I'm trying to connect two 4K monitors running at 120Hz using a single-cable setup with my Dell Precision 5490. However, I'm currently limited to 60Hz for both monitors. When I unplug one monitor, the other switches to 120Hz without issue. Here's my setup:
- **Laptop:** Dell Precision 5490 (Intel Ultra 7 165H, Nvidia Ada 1000 GPU)
- **Dock:** Dell SD25 (USB-C)
- **Monitors:** Two Dell S2725QS (4K/120Hz)
I've experimented with both DisplayPort and HDMI connections, trying various combinations, but the 60Hz cap remains. I suspect the dock might be the bottleneck here.
What do I need to do to achieve 120Hz on both monitors? Should I invest in a Thunderbolt dock like the WD25TB4 or SD25TB4? Or is it just not possible to run two 4K screens at 120Hz through one cable? Any insights from those who've managed dual 4K/120Hz setups would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I agree that it's a dock limitation. However, I have seen mixed results with specs. I previously ran a setup with one monitor at 4K@120Hz and a second one at 1080p@60Hz without issues, contradicting the spec sheet. So there might be some flexibility depending on configurations. It’s worth trying out different docks just to see if you can achieve what you're looking for!
From what I can gather, it appears that your dock only supports 2x 60Hz outputs. You can verify this in the user manual. Also, the specs can be tricky; while it states you can run one at 4K@120Hz, it generally limits multiple displays to a lower resolution or refresh rate. In short, it seems running dual 4K at 120Hz through a single cable setup isn't feasible without a very high-end dock.
It sounds like the main issue here is definitely your dock. The current one isn't providing enough bandwidth to support dual 4K@120Hz. You'll need a capable Thunderbolt dock to handle the data. The docks you mentioned, like the WD25TB4 or SD25TB4, should work but make sure to check their specs carefully before purchasing. Beyond that, keep in mind that to run dual 4K@120Hz, you'd realistically need something that can handle higher bandwidth than most docks designed for dual outputs.
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