it's like trying to sell people on a PS4 Pro/XBO X. I know what they do and that appeals to me but if I have to sell you on it, it isn't a "must buy" to begin with.

Have a look at this chart : https://goo.gl/images/1Yr5cS

To have any noticeable benefit from a 55" you need to be sitting within 2m of the set, closer to 1m to see real, worthwhile gains... 

For most people that's way too close. That's why I mentioned only 65+ sets starting to make sense for 4k.

I'm a graphic designer so I'm sure I'd know by now if my eyesight was on the fritz! 

The original poster has a 49" so to see the dramatic gains he claims, he must be sitting with the thing in his lap... 

I don't have an agenda, I just see a technology being pushed on to the mainstream which is really only meaningfully beneficial to a tiny percentage of the market... 

Emperor's new clothes mk2

I am typing this on a 55" HDR 4k tv and sitting about 7ft away from it. And while theer s a noticeable difference between 4k and 1080p I feel the difference is not enough to blow anyones mind off.

Its definitely not the same thing as going from SD to HD.