Can you get 144Hz with USB C? (2023)

FAQs

Does USB-C allow 144Hz? ›

Yes, you can watch content at 144Hz with a USB-C cable.

DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which allows USB-C to transmit video and audio, supports a 4K video resolution at a 144Hz refresh rate. In addition to supporting USB-C, it also supports HDMI 2.0.

3: support high resolution

A USB-C cable supports resolutions up to 4K and a Thunderbolt 3 cable even supports 8K with a refresh rate of 60Hz, or 60 frames per second.

The USB C to DisplayPort cable allows you to connect a modern computer or laptop with a USB C port to a monitor with a DisplayPort input. You can enjoy resolutions of up to 8k @ 60Hz or 4k @ 120Hz.

uni USB C to DisplayPort Cable [8K@60Hz, 2K@240Hz], USB Type C to DP 1.4 Cable, [32.4 Gbps, Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible] with MacBook Pro 2021/Air 2020, Mac Mini, iPad Pro, iMac, S20, XPS 15.

TB3 enabled connectors are the primary choice for Ultrawide and 5K monitors since it is able to support the resolutions at a 60Hz refresh rate. USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 still isn't ideal for gaming applications, but we may as well see new models that come with the future-proof connector when standards come together.

DisplayPort doesn't just deliver the highest display performance available. Combined with the USB Type-C connector's high-speed data transfer and power delivery functions, DisplayPort over USB-C also enables single-port devices to deliver docking, charging, and data-transferring capabilities simultaneously.

Ultimately, the HDMI is not necessarily better than the USB-C, nor the USB-C is better than the HDMI. If you want to display high-performance applications, such as Cyberpunk 2077, then we recommend the HDMI 2.1.

Does Thunderbolt support 120Hz, 144Hz, or 240Hz? Thunderbolt 3 and 4 support refresh rates of 30-240Hz, depending on the size of the attached display. 4K is supported from 30-120Hz, and 5K and 8K from 30-60Hz.

First of all, USB C offers faster data transfer speeds (up to 10 Gbps if you have the right cable/port combination).

Cable Matters 8K USB C to HDMI 2.1 Cable 6 ft, Support 4K 120Hz and 8K 60Hz HDR - Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB4 Port Compatible - Max Resolution on Any MacBook via This Cable is 4K 60Hz.

Does USB-C allow 4K? ›

USB-C cables can deliver Ultra-HD 4K video resolution to USB-C and HDMI displays. That's 4 times the resolution of standard high definition.

The USB-C video adapter is fully compatible with your HDMI 2.0b equipment, supporting resolutions up to 4K 60Hz (3840 X 2160) and bandwidths up to 18Gbps.

USB-C PD is a new standard that can deliver up to 240 watts of power, which is enough to charge laptops and other devices that require more power than USB-C alone can supply. This specification was created by the USB-IF in response to requests from laptop manufacturers for a connector that could deliver more power.

Announced in 2021, the USB PD Revision 3.1 specification is a major update to enable delivering up to 240W of power over full featured USB Type-C® cable and connector.

A USB-C to dual HDMI adapter converter is a simple connection device that allows plugging in two HDMI monitor cables at once, and the device plugs into your computer's USB-C port.

It supports the latest USB 3.2 communication protocols and is faster and more powerful than most standard USBs. USB-C can provide up to 100W of power to devices and can transfer data at up to 20Gbps ². USB-C can deliver Ultra-HD 4K video resolution and carry audio too.

USB-C monitors, typically, are capable of displaying high-resolution video. This usually manifests as 4K UHD and 60 frames per second, with audio transmitted in tandem.

The transfer speed of a USB-C adapter is determined by what USB version it supports. Generally, a higher version means better speeds. It is a good idea to go for a USB-C connector that at least supports the USB 3.0 version or higher for good transfer speeds.

DisplayPort over USB-C provides SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.1) transfer rates for data. Although this is fast (a maximum speed of 5 Gb/s), it doesn't come close to the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2 specifications. Keep in mind that these specifications will increase as DisplayPort 2.0 gets adopted.

Yes. Adapters and Adapter cables are used to connect DisplayPort over USB Type-C to an HDMI/VGA input on the HDTV. If the HDTV has a DisplayPort input, then a USB Type-C to DisplayPort adapter cable can be used to provide DisplayPort display capability.

