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Why do all the USB-C docks only support 30Hz @ 4K?

C

cowbellallen

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 8, 2007
165
13
Hi guys,

I have a 2016 Macbook Pro that has a refresh rate of 60Hz. Mouse moves like butter across the screen, everything looks good.

However, if I (or anyone) want to connect it to a 4K monitor, you need to use a USB C hub or dock.

Nearly all of these only support a 30Hz refresh rate, which hurt my eyes because of the jitter across the screen. It's like framerate is cut in half, basically.

I've purchased at least 5 different hubs and they're all like this... Cablematters, Pluggable, Anker, HooToo.... Even the new OWC hub thats $300 only supports 30Hz.

Am I the only person that wants to use Macbook Pro on a 4K monitor with 60Hz refresh rate?
 
cowbellallen said:
Hi guys,

I have a 2016 Macbook Pro that has a refresh rate of 60Hz. Mouse moves like butter across the screen, everything looks good.

However, if I (or anyone) want to connect it to a 4K monitor, you need to use a USB C hub or dock.

Nearly all of these only support a 30Hz refresh rate, which hurt my eyes because of the jitter across the screen. It's like framerate is cut in half, basically.

I've purchased at least 5 different hubs and they're all like this... Cablematters, Pluggable, Anker, HooToo.... Even the new OWC hub thats $300 only supports 30Hz.

Am I the only person that wants to use Macbook Pro on a 4K monitor with 60Hz refresh rate?
Click to expand...
You need either a Thunderbolt Dock or to just connect the 4K display directly to the computer. USB-C doesn’t have the necessary bandwidth to support a hub and 4K/60Hz.
 
The best I have seen so far is a dock from i-tec that supports 2 4K screens at 60Hz. One can be connected through Thunderbolt (USB-C) and the other one with Mini DisplayPort.

We have tested it with a MBP13 2018 and it works very well!
 
am2am said:
You can buy dongle to drive 4k/60Hz from USB-C
for example: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MUF82AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter
Click to expand...
Yes, but there’s not enough bandwidth to drive a complete hub. That particular adapter also won’t drive 4K at 60Hz on the OP’s 2016 MacBook Pro.
This adapter will do 4K/60, however: https://www.anker.com/products/variant/usbc-to-hdmi-adapter/A8306041
If the OP needs a hub, something like the Caldigit USB-C Pro Dock will work. It does require Thunderbolt 3, in spite of its name, to drive up to two 4K displays at 60Hz, which is no problem on a 2016 MBP. The dock will drive 2 HD displays via USB-C. It’s currently selling for $200, which is a nice price: https://www.caldigit.com/usb-c-pro-dock/
 
cowbellallen said:
I've purchased at least 5 different hubs and they're all like this... Cablematters, Pluggable, Anker, HooToo.... Even the new OWC hub thats $300 only supports 30Hz.
Click to expand...

$300 sounds like a thunderbolt dock, that /should/ be able to, at least via some kind of connection? got a link to specific product?
 
What's the deal? Buy a USB-C to DP cable. Don't involve a hub, don't waste time with HDMI.

www.amazon.com

Cable Matters USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable (USB-C to DisplayPort Cable, USB C to DP Cable) Supporting 8K 60Hz in Black 6 ft - Thunderbolt 4 /USB4 /Thunderbolt 3 Compatible with MacBook Pro Dell XPS

Experience Vivid 4K Video over DisplayPort The Cable Matters USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable supports the newest release computers and smartphones with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 up to 4K 60Hz UHD display monitors with DisplayPort. Experience the vibrant video and authentic audio supported by monitor...
www.amazon.com
 
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cowbellallen said:
Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna check out the CalDigit.

Here's the $300 OWC Dock that iMacDragon was asking about.
Click to expand...

Ok, looks like that needed an adapter to use hdmi still? So would be down to the adapter not the dock if not using a direct DP cable. I think with most DP 1.2 it needs an active adapter to be able to get 60hz 4k
 
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iMacDragon said:
Ok, looks like that needed an adapter to use hdmi still? So would be down to the adapter not the dock if not using a direct DP cable. I think with most DP 1.2 it needs an active adapter to be able to get 60hz 4k
Click to expand...
Just get one of these for HDMI

www.anker.com

USB-C to HDMI Cable

The Anker Advantage: Join the 30 million+ powered by our leading technology. USB-C Input: Enables reversible plugging and provides total compatibility with the newest computers and devices. High Definition: HDMI supports resolutions up to 4K and makes multi-monitor displays a breeze. Plug and...
www.anker.com www.anker.com
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
robvas said:
Those no-name adapters are junk more often than not...
Click to expand...
I read the negative reviews.. many users seem to only get @30hz. I always read negative reviews first.. positive reviews can be purchased cheap all over the internet.
 
I believe HDMI 1.x doesn't support 4K @ 60 Hz. You need something like usb-C to HDMI 2.0 and a monitor that supports it or to use DP.
 
DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI 2.0 requires an active adapter for 4K60. A passive adapter (uses DisplayPort dual mode DP++) only allows 4K30.

Your MacBook Pro 2016 has Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 controller which only supports DisplayPort 1.2. You need four lanes of DisplayPort 1.2 for HDMI 2.0.

The Apple USB-C to Digital AV Multiport Adapter uses two lanes of DisplayPort 1.4 (and supports DSC) so it can't give the MacBook Pro 2016 4K60. The other two lanes in the adapter are used for USB 3.0 send and receive signals.

You didn't say what kind of display you are using or what kind of cable/adapter you are using to connect to it. The OWC Thunderbolt dock you linked should support 4K60 from the DisplayPort connection and another 4K60 from the Thunderbolt connection.
 
Last edited:
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MANY of the cheap USB-C docks rely on DisplayLink to get video out:

www.displaylink.com

DisplayLink GPU Agnostic Display Solutions

Synaptics’ DisplayLink uses software and a device decoder to act as a virtual graphics card, enhancing display capabilities, productivity, and sustainability with adaptive compression technology.
www.displaylink.com www.displaylink.com

DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

WindowsmacOSAndroidChrome OSUbuntuCorpo
www.displaylink.com www.displaylink.com

Those drivers are a major limiting factor. Nearly all require the video signal to be compressed to drive video to the monitor vs. direct DisplayPort or direct HDMI via TB3 adapter. Thunderbolt docks do not have this bottleneck.
 
bsbeamer said:
MANY of the cheap USB-C docks rely on DisplayLink to get video out:

www.displaylink.com

DisplayLink GPU Agnostic Display Solutions

Synaptics’ DisplayLink uses software and a device decoder to act as a virtual graphics card, enhancing display capabilities, productivity, and sustainability with adaptive compression technology.
www.displaylink.com www.displaylink.com

DisplayLink macOS Software for Downloads Section | Synaptics

WindowsmacOSAndroidChrome OSUbuntuCorpo
www.displaylink.com www.displaylink.com

Those drivers are a major limiting factor. Nearly all require the video signal to be compressed to drive video to the monitor vs. direct DisplayPort or direct HDMI via TB3 adapter. Thunderbolt docks do not have this bottleneck.
Click to expand...
One good thing about DisplayLink is that it doesn't depend on the GPU having a free connection for another display. It uses USB which doesn't depend on the GPU at all. But since it's USB, it's not good for games and video.
 
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