Long 10ft DP cables can lower the refresh rate for high-resolution displays.
Long 10ft DP cables can lower the refresh rate for high-resolution displays.
I own two monitors. The first is an ALIENWARE 34 QD-OLED with model AW3423DW, 3440 x 1440 resolution at 175 Hz via DisplayPort. The second is an ALIENWARE 25 AW2521HFL Full HD monitor at 1080p, 1920 x 1080 at 240 Hz. Initially, everything functioned perfectly using the original DP cables for both displays. After switching to a 10-foot Amazon Basics DP cable for the primary monitor, performance dropped significantly. Now I can only reach up to 100 Hz on the 175 Hz display, and it shuts down completely beyond that unless I revert to 100 Hz or lower. The issue persists even with the original 6-foot cable. Switching back to my previous monitor (ACER Predator X35) resolved the problem, but the 10-foot cable still limits me to 100 Hz. My secondary monitor works without issues. Some friends advised upgrading to a new DP cable or even replacing the GPU, while others suggested checking the PSU power output for my GPU. I’m exhausted from getting unsolicited advice and need a reliable expert recommendation on whether to purchase a new cable and which model would be most helpful.
You purchased a cable with several updates and likely an outdated version. It seems the one you received for your 34-inch display isn’t VESA certified, which might explain some performance problems. Your first monitor uses DP 1.4 while the second uses DP 1.2. If the 1.2 cable was included for the larger screen, it could account for the issues you’re experiencing. This tool on the forum shows that a DP 1.2 cable supports up to 240Hz, whereas your setup is limited to 120Hz. It would be best to return the basic Amazon model and consider a certified alternative like the one linked.
Signal strength diminishes with distance, meaning thicker wires result in weaker connections. Not useful, as it doesn’t improve performance. Haha!
It seems Amazon Basic won’t cut it for your signal needs. Look into some Club3D cables but watch out for counterfeits. I tested a few between three and four before landing on one that performed well for my 1440p 165Hz setup over three meters. After that, I’ve got two more that all work—super thick, about three times the original cable’s diameter, making them tough to route since they don’t bend easily.