4K 30Hz vs 4K 60Hz? Is Your Current Video Adapter Living in the Past?

We have come a long way since the first camera phone that was capable of taking videos. The quality was awful for sure, but it was the start of a whole world of technology leading up to this moment. If you need to output video content from your phone, tablet or laptop onto an external monitor, you may be at a loss for how to make the connections.

In this article, we discuss what 4K30 vs 4K60 in FPS and Hz mean, and how you can ensure your video picture quality remains amazing when outputting video content to a 4K monitor.

Frames per Second vs. Refresh Rate

By now, we all know that 4K resolutions means that the monitor’s horizontal side has 4,096 pixels, although those with 3,820 pixels are still considered 4K. However, the refresh rate (expressed in Hz) and frames per second (FPS) introduce yet another aspect of video quality to be considered.

Frames

A frame is a single still image. Video is essentially a collection of still images shown in rapid succession. The more frames taken per second, the greater the quality of the video. Frame rate, therefore, is the number of still images the device captures each second. This is based on the quality of the camera, computer, tablet or any other originating device.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is a quality of the monitor or display, and refers to the number of times the screen is redrawn when it receives information. If you have a refresh rate of 4K30 vs 4K60 Hz, it means your display can redraw the entire screen 30 and 60 times per second respectively. More powerful displays have higher refresh rates.

How It Comes Together

So, how do these two concepts work together to give picture quality? The FPS of the originating device, such as a computer, does not affect the refresh rate of the display/monitor – the latter is a quality the monitor has from its manufacture.

However, if your computer has a higher FPS than the refresh rate of the monitor, the monitor will miss some of the frames being put out. Therefore, the picture quality is capped by the refresh rate of the monitor (4K30 vs 4K60), no matter how good your computer or originating device is.

Now, the hardware that supports high frame rates and refresh rates don’t come cheap. This is why it becomes vital to ensure that you’re investing in the right connectors. For example, the Surface Pro 4 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter is designed to handle high-bandwidth tasks while maintaining sleek connectivity.

Video Adapters Are Not Created Equal

Now that you understand how frame rates and refresh rates affect picture quality, it’s time to consider your choice of an adapter. The latest graphics cards on computers have made it possible to run video output at a 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution. But different adapters will render the output differently.

If you are using a Surface device, the Surface Pro 3 | 4 in 1 Adapter provides a reliable way to expand your ports and maintain high-quality video output.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort is the best choice for connecting a computer to a monitor/display for video output. DisplayPort 1.2, the older version, was capable of 4K at 60Hz. Even with the old DisplayPort, you can guarantee the transmission of the best video quality at 4K30 vs 4K60 Hz.

Conclusion

Now you know what to look for when buying your next video adapter. Most of the 4K displays in the market right now are capable of 4K30 vs 4K60 Hz, but you can’t take full advantage of the latter unless you upgrade your video adapters to meet the 60Hz threshold. For the ultimate USB-C solution, the NovaHUB offers 4K@60Hz support directly, making it the perfect companion for modern laptops.