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To run a 4K monitor from the ROG Bulwark Dock DG310, connect the dock’s fixed USB-C upstream cable to a host USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery, then connect the dock’s HDMI 2.1 output to the monitor’s HDMI 2.1 input with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Select 3840×2160 in the host’s display settings and choose the highest refresh rate offered. The dock is rated for up to 3840×2160 at 144Hz, but the host device, monitor, HDMI cable and monitor settings can reduce that result.
The DG310 has one external-display output, so it is a single-monitor dock. For simultaneous charging, connect a USB-C Power Delivery charger to the dock’s PD-in port; no charger is included, and ASUS recommends a 100W-or-higher charger to achieve the dock’s full 80W passthrough.
DG310 4K connection requirements at a glance
| Item | What you need | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Host connection | The dock’s fixed USB-C upstream cable plugged into a host USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery | DisplayPort Alt Mode carries the video signal; USB Power Delivery enables the dock’s charging function |
| Video output | The dock’s single HDMI 2.1 output | This is the DG310 port intended for the external monitor |
| HDMI cable | Ultra High Speed HDMI cable | The cable specification is one of the limits on resolution and refresh rate |
| Monitor input | HDMI 2.1 input for a 4K high-refresh target | A monitor with only an older HDMI input may expose lower modes |
| Maximum published mode | 3840×2160 at 144Hz | This is the dock’s rated 4K ceiling, not a universal guarantee for every host and monitor |
| Alternative maximum | 7680×4320 at 30Hz | 8K output is available at 30Hz, but it is not a 4K high-refresh mode |
| Charging | USB-C PD charger rated at 100W or higher | ASUS recommends this rating for the dock’s full 80W passthrough |
| Supported operating systems | Windows 11 or later, macOS 12.3 or later, and Android 14 or later | These are the operating-system versions listed by ASUS for the DG310 |
ASUS lists these capabilities in the ROG Bulwark Dock DG310 technical specifications and support FAQ. The FAQ was updated on September 14, 2026; the product release date listed by ASUS Store Japan is October 16, 2026.
Connect the dock and monitor
1. Confirm the host USB-C port before plugging in
Look at the computer, tablet or phone specifications for both DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery support. A USB-C connector by itself does not establish either capability. If the host port lacks DisplayPort Alt Mode, the dock cannot receive a video signal through its upstream cable, even though USB peripherals may still work. If it lacks USB Power Delivery, video capability may still depend on the device design, but the charging behavior described for the DG310 should not be expected.
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Use the host port identified by the manufacturer as supporting display output. On a computer with several USB-C ports, do not assume that every port has the same video capability. Disconnect other USB-C display adapters while testing so that the host’s display-output limits are clear.
2. Connect the fixed upstream cable
- Leave the monitor turned off or in standby while making the connections.
- Plug the DG310’s permanently attached USB-C upstream cable into the compatible host USB-C port.
- Seat the connector fully. A partially inserted USB-C plug can provide power or USB data while failing to establish a stable display link.
The DG310 is designed around a one-cable host connection. There is no separate video cable from the computer to the dock; the fixed upstream USB-C cable is the host video path.
3. Connect the HDMI 2.1 display path
- Plug an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable into the DG310’s HDMI 2.1 output.
- Plug the other end into the monitor’s HDMI 2.1 input. Use the input marked HDMI 2.1 when the monitor has several HDMI sockets.
- Turn on the monitor and choose that HDMI input with the monitor’s input selector.
The dock has one HDMI output, so it can drive one external monitor at a time. A second monitor cannot be added through another video output on the DG310 because no second display output is provided.
4. Add power when you need charging
- Connect a USB-C PD charger to the dock’s PD-in port.
- For the dock’s full published 80W passthrough, use a charger rated at 100W or higher, as ASUS recommends.
- Allow the host and dock to negotiate power before judging charging performance.
The charger is not included with the dock. A charger with a lower rating may still power some setups, but it does not meet ASUS’s recommendation for the full 80W passthrough. The actual power available to the host can also be affected by the dock’s own operating load and the host’s charging policy.
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Set 3840×2160 and the highest available refresh rate
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Go to System, then Display.
- Select the external monitor if more than one display is shown.
