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An XDA Developers writer found that an old HDMI cable capped an Alienware AW3423DW ultrawide monitor at 60Hz, even though the monitor’s HDMI 2.0 port supports 100Hz. Replacing it with the cable included with the monitor restored the higher refresh-rate option in Windows. Settings and port capabilities can also impose limits, so the cable is not always the cause.
An old HDMI cable kept an Alienware AW3423DW monitor at 60Hz when its user expected to select 100Hz, according to an XDA Developers report published Nov. 6. Swapping it for the cable supplied with the monitor brought back the higher refresh-rate option in Windows, illustrating how a cable can limit a display even when the picture appears to work normally.
The writer had connected the AW3423DW, a 3440-by-1440 ultrawide monitor, to a graphics card using an old HDMI cable from a drawer. The cable’s sleeve said “High Speed,” but the report says that designation corresponds to a maximum bandwidth of 10.2Gbps, not enough for the monitor’s HDMI 2.0 connection to deliver 100Hz at that resolution. Windows offered only 60Hz, and the cursor felt sluggish during use.
The monitor’s included cable was rated as a Premium High Speed HDMI cable, with bandwidth up to 18Gbps. After connecting it, the writer could select 100Hz in Windows without changing other settings. The report says the AW3423DW’s HDMI 2.0 port supports that refresh rate; the replacement cable resolved the immediate limitation.
The article cautions that cable replacement is not a universal fix. Windows may default to 60Hz, and the monitor’s port can cap performance regardless of the cable. The writer says an Alienware AW2725DF can reach only 144Hz at 1440p over its HDMI 2.1 port, despite an Ultra High Speed cable, because the port uses TMDS signaling rather than FRL. The writer uses DisplayPort to reach that monitor’s 360Hz maximum.
A cable kept this monitor at 60Hz Here’s what fixed it
An old HDMI cable limited an Alienware AW3423DW to 60Hz. Replacing it restored the 100Hz option, but the cable is only one possible bottleneck.
What changed
The monitor showed a picture, but Windows offered only 60Hz until the cable was replaced.
- Old HDMI cable marked “High Speed”
- Windows offered 60Hz
- Cursor felt sluggish
- Monitor’s supplied 18Gbps cable
- 100Hz option returned
- No other settings changed
Check the whole connection
A suitable cable helps only when the settings and connected ports support the mode you want.
Confirm the selected refresh rate in Display settings.
Verify the monitor input and graphics output support the desired mode.
Compare its bandwidth rating and try a suitable cable to isolate a possible limit.
Cable rating is not the whole story
A cable cannot raise a port’s supported limit.
| Connection example | Reported capability |
|---|---|
| AW3423DW over HDMI 2.0 | 100Hz with the supplied 18Gbps cable |
| AW2725DF over HDMI 2.1 | 144Hz at 1440p; DisplayPort reaches 360Hz |
Why Cable Bandwidth Can Cap Refresh
A display can show an image while still operating below its advertised refresh rate. That can make an outdated or lower-bandwidth cable easy to overlook: there may be no obvious signal failure, only a missing refresh-rate option or less fluid motion. For people who buy high-refresh-rate monitors, checking the connection can help explain why the display is not delivering the performance they expected.
The practical distinction is resolution plus refresh rate, not simply whether an HDMI cable fits or carries a signal. Higher resolutions and faster refresh rates require more data, and a cable’s bandwidth rating can set a ceiling. But the example also shows why checking the monitor’s port and Windows settings matters: a capable cable cannot exceed a port’s supported modes or correct a refresh rate selected in software.
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The Monitor And Cable Ratings
The writer upgraded to an Alienware AW2725DF OLED monitor for 360Hz gaming and reused a DisplayPort cable from an earlier setup. The older AW3423DW became a secondary display. For that monitor, the writer expected HDMI to limit refresh rate to 100Hz, rather than the 175Hz available through the prior DisplayPort connection, but did not expect Windows to show only 60Hz.
According to the report, a basic 1080p/60Hz display is less likely to expose bandwidth limits with an older, undamaged cable. At higher resolutions or refresh rates, cable specifications become more relevant. The article identifies Premium High Speed HDMI as the 18Gbps class used for the AW3423DW’s 100Hz mode, and Ultra High Speed HDMI as the 48Gbps class needed to use the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 connections for demanding modes such as 4K at 144Hz.
“The problem turned out to be that old HDMI cable.”
— XDA Developers writer
What The Cable Test Cannot Prove
The report describes one user’s troubleshooting experience, not a controlled test of every HDMI cable or monitor configuration. It does not identify the old cable’s exact model or confirm how its bandwidth rating was verified beyond the “High Speed” marking described by the writer. The specific cable and monitor combination is therefore the basis for the 60Hz-to-100Hz result.
For other displays, the limiting factor could be a Windows setting, the monitor’s HDMI port, the graphics card output, or the cable. The article does not establish that every cable marked “High Speed” will produce the same limitation, nor that changing cables will resolve every missing refresh-rate option.
Checks Before Buying A Cable
Users who cannot select a monitor’s expected refresh rate can first check Windows Display settings and confirm the selected mode. They can then verify which monitor input is connected and what refresh rates that port supports, before swapping in a cable with the appropriate bandwidth rating. The report recommends checking the label on the cable sleeve and testing another suitable cable as a straightforward way to isolate a possible cable bottleneck.
For the writer’s AW3423DW, the supplied 18Gbps cable restored 100Hz. The writer says a future move to a monitor whose HDMI 2.1 connection can use up to 48Gbps would require an Ultra High Speed cable to take full advantage of that bandwidth. DisplayPort remains another option where the monitor and graphics card support the desired refresh rate.
Key Questions
What caused the Alienware AW3423DW to show only 60Hz?
The XDA Developers writer traced the limit to an old HDMI cable rated for up to 10.2Gbps. Replacing it with the monitor’s 18Gbps Premium High Speed cable restored the 100Hz option.
Does a 60Hz limit always mean the HDMI cable is the problem?
No. The report says Windows may have selected 60Hz by default, and the monitor’s port or graphics output may also restrict available modes. Check those settings and specifications before concluding the cable is at fault.
What HDMI cable rating is needed for 4K at 144Hz?
The report says Ultra High Speed HDMI, rated for up to 48Gbps, is needed for 4K/144Hz. The monitor and connected devices must also support the intended resolution and refresh rate.
Can the right cable make every HDMI 2.1 monitor run at 360Hz?
No. The cable cannot overcome limits in the monitor’s port. The writer says the AW2725DF supports up to 144Hz at 1440p over HDMI despite having an HDMI 2.1 port, and uses DisplayPort to reach 360Hz.
Source: XDA Developers
