I'm currently using Linux Mint with KDE Plasma and have trouble getting my display to run at 120 Hz. My TV is set to 120 Hz for watching movies, and I have a 7900XTX graphics card. Is there any way to increase the refresh rate beyond 60 Hz? Should I switch to a different desktop environment or distribution?
5 Answers
It’s usually not about the desktop environment. If you're aiming for 4K at 120Hz with HDR, it requires Fixed Rate Link (part of HDMI 2.1), and AMD's open-source drivers might be limited. A good workaround could be to connect your TV via DisplayPort if it supports it, or using a DP to HDMI adapter that handles HDMI 2.1 features.
I've successfully connected a 120 Hz TV using Fedora and had no problems. If Mint's kernel is outdated, it might not fully support your 7900XTX. Could you also check if you're using an HDMI 2.1 compatible cable and if your TV has any settings like 'game mode' that need to be turned on?
Sounds like a driver issue. Mint’s KDE setup might have some hiccups, especially if you're using an older version. You might want to try a different distro that has better support for newer hardware, like Kubuntu or openSUSE.
Have you checked your HDMI cable? Sometimes, the cable can limit the refresh rate. Make sure it supports higher speeds, especially if you're using a 4K setup, which may require a specific HDMI version.
Most desktop environments and Linux distros support 120 Hz, so it's likely something to do with Mint's older drivers. I’m using Fedora with a 360 Hz monitor without any issues! Consider updating your AMD drivers or even switching to a more up-to-date distro. Fedora is quite user-friendly and stable, while still being close to a rolling release.
Mint shouldn't be a problem. I'm using a 6800 XT, and even the 6.8 kernel runs smoothly. Maybe upgrading to the 6.11 kernel will help.
That's interesting! I have an old GPU that can output 4K at 120 via HDMI 2.1, even with Linux.