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For a 4K high-refresh display, connect the DG310’s fixed USB-C upstream cable to a host USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery, then connect the dock’s HDMI 2.1 output to an HDMI 2.1 monitor input with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Select the monitor’s HDMI input, enable its HDMI 2.1/high-refresh, HDR or VRR modes where available, and choose 3840×2160 at the highest refresh rate offered by the host. The dock is rated for up to 3840×2160 at 144Hz, but the host, cable and monitor can impose a lower limit.
The correct DG310 connection
The ROG Bulwark Dock DG310 is a one-cable USB-C dock for a single external display. Its video path starts with the host computer or tablet, passes through the dock’s fixed upstream USB-C cable, and exits through one HDMI 2.1 port. Every link must support the mode you want: a compatible host USB-C port, the dock’s HDMI output, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and a monitor input capable of the selected resolution and refresh rate.
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| Item | What the specification or setup requires |
|---|---|
| External display output | One HDMI output; the dock is designed for one external display at a time. |
| Published video modes | 3840×2160 at 144Hz, or 7680×4320 at 30Hz, as listed in the 2026 technical specifications. |
| Host connection | The fixed USB-C upstream cable must connect to a host port supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery. |
| Operating-system support listed by ASUS | Windows 11 or later, macOS 12.3 or later, and Android 14 or later. |
| Charging input | USB-C PD input on the dock; a charger is not included. |
| Full advertised power passthrough | Up to 80W passthrough when paired with a suitable charger; ASUS recommends a USB-C PD charger rated at 100W or higher. |
| Gaming and image features | HDR, variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM) can work when the host, cable and monitor support and expose them. |
Step-by-step: connect a 4K monitor
- Confirm the host port. Identify a USB-C port on the computer or tablet that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery. A USB-C connector by itself does not prove that it can carry video. Check the host’s technical documentation or port markings before troubleshooting the dock.
- Connect the upstream cable. Plug the DG310’s permanently attached USB-C upstream cable directly into that host port. Avoid starting with a USB-C hub, adapter or charge-only extension, because an intermediate device can remove the DisplayPort signal.
- Connect the monitor cable. Insert an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable into the DG310’s HDMI 2.1 output. Connect the other end to an HDMI 2.1 input on the monitor. The dock has one HDMI output; using another dock port is not an alternative display path.
- Power on and select the input. Turn on the monitor, open its input/source menu and select the HDMI input used for the dock. If the monitor has separate HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 inputs, use the one labeled HDMI 2.1 or the input identified as supporting the desired high-refresh mode.
- Enable the monitor’s high-bandwidth options. In the monitor’s on-screen display, turn on settings such as HDMI 2.1 mode, enhanced or high-bandwidth input, high refresh, HDR, VRR or ALLM when those controls are present. Names differ by monitor, and some displays hide these options until a signal is detected.
- Choose the resolution and refresh rate on the host. Select 3840×2160 and then the highest refresh rate offered for that resolution. The maximum shown by the operating system is the result of the complete host-to-monitor chain, not the dock alone.
- Add charging if needed. Connect a USB-C PD charger to the DG310’s PD-in port. The dock ships without a charger. ASUS recommends a 100W-or-higher USB-C PD charger to reach the dock’s full 80W passthrough rating; the host may receive less depending on its own power requirements and the charger’s negotiated profile.
How to select 4K and the highest available refresh rate
Windows 11
Open Settings > System > Display. Select the external monitor if more than one display is shown, then open Advanced display. Under the display information, use Choose a refresh rate and select the highest value available. Return to the main Display page and confirm that the display resolution is 3840×2160. If Windows offers 120Hz but not 144Hz, the dock is not automatically at fault: the host output, cable, monitor input or monitor firmware may define that ceiling.
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macOS
Open System Settings > Displays and select the monitor connected through the dock. Set the resolution to 3840×2160 when available, then choose the highest refresh-rate option shown by macOS. macOS may present a scaled-resolution choice rather than a literal pixel-mode list; use the display’s detailed options or hold the relevant option key where supported to reveal additional modes. The Mac must still provide DisplayPort Alt Mode over its USB-C connection.
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Android 14 or later is listed as supported, but display menus vary by manufacturer. Look under Settings > Connected devices, Display or a desktop/external-display section for resolution and refresh controls. Some Android devices mirror the internal panel at a fixed mode and do not expose a user-selectable 4K or 144Hz output even when the dock is connected. In that case, the device’s USB-C video implementation—not the HDMI cable—sets the available mode.