- Under the display-resolution control, choose 3840×2160.
- Open Advanced display for that monitor.
- Use the refresh-rate selector and choose the highest value offered, up to 144Hz.
If 144Hz is not listed, do not force an unsupported mode. The missing option indicates that at least one part of the host, cable, monitor input or monitor configuration is advertising a lower maximum.
macOS
- Open System Settings and select Displays.
- Choose the external monitor in the display list.
- Set the resolution to a scaled option that reports 3840×2160 when the full-resolution choices are shown.
- Open the refresh-rate control and select the highest available rate.
macOS labels and display controls can vary by release. The DG310 is listed for macOS 12.3 or later, but the monitor still has to advertise the desired 4K refresh mode to the Mac.
Android 14 or later
Android display menus differ by device maker. Open the connected-display or external-display controls, select the DG310-connected monitor, choose 3840×2160 if offered, and select the highest available refresh rate. The DG310’s listed Android support starts at Android 14; the phone or tablet must also implement USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode.
Enable the monitor’s high-bandwidth features
HDMI 2.1 or enhanced HDMI mode
Some monitors ship with a compatibility mode that limits an HDMI input until an enhanced, high-bandwidth or HDMI 2.1 option is enabled in the on-screen display. Open the monitor menu, inspect the HDMI input settings, and enable the mode that permits the monitor’s full 4K refresh capability. The exact label differs by monitor, so use the model’s own menu description rather than assuming every display calls it the same thing.
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HDR
Enable HDR in the monitor’s on-screen controls when the monitor provides a separate HDR switch, then enable HDR in the host operating system. HDR support is conditional: the dock can pass HDR when the host, HDMI cable and monitor all support and expose it. Turning on an HDR toggle cannot create HDR capability that is absent from one of those components.
Variable refresh rate
VRR can reduce tearing by allowing the monitor to vary its refresh timing. Turn on the monitor’s VRR or adaptive-sync control if present, then enable the corresponding VRR option in the host’s display or graphics settings. The DG310 supports VRR when the host, cable and monitor support and expose it; the feature is not guaranteed solely by connecting the dock.
ALLM
ALLM, or automatic low-latency mode, is another conditional feature. If the monitor and host expose ALLM controls, enable them in the monitor and host as appropriate. The dock can carry ALLM when the complete chain supports it, but ALLM is separate from selecting 4K resolution and 144Hz.
What determines whether 4K reaches 144Hz?
The dock’s HDMI output is rated for 3840×2160 at 144Hz, but that rating describes the dock’s maximum output capability. ASUS explicitly states that the resolution and refresh rate you actually receive depend on the device’s output capability, the HDMI cable specification and what the TV or monitor supports. The practical result is the lowest ceiling in the chain.
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| Link component | Check | Effect of a limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Host USB-C port | DisplayPort Alt Mode and the host’s supported external-display modes | The dock may show no image, a lower resolution or a lower refresh rate |
| DG310 upstream connection | Fixed cable fully inserted into the correct host port | An unstable or incomplete link can prevent high modes from being advertised |
| Dock output | Use the DG310 HDMI 2.1 output | The dock provides only one external-display output |
| HDMI cable | Ultra High Speed rating and a length suitable for the installation | An inadequate cable can cap the mode or cause dropouts |
| Monitor input | HDMI 2.1 input, not merely a lower-specification socket | The monitor may expose only lower refresh rates |
| Monitor firmware and menu | Enhanced HDMI, high-refresh, HDR and VRR settings where applicable | Compatibility defaults can hide the monitor’s fastest mode |
| Operating-system setting | 3840×2160 resolution and the highest listed refresh rate | The display can remain at 60Hz even when the hardware supports more |
Troubleshoot a monitor that is stuck at 60Hz
Work through the signal chain in order. Change one item at a time so you know which correction restored the higher mode.
Check the host port first
Verify the exact USB-C port specification in the host’s documentation. It must support DisplayPort Alt Mode. If the device has multiple USB-C ports, move the fixed DG310 cable to the port identified for display output and reconnect the monitor.
Check the physical path
- Unplug and firmly reconnect the fixed upstream cable at the host.