Can DisplayPort do 4K 144Hz? ›

The DisplayPort 2.0 standard, ratified in June 2019, increases bandwidth by up to three times, making it possible to support far higher resolutions (like 10K and 16K) but also faster refresh rates on multiple monitors. It's capable of running two 4K displays at up to 144Hz when using 8bpc.

You don't lose quality with a USB-C to HDMI adapter, but you have to make sure the display supports the right HDMI specification. Monitors, projectors, and TVs with HDMI 1.4 ports support 4K at 30Hz, no matter which adapter or HDMI cable you use.

The big problem with USB-C: Charging speed

There is a very common frustration with the USB-C standard in its current form. Moving phones between different chargers, even of the same current and voltage ratings, often won't produce the same charging speeds.

For the ultimate HDMI 144Hz gaming experience, however, you want the latest generation of HDMI connectors. HDMI 2.1 144Hz options include every one of the most popular gaming resolutions, from 1080p, all the way to 4K – no compression required. So, does HDMI support 144Hz? Absolutely.

All the new Macs with M1 chip can run at full resolution 3840 x 1600 at 144Hz with this monitor, using Thunderbolt cable or USB-C to displayPort cable. This incredible monitor is FANTASTIC in every way. The color is super rich and vibrant.

Compliant to HDMI 2.0b with throughput up to 6Gbps/lane. Resolutions up to 4096x2160@60Hz, 8-bit color. Ultra-high resolution and refresh rate - 4K (3840 x 2160) @60Hz, 2560 x 1440 @60Hz, 1080p @120Hz.

4K at 144Hz does not be supported by a thunderbolt 3.0 port. Thunderbolt 3.0 support 40Gb/s bandwith, 4 Lane PCIe and 8 Lane DisplayPort 1.2 and 10GB/s USB 3.1 too. It supports 2 4K at 60Hz or a single one at 120Hz.

Both USB Type-A and USB Type-C connectors are used to facilitate 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2) connections, and USB Type-C is also used to facilitate the 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2), 40 Gbps (USB4), and 80 Gbps (USB4 V2) connections.

The USB Type D connector coincides with version 4.1 of the USB standard, with a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 1Tb/s.

USB-C comes packed with USB4 support making it the clear winner here as it supports data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps (gigabits per second) while the Lightning connection only supports up to 480 Mbps (megabits per second) with USB 2.0. That's roughly an 80x faster rate with the USB-C connection.

What is the max Hz for HDMI? ›

Ultra High Speed HDMI cables present video in up to 8K resolution and supply up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth. You can achieve up to 10K resolution and refresh rates up to 240Hz on an HDR TV or 4120Hz refresh speed for video data with lower resolutions.

HDMI 2.0 carries combinations like 1440p 165Hz with no issue, and for 1080p, frame rates of 240Hz are no problem. On PC, HDMI is secondary to DisplayPort, which offers significantly more bandwidth, with DP 1.4 not that far from HDMI 2.1 and capable of 4K 120Hz.

If you bought a 4K TV with a true 120Hz refresh rate, like for use with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you should move up to an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. If you attach a gaming PC capable of gaming at 4K/60fps to your TV, you'll need an HDMI cable that can handle that level of data transmission.

Our popular Cable Matters USB C to DisplayPort Cable supports 1440p@144Hz with compatible equipment.

This USB-C™ to HDMI® adapter lets you output HDMI video and audio from a USB Type-C™ device, with support for Ultra HD 4K at 60Hz. The adapter works with USB-C devices that pass a DisplayPort video signal, and it's also compatible with Thunderbolt™ 3 ports.

The USB-C video hub supports up to an 8K resolution over HDMI or DisplayPort, enabling ultra high-resolution video over one convenient adapter.

This USB‑C® to Dual 4K HDMI® Adapter supports up to two 4K@60Hz HDMI displays, when connected to hosts that support the DisplayPort® 1.4 Alt Mode.

Currently, USB-C alt mode allows devices to output video signals to HDMI ports on displays without using any adapter. However, USB-C alt mode is not as ubiquitous and it only supports HDMI 1.4b features so you don't get the full features of displays that have HDMI 2.0 and higher.

USB-C connections allow the monitor to serve multiple functions that previously needed to be performed by the laptop. All of your peripheral equipment plugs into the monitor — which also offers quick charging, without the need for that bulky power brick that used to connect your laptop to the mains.

The good news is that, because USB-C is smart, you can't overcharge your device. That means, plugging into a 60 Watt charger, when you only need 15 Watts, is completely fine. But, using too small of a charger, means you may not get as fast of a charge as you're used to.