What “4K 144Hz” means on this dock
The DG310’s published ceiling is 3840×2160 at 144Hz. That is a maximum output capability, not a universal guarantee for every laptop, phone or monitor. ASUS states that the resolution and refresh rate actually obtained depend on the device’s output capability, the HDMI cable specification and what the TV or monitor supports. A compatible monitor may therefore run at 120Hz, 60Hz or another mode if any link cannot expose 144Hz.
The same specification lists 7680×4320 at 30Hz. That 8K mode is an alternative target, not a way to combine 8K and high refresh; selecting 8K necessarily changes the resolution-and-refresh trade-off. For gaming or desktop motion, 4K at the highest stable refresh rate is the relevant configuration.
| Desired result | Conditions to verify | What can reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| 3840×2160 at 144Hz | Host USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode with sufficient output capability; dock HDMI 2.1 output; Ultra High Speed HDMI cable; monitor HDMI 2.1 input and a 144Hz-capable 4K mode. | Host’s maximum external-display mode, monitor input limit, cable specification, monitor settings or firmware. |
| 3840×2160 at 120Hz | The same signal path, with a monitor or host that exposes 120Hz. | A device that does not offer 144Hz even though the monitor can accept it. |
| 3840×2160 at 60Hz | Basic HDMI display operation. | USB-C port without DisplayPort Alt Mode, a lower-specification cable or input, an unenabled monitor high-bandwidth mode, or a host that limits output. |
| 7680×4320 at 30Hz | A host, cable and monitor chain that supports the dock’s listed 8K mode. | Any component that lacks 8K support; this mode is not a high-refresh 4K setting. |
Why a monitor may be stuck at 60Hz
1. The host USB-C port carries data but not video
Many USB-C ports support charging and USB data without DisplayPort Alt Mode. If the port lacks Alt Mode, the dock cannot receive a native display signal, regardless of the monitor’s HDMI rating. Move the fixed upstream cable to a documented video-capable port or use a host that supports the required standard.
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2. The cable is not an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable
For the dock’s high-refresh HDMI output, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. A cable that physically fits may still be rated for an older HDMI bandwidth and can limit the available modes. Cable length and construction also affect signal reliability; use a properly certified cable of the shortest practical length rather than adding couplers or extensions.
3. The monitor input is the limiting port
Some monitors provide different capabilities on different HDMI inputs. Check the monitor manual and connect to the HDMI 2.1 input, not an HDMI 2.0 or service-only port. If the monitor’s specification lists 4K at 120Hz but not 144Hz over HDMI, 120Hz may be the correct maximum even with the DG310.
4. The monitor’s enhanced mode is disabled
Manufacturers often ship HDMI inputs in compatibility mode. Open the on-screen display and enable the setting named HDMI 2.1, enhanced format, high bandwidth, overclock, high refresh or a similar term. Enable HDR or VRR separately if you need those features; turning them on can change which combinations of resolution and refresh the display exposes.
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After connecting or waking the system, the operating system may remain at 60Hz. Revisit the display settings and select the external panel explicitly. If the high-refresh option is absent, power-cycle the monitor and dock, reconnect the upstream cable, and check the chain again rather than forcing an unsupported custom mode.
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6. The host itself cannot output 4K at 144Hz
The dock cannot increase the video capability of the computer or tablet. A host may expose only 4K at 60Hz through its USB-C port, or it may reserve bandwidth for another function. ASUS identifies the host, cable and monitor capabilities as the governing constraints, so a 60Hz result can be expected behavior rather than a defective dock.
A systematic 60Hz troubleshooting sequence
Follow this order so that each test removes one possible bottleneck:
- Verify in the host’s specifications that the exact USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery.
- Disconnect adapters and hubs, then plug the DG310’s fixed upstream cable directly into that port.
- Confirm the HDMI cable is Ultra High Speed certified and firmly seated at both ends.
- Move the cable to the monitor’s HDMI 2.1 input and select that input in the monitor source menu.
- Open the monitor on-screen display and enable its high-bandwidth or HDMI 2.1 mode.
- Turn the monitor off and on, or remove power briefly, so it renegotiates the signal after the mode change.
- In the host display settings, select the external monitor, choose 3840×2160 and inspect every available refresh rate.
