A USB-C hub 4K 60Hz setup refreshes your screen 60 times per second, twice as often as 4K at 30Hz. On a desktop the gap is easy to see: the cursor trails, scrolling stutters, and dragged windows feel sticky at 30Hz. Watching 24 or 30 fps video looks fine either way. Many hubs fall back to 30Hz because one link in the chain, whether the laptop port, the hub, the cable, or the monitor, cannot carry enough data for 60Hz. This guide shows what changes between the two, why hubs drop to 30Hz, and how to confirm you are getting 60Hz.
Quick answer: 4K at 60Hz updates the screen twice as often as 4K at 30Hz and feels much smoother for desktop work. A hub falls back to 30Hz when any link in the video path lacks bandwidth, such as an HDMI 1.4 port or a two-lane USB-C connection. To get 60Hz, every link must support it. The HDMI port on the Gitfos C1Pro is rated for 4K @ 60Hz.
4K 60Hz vs 4K 30Hz: what changes on screen
4K at 30Hz is fine for watching video, but 60Hz is the better choice for everyday desktop work. At 30Hz the screen redraws every 33.3 ms. At 60Hz it redraws every 16.7 ms, so motion gets twice as many updates.
| Task | 4K @ 30Hz | 4K @ 60Hz |
|---|---|---|
| Moving the cursor | Visible trailing and lag | Smooth |
| Scrolling a page or document | Choppy | Smooth |
| Dragging windows | Sticky | Follows your hand |
| Watching 24 or 30 fps video | Looks normal | Looks normal |
| Games that run at 60 fps | Shows at most 30 fps | Shows the full 60 fps |
Why a USB-C hub 4K 60Hz signal falls back to 30Hz
A hub falls back to 30Hz when any link in the video path cannot carry the data that 60Hz needs. A 3840 x 2160 picture at 24-bit color needs about 11.9 Gbps of raw pixel data at 60Hz and about 6.0 Gbps at 30Hz, before blanking overhead.
| Link | Capacity or limit | Result for 4K |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 port | 10.2 Gbps | Too low for 60Hz, so 4K 30Hz |
| HDMI 2.0 port | 18 Gbps | Enough for 4K 60Hz |
| USB-C, two lanes for video | Shares the connection with USB 3 data | Common hubs stop at 4K 30Hz |
| USB-C, four lanes for video | Whole connection used for video | 4K 60Hz, but USB drops to USB 2.0 |
| DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3) with DSC, two lanes | Compressed video | 4K 60Hz and USB 3.x, if laptop, hub, and monitor all support it |
USB-C has four high-speed lanes. A hub that gives two lanes to video can keep USB 3 data, and a hub that gives all four to video leaves only USB 2.0.
How to check that you are getting 4K 60Hz
Check the refresh rate setting on your computer before blaming the hub.
- On Windows, open Settings, System, Display, then Advanced display, and read the refresh rate.
- On a Mac, open System Settings, then Displays, and look at the Refresh Rate menu.
- If only 30Hz is offered, switch the monitor to an input that supports 4K 60Hz and use a cable rated for it.
- If 30Hz persists, test the hub with another cable and another monitor to find the weak link.
What the Gitfos C1Pro supports for 4K
The Gitfos C1Pro outputs 4K @ 60Hz through its single HDMI port. It uses DisplayPort Alt Mode, not DisplayLink, so your laptop needs a full-function USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. Your monitor and HDMI cable also need to support 4K 60Hz. Connect the hub to your computer with the included full-function USB-C cable, and keep the 65W DC power adapter plugged in.
What a 4K 60Hz spec does not guarantee
A hub spec is a ceiling, and the weakest link in the chain sets the refresh rate.
- Only the HDMI port carries video. The USB-A and USB-C ports on the C1Pro do not output video, even with an adapter.
- A USB-C port without DisplayPort Alt Mode will not send video to the C1Pro, even if it transfers data.
- The C1Pro needs its 65W DC power adapter connected. It has no bus-powered mode.
- Gitfos has not published refresh-rate test results for individual laptop models, so read the refresh rate setting on your own computer to confirm what you get.
Frequently asked questions
Most 4K 30Hz problems come down to bandwidth.
Can a USB-C hub do 4K at 60Hz?
Yes, if every link supports it. The hub's video output, the cable, the monitor, and your computer's USB-C port must all handle 4K 60Hz. If one link is limited to 30Hz, the whole connection runs at 30Hz.
Is 4K 30Hz noticeable?
Yes, on a desktop. Cursor movement, scrolling, and window dragging look choppy at 30Hz. Video at 24 or 30 frames per second looks normal, so 30Hz is acceptable for a screen used mostly for watching.
Why is my USB-C hub only giving 4K 30Hz?
The video path is probably limited. Common causes are an HDMI 1.4 port or cable, a two-lane USB-C connection, or a monitor input that only supports 30Hz at 4K. Check the monitor input and your computer's refresh rate setting first.
Does HDMI 1.4 support 4K 60Hz?
No. HDMI 1.4 carries 10.2 Gbps, and 4K 60Hz needs about 11.9 Gbps of raw pixel data. HDMI 2.0 raises the limit to 18 Gbps, which is enough for 4K 60Hz.
Next steps
Start with the refresh rate setting, then check the monitor input, the cable, the hub, and the laptop port in that order. For a hub with an HDMI port rated for 4K @ 60Hz, see the Gitfos C1Pro, browse more hubs and charging options, or reach the team through the support center. More buying advice lives in the Guides blog.