- Confirm the HDMI cable is in the DG310’s HDMI 2.1 output, not a USB-C or charging port.
- Confirm the other end is in the monitor’s HDMI 2.1 input.
- Replace any cable whose rating is unknown with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Power-cycle the monitor and the host after changing the cable.
Check the monitor’s input mode
Open the monitor’s on-screen display and look for an enhanced, high-bandwidth or HDMI 2.1 option. Also check whether a console-compatibility or legacy mode is limiting the input. Enable the monitor’s 4K high-refresh mode, then return to the operating system and reopen the advanced display settings.
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Select the external display explicitly, set 3840×2160, and inspect the refresh-rate list again. If the list contains 120Hz but not 144Hz, the chain is functioning but one component is advertising 120Hz as its maximum. If it contains only 60Hz, continue checking the host capability, monitor input and cable rather than repeatedly changing software settings.
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Interpret a persistent 60Hz limit
If 144Hz still does not appear after every connection and setting is correct, the monitor or host may support only a lower mode even though the DG310 output is rated for 4K/144Hz. ASUS does not publish a universal guarantee that every host and monitor combination will expose 144Hz. In that situation, use the highest stable mode offered by the complete system.
Choosing a replacement HDMI cable
The cable is part of the display specification, not an accessory that can be evaluated independently of the target mode. For a 4K high-refresh connection, compare cables using these criteria:
- Ultra High Speed certification or rating: Choose a cable identified for the bandwidth required by HDMI 2.1-class operation.
- 4K refresh support: Check whether the cable listing explicitly supports 4K at 120Hz or 144Hz. A cable advertised only for 4K at 60Hz is not the right evidence for a 144Hz target.
- Length: Use the shortest length that reaches comfortably. Longer runs can be more sensitive to installation quality and signal integrity.
- Connector fit: Make sure both plugs seat fully in the dock and monitor without strain.
- Feature support: If you need HDR or VRR, confirm that the cable is specified for the same HDMI 2.1-class use; the cable alone cannot add those features if the host or monitor lacks them.
- Price: Compare the stated rating and certification rather than paying for a premium label without a documented mode.
Choosing a USB-C PD charger for the dock
Because the DG310 ships without a charger, select a USB-C PD model rated at 100W or higher if you want to meet ASUS’s recommendation for full 80W passthrough. Compare the following specifications before buying:
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| Charger specification | What to verify |
|---|---|
| PD output | At least 100W on the USB-C port connected to the dock |
| Port allocation | The advertised wattage remains available on the port you will use, rather than requiring every port to be unused |
| Voltage profiles | The charger supports USB PD profiles accepted by the dock and host |
| Thermal design | The charger can sustain its rating without excessive heat in the intended installation |
| Cable | Use a USB-C cable rated for the charger’s power level; a low-rated cable can become the limiting component |
A 100W rating is the charger’s capability, not a promise that the host will always draw 80W. The dock, host battery state and system power policy determine the negotiated result.
4K/144Hz versus 8K/30Hz
The DG310 specification lists two different single-display targets: 3840×2160 at 144Hz and 7680×4320 at 30Hz. Choose the first when smooth motion and gaming responsiveness are the priority. Choose the second only when the monitor supports 8K and a 30Hz refresh rate is acceptable. Selecting 8K does not preserve the 4K/144Hz behavior at a higher resolution; it is a separate mode with a much lower refresh rate.
Verify the finished setup
- Confirm the host USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery.
- Confirm the DG310 fixed upstream cable is fully inserted.
- Confirm the monitor is connected to the dock’s HDMI 2.1 output with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Confirm the monitor is set to the correct HDMI input and enhanced/high-bandwidth mode.
- Confirm the operating system reports 3840×2160 for the external monitor.
- Confirm the selected refresh rate is the highest stable value offered, up to 144Hz.
- If required, enable HDR and VRR on both the monitor and host.
- If charging is needed, confirm a USB-C PD charger is connected to PD-in; use 100W or higher for ASUS’s recommended full-passthrough setup.
A successful 4K/144Hz result means every part of the chain advertises and sustains that mode. The DG310 provides the HDMI 2.1 output capability, but it cannot override a host, cable or monitor that supports only a lower resolution or refresh rate.
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