- If 144Hz remains unavailable, test the monitor directly from a video-capable host output if possible. A direct connection that is also limited identifies the host or monitor as the constraint; a direct 144Hz result points back to the dock path, cable seating or input selection.
HDR, VRR and ALLM
The dock can carry HDR, VRR and ALLM when all three parts of the chain support them: the host must generate the feature, the HDMI link must have adequate capability, and the monitor must accept and expose it on the selected input. Enable each feature in the monitor’s on-screen display and then in the host or game settings where applicable. These options are independent of simply selecting 4K, so a display can run at 4K 144Hz while HDR or VRR remains disabled.
Changing HDR or VRR settings can make the operating system renegotiate the signal and temporarily return to a safe refresh rate. Recheck the refresh selection after applying such changes. If a feature disappears, first confirm that the monitor’s HDMI 2.1 mode is still enabled and that the host has not switched to a different display profile.
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Power and charging through the dock
The DG310’s PD-in connector is for power input; it is separate from the fixed upstream USB-C cable that carries the host connection. Because no charger is included, supply your own USB-C PD charger when you want charging while the monitor is connected. ASUS recommends 100W or higher for the dock’s full 80W passthrough rating. That recommendation describes the charger’s rating, not a promise that every host will draw 80W: the computer negotiates the power it is designed to accept, and the dock’s peripherals also consume part of the input.
For charger selection, check these properties rather than wattage alone:
- USB-C Power Delivery support, not merely a high total wattage printed on the package.
- A 100W-or-higher output rating on the USB-C port used for the dock.
- Voltage and current profiles compatible with the host.
- Enough thermal capacity to sustain the output while the display and USB devices are active.
- Additional ports only if their power-sharing behavior still leaves the dock’s port at the required rating.
If the host reports slow charging or continues to discharge under load, verify the charger’s negotiated output, disconnect unnecessary high-draw USB devices and check the computer manufacturer’s power requirement. Video operation can continue even when charging is insufficient for full-performance operation.
Choosing the HDMI cable and monitor
| Buying criterion | Why it matters for the DG310 | What to confirm before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI rating | The cable is part of the signal path to the dock’s HDMI 2.1 output. | Ultra High Speed HDMI certification and a clearly stated bandwidth appropriate to the desired mode. |
| 4K refresh support | Some displays stop at 120Hz even though the dock can output a higher mode. | The monitor’s specification for 3840×2160 over its specific HDMI input: 120Hz, 144Hz or another value. |
| VRR and HDR | These features require support throughout the chain. | Whether the monitor exposes VRR, HDR and, where relevant, ALLM through HDMI 2.1. |
| Input compatibility | A monitor may have mixed HDMI input capabilities. | Which physical input is HDMI 2.1 and whether an enhanced mode must be enabled. |
| Cable length and certification | Longer or poorly made cables can cause link errors or fallback modes. | The shortest practical certified cable, with no unnecessary couplers or extensions. |
| Charger | The dock does not include one and uses USB-C PD for passthrough. | A 100W-or-higher USB-C PD port, suitable voltage profiles and adequate thermal design. |
Single-display and compatibility limits
The DG310 has one HDMI output, so its supported configuration is one external monitor at a time. It is not a multi-monitor dock through that connector. A laptop can still use its built-in panel if the operating system supports that arrangement, but the dock itself provides only one external HDMI display path.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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Support is listed for Windows 11 or later, macOS 12.3 or later and Android 14 or later. “Supported” does not mean that every device running one of those versions has the same USB-C video hardware. Confirm the exact model’s DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery capabilities, especially on phones, tablets and entry-level laptops.
When to choose 120Hz instead of chasing 144Hz
Use 120Hz when it is the highest mode jointly offered by the host and monitor. The difference between 120Hz and 144Hz is meaningful only when the host can render or present frames at the higher rate and the monitor is specified for it. A stable 4K 120Hz signal with working HDR or VRR is preferable to an unstable mode that drops frames, loses sync or repeatedly renegotiates.
Likewise, do not select 8K simply because it is listed in the dock specification. The listed 8K mode is 30Hz, so it serves a different purpose from a smooth 4K gaming or productivity setup.
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The product release date cited by ASUS Store Japan is October 16, 2026. Availability, bundled accessories and regional documentation can differ by market, so check the materials supplied with the unit purchased in your region. The connection procedure above follows the dock capabilities and support information current to the 2026 specifications and support FAQ.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
