Just use clients that have enough power to direct-play the content on their own. Let the display handle the 4K to 1080p downconvert on its own (most displays can do that, since it's just a matter of halving the horizontal and vertical scales). At that point, it's just a fileserver with a fancy catalog.
let the display handle 4k to 1080p downconvert
Not even remotely what I want.
I didn't think I would have had to flat out say my internet can't handle 2k/4k.
e: Also a display doesn't downconvert. If you give a 1080p capable screen a 4k signal it will tell you to fuck off.
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