# \[SOLVED\] 12th Gen - External USB-C 4k monitor - Poor performance **URL:** \ **Category:** Linux\ **Created:** [February 15, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283 "2023-02-15T18:23:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NegatedVoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NegatedVoid](https://community.frame.work/u/NegatedVoid)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/1 "2023-02-15T18:23:57Z")
I’m using a 4k monitor over usb-c with my 12th gen DIY edition, and Gentoo Linux. I’m using the `modesetting` X11 driver with Glamor acceleration. Linux 6.1.10, with a hand-built kernel config. Basically, graphics performance really lags when using this external monitor. Things like browsing the web. Graphics performance is snappy without the external monitor. I don’t see any particular errors or warnings in dmesg or Xorg.0.log, Any suggestions? Should I expect this to work better? ---
**Author:** ![Anachron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Anachron](https://community.frame.work/u/Anachron)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/2 "2023-02-15T18:50:15Z")
Hello, you’re missing two critical pieces of information here: - Does this also happen on the stock kernel? - Where is your modified kernel config? Without there is nothing we can do to help you. ---
**Author:** ![NegatedVoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NegatedVoid](https://community.frame.work/u/NegatedVoid)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/3 "2023-02-15T19:19:33Z")
Here’s my kernel config: [MicroBin](https://microbin.murph.land/pasta/mole-otter-whale) There isn’t really a stock kernel for this distro. Is there any recommended list of kernel modules/features for Framework laptops? I mostly worked off of the suggestions on [this wiki page](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Framework_Laptop#Kernel). then added things as I ran into them. ---
**Author:** ![nadb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/nadb/32/12102_2.png) [@nadb](https://community.frame.work/u/nadb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/4 "2023-02-15T19:24:07Z")
I have had similar experiences with a bad cord. Have you tried swapping it out…before you go down the software rabbit hole? ---
**Author:** ![WolfgangBlub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@WolfgangBlub](https://community.frame.work/u/WolfgangBlub)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/5 "2023-02-15T19:36:00Z")
It’s probably running on 30Hz. For some reason that always lags, in my experience, even on dedicated cards on desktop. Can you check? Perhaps try with the display port adapter or a different cable or something? I haven’t managed to get 60fps over USB-C on my 4k screen either, but I rarely use it and never bothered to check what the problem is there, and yes, it lags on the laptop while only letting me choose 30Hz, and if I explicitly choose 30 on the desktop it also lags behind but is perfectly fine on 60. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Hartley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/matt_hartley/32/13623_2.png) [@Matt\_Hartley](https://community.frame.work/u/Matt_Hartley)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/6 "2023-02-15T19:41:38Z")
I’d check the following: - Refresh rate, is it set correctly? - This is a direct connection (no docks or adapters) to the display? - I’d test this with Display Port or HDMI for a better experience. I’ve used USB-C successfully in the past, but it can be hit and miss. ---
**Author:** ![NegatedVoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NegatedVoid](https://community.frame.work/u/NegatedVoid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/7 "2023-03-14T17:38:21Z")
Sorry, took a while to get a DP adapter. - Both DP and USB-C seem to be running at 60hz and perform similarly. - No docks or adapters - Tried another cable without change I did get some performance benefit in chrome by setting up VA-API but overall performance remains poor ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Hartley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/matt_hartley/32/13623_2.png) [@Matt\_Hartley](https://community.frame.work/u/Matt_Hartley)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/8 "2023-03-15T00:36:33Z")
> [@NegatedVoid](#): > > I did get some performance benefit in chrome by setting up VA-API but overall performance remains poor Let’s start off with the output of xrandr. Also, what types of performance issues are you experiencing? - Which are applications are open? - Which specific changes made? - What type of lag are you experiencing? ---
**Author:** ![NegatedVoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NegatedVoid](https://community.frame.work/u/NegatedVoid)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/9 "2023-04-12T23:10:14Z")
Sorry for the slow responses. After some debugging … it turns out that I was having an issue with excessive CPU throttling that was fixed with the 3.0.6 BIOS update ([[IN-TICKET] 12th gen - excessive CPU throttling on Linux - Can't get above 46c and pegs to 400mhz under load - #2 by NegatedVoid](http://community.frame.work/t/in-ticket-12th-gen-excessive-cpu-throttling-on-linux-cant-get-above-46c-and-pegs-to-400mhz-under-load/29343/2)). Now, the 4k external over usb-c … is working great. I guess powering the larger resolution just tended to push the mainboard harder and it was probably throttling inappropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Hartley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/matt_hartley/32/13623_2.png) [@Matt\_Hartley](https://community.frame.work/u/Matt_Hartley)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-12th-gen-external-usb-c-4k-monitor-poor-performance/27283/10 "2023-04-13T18:04:38Z")
Delighted this has been resolved with the update! 🙂 Thanks for the update.