Can any USB-C cable do 100W? ›

All USB-C cables must be able to carry a minimum of 3A current (at 20V, 60W). But for high-power 20V/5A (100W) charging, you need a 5A-rated USB-C to USB-C cable that contains E-Marker chip to identify the cable and its current capabilities.

USB 3.1 Type-C delivers a 10Gbps data transfer rate. This makes it more than 20 times faster than USB 2.0 and twice as fast as USB 3.0. It is also faster than the 6.0Gbps rate of the SATA III standard, allowing external hard drives to exceed the current speed of internal drives!

While USB-A could only support up to 2.5 watts and 5 volts, USB-C now supports 100 watts and 20 volts easily enough for larger devices. The practical benefits of this include pass-through charging; effectively a USB hub that powers laptops, and also charges other devices simultaneously.

It is noticeably larger than the three-port 65W chargers reviewed above, but is recommended if you need that extra charging port. Two of the USB-C ports support 65W, and one is curiously low at 18W but that's enough for most phones and mid-sized tablets.

This dual-monitor docking station is one of the first to integrate the next-generation USB-C host connector, so you can easily power and charge your laptop through its USB Type-C™ port. Plus, because it supports MST, you can connect dual monitors through a single USB-C cable.

The USB-C multi-monitor hub can simultaneously display up to 4Kx2K resolution on up to 2 monitors. The bandwidth can accommodate an additional monitor up to 1080p.

Thunderbolt™ 4 is not the same as USB-C; however, Thunderbolt™ 4 uses the USB-C connector type, recognizable by its oval shape.

The simple answer is yes, and at multiple resolutions. Even DisplayPort 1.0 and 1.1 were capable of supporting 144Hz at 1080p resolution when using the first-generation high bit rate (HBR) mode.

For 1080p 144Hz you will need DisplayPort, Dual-Link DVI, or HDMI 1.3 (or higher), while 1440p 144Hz requires either HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2.

Is HDMI Or USB-C Better For Gaming? When it comes to gaming, HDMI and USB-C are both great options. Deciding which one to use pretty much boils down to which gaming console you are using and what TV or monitor you want to display your game on.

Can HDMI port do 144Hz? ›

For the ultimate HDMI 144Hz gaming experience, however, you want the latest generation of HDMI connectors. HDMI 2.1 144Hz options include every one of the most popular gaming resolutions, from 1080p, all the way to 4K – no compression required. So, does HDMI support 144Hz? Absolutely.

Ideally, you'll want the game's frame rate to match the monitor's refresh rate 1:1 for an ideal experience. For example, your system should be outputting 144 FPS to get the full benefit of a 144Hz monitor.

1440p at 144Hz, you will need at least an HDMI 2.0 or a DisplayPort 1.2 cable. 3.4K at 144Hz, you will need a HDMI 2.1 or a DisplayPort 1.4 cable which can carry 120Hz signal without compression.

Check Your Monitor Specifications

Most 144Hz monitors will connect at that specification on Windows computers by default. If your monitor is not working correctly, check to make sure you have a 144Hz-capable display and have it plugged into the display or DVI-D port. Other display connections will not render at 144Hz.

HDMI tops out at 144Hz uncompressed or 240Hz compressed, while DP 1.4 can hit 360Hz in 1080p. If you're trying to pick a monitor, HDMI is the budget-friendly choice, but if you've got DP you'll have more options if you plan to upgrade to a new graphics card or add an external GPU in the near future.

To get 144Hz, you should ideally use DisplayPort as it's the most capable out of the bunch. Here, DisplayPort 1.0-1.1a is able to output 144Hz at 1080p, while 1.2-1.2a can output 1440p at 144Hz, 1.3 outputs up to 120Hz at 4K, and 1.4 can output 144Hz at 4K using Display Stream Compression (DSC).

A 144Hz monitor may stay stuck at 60Hz for several reasons, including: Incorrect refresh rate setting: Ensure that the refresh rate is set to 144Hz in the monitor settings and graphics card control panel. Insufficient video card performance: Ensure that your graphics card can support a 144Hz refresh rate.

Simple USB-C adapters use the HDMI or DisplayPort alternate modes, so they attach to the existing GPU and directly receive the apropriate signal from it (or possibly converting HDMI↔DP). They aren't "splitters" though – they only expose outputs that the GPU already provides, like traditional DP/HDMI-out ports do.