When you plug in your brand new 144Hz monitor, it feels like you’re dragging your mouse across ice – the response time is so high, it’s almost jarring. But then it suddenly drops back to 60Hz and feels the same as every other monitor you’ve used before. The question becomes: why?
In this guide, I cover why this happens, how you can make it happen even less, and what to do if you think your monitor isn’t actually capable of running at 144hz. Let’s Get Started!
Why Is My 144Hz Monitor Running at 60hz?
Most 144hz monitors refresh at 60hz by default. This is because they’re designed to be used with a 60hz refresh rate. Some monitors can refresh at 144hz, but not all of them. For example, the BenQ XL2546 can run at 240hz, whereas the BenQ XL2540 can only run at 144hz in FreeSync mode.
There are a few reasons why your monitor might not be able to run at 144hz, including:
- You’re using a DisplayPort 1.2 connection.
- Your monitor doesn’t have a DisplayPort 1.2 input.
- You’re using a FreeSync monitor, and your PC is using G-Sync.
- The monitor is of an older model.
- The monitor has a broken or cracked display.
How to Make Your 144hz Monitor Run at 144hz?
Before we start, here is a quick video guide incase you are in a hurry
First, we’ll walk through the process of making your monitor run at 144hz if it’s capable of this. So, if your monitor can run at 144hz, but you’ve set it to run at 60hz, then go into the settings and change this to 144hz. Unfortunately, you can’t use DisplayPort 1.2 at 60hz, so you’ll need to select VGA or DVI.
If your monitor can run at 144hz, but you’re using a DisplayPort 1.2 connection at 60hz, then use a VGA or DVI connection instead. This will result in a 144hz refresh rate. If your monitor can’t run at 144hz, then we’ll need to look into why it can’t.
Fixing The 144hz Display Speed Problem
If your 144hz monitor is refreshing at 60hz, then there may be an issue with your computer. One of the first things you should do is check that your graphics card can actually support the monitor you’re using. It’s common for people to buy monitors with a refresh rate of 144hz, even though their graphics card can’t actually support it.
Next, ensure that your graphics card is properly connected to the monitor. You can do this by checking that the graphics card is connected to the monitor via either a DisplayPort or HDMI port. You should also check this by heading into Windows’ Display Settings.
Furthermore, ensure that no applications or viruses are interfering with the graphics card. Some antivirus applications might block the graphics card, causing problems with high refresh rates.
How Do I Convert 60Hz to 144Hz?
Your graphics card uses a refresh rate in Hertz, whereas your monitor will have its own Hz (referred to as refresh rate), which is most likely different. When converting from one set of Hertz (such as your graphics card) to another set of Hertz (such as your monitor), you must multiply by two.
In simpler terms, if you have a 75Hz monitor and you’re using a graphics card that runs at 75fps, use 120Hz instead. If you want an even higher frame rate, then simply multiply both values again by two until you get to whatever frame rate number you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does C Support 144Hz?
Yes. Every USB-C cable supports data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s, and all Type-C ports are compatible with HDMI 2.0, which supports resolutions of up to 4K (3840 × 2160).
The DisplayPort Alternate Mode standard that allows you to use a single port for display and data transmission over USB-C also supports much higher resolutions, including 1440p and 4K at 120 Hz.
Does DisplayPort Run 144Hz?
DisplayPort can run at several different speeds, ranging from 1.62Gbps up to 21.6Gbps. While DisplayPort’s higher speeds allow for faster refresh rates, they don’t necessarily make it possible for you to convert 60Hz into a rate that allows 144Hz.
This means you can’t just plug a 24 monitor into your computer with a DisplayPort cable and expect it to run at its optimal resolution of 1920 x 1080p and display frames-per-second (FPS) anywhere close to your desired 144 FP, you’ll need some kind of converter or scalar in order for that connection option to work correctly.
Does HDMI Limit FPS?
HDMI doesn’t have any limits on frame rates. However