How can I get my desktop environment to support 120 Hz refresh rate?
Asked by
GamerPanda92
I'm currently using Linux Mint with the KDE Plasma desktop environment, but I'm having trouble running my TV at 120 Hz for watching movies, even though it's set up to do so. My GPU is a 7900XTX, and it seems the maximum refresh rate I can achieve is 60 Hz. Are there settings I can change or a different desktop environment I should consider to solve this?
Answers
Have you checked if you're running X11 or Wayland? X11 can cause issues if you have multiple monitors with varying refresh rates; it defaults to the lowest. If you switch to Wayland, you may have better luck getting 120 Hz on your setup. I run a mix of 60 Hz and 144 Hz on Wayland perfectly!
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Make sure your TV cable can actually handle more than 60 Hz. Sometimes the connection type can limit your refresh rate.
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It sounds like your issue isn't just with the desktop environment. 4K 120Hz requires HDMI 2.1 capabilities, but unfortunately, AMD hasn’t fully supported it in open-source drivers. You could try using DisplayPort instead, or use a DP-to-HDMI 2.1 adapter if your TV supports that.
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It definitely sounds like a driver issue with Mint. Try a distribution like Fedora or Kubuntu; they often have better compatibility with new GPU drivers and could help you reach that 120 Hz target easily!
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I suggest trying a different Linux distro that's more up-to-date with drivers. Before switching to Fedora, I was using Pop_OS! and had no issues connecting my 120 Hz TV. Just make sure your cables and TV ports can support the higher refresh rates too!
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TechBub89: Interesting! I can get 4K at 120 Hz through my motherboard's HDMI 2.1 port, even on an older setup with Ubuntu.