Question:

What is the maximum achievable refresh rate for a 3440x1440p ultrawide monitor when connected to a USB-C hub that supports 4K 60Hz output? I am considering buying this model: UGREEN USB C Hub 6 in 1 Type C to HDMI 4K, 2 USB 3.0 Ports, SD TF Card Reader, 100W PD Charging Adapter Dock Station for MacBook Pro Air 2020 2019 2018, Galaxy Note 10 S10 S9 S8, Surface Go, Dell XPS 13 15.

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Answer:

The refresh rate of a monitor is the number of times per second that the image on the screen is updated. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the motion and the less noticeable the flicker. However, the refresh rate also depends on the resolution, which is the number of pixels that make up the image. The higher the resolution, the more data needs to be transferred from the source device to the monitor.

A USB-C hub is a device that allows you to connect multiple peripherals, such as a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a card reader, etc., to a single USB-C port on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. A USB-C hub that supports 4K 60Hz output means that it can send a video signal with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz to a compatible monitor.

However, not all USB-C hubs are the same. Some USB-C hubs use the DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode), which allows the USB-C port to carry a native DisplayPort signal. This mode can support higher resolutions and refresh rates, depending on the version of DisplayPort and the bandwidth of the cable. For example, DisplayPort 1.4 can support up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 120Hz with a high-speed cable.

Other USB-C hubs use the HDMI Alternate Mode (HDMI Alt Mode), which allows the USB-C port to carry a native HDMI signal. This mode can also support different resolutions and refresh rates, depending on the version of HDMI and the cable. For example, HDMI 2.1 can support up to 10K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz with an ultra-high-speed cable.

The UGREEN USB-C hub that you are considering buying uses the HDMI Alt Mode and supports HDMI 2.0, which can support up to 4K 60Hz with a high-speed cable. However, this does not mean that you can achieve the same refresh rate with a 3440 x 1440p ultrawide monitor. This is because the HDMI 2.0 bandwidth is limited to 18 Gbps, which is not enough to support the full resolution and refresh rate of your monitor.

According to the [VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC) Calculator](https://vesa.org/vesa-display-stream-compression-dsc-calculator/), a 3440 x 1440p ultrawide monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz requires a bandwidth of 19.9 Gbps, which exceeds the HDMI 2.0 limit. Therefore, you will need to lower the refresh rate or the resolution to fit within the HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. For example, you can achieve a refresh rate of 50Hz or a resolution of 2560 x 1080p with the same bandwidth.

Alternatively, you can look for a USB-C hub that uses the DP Alt Mode and supports DisplayPort 1.4, which can support up to 32.4 Gbps of bandwidth. This would be enough to support the full resolution and refresh rate of your monitor, as long as you use a high-speed cable and a compatible device. However, not all devices support the DP Alt Mode or DisplayPort 1.4, so you will need to check the specifications of your device before buying a USB-C hub.

In conclusion, the maximum achievable refresh rate for a 3440 x 1440p ultrawide monitor when connected to a USB-C hub that supports 4K 60Hz output depends on several factors, such as the monitor, the cable, the USB-C hub, and the device. You will need to consider the bandwidth, the resolution, the refresh rate, and the compatibility of each component to get the best possible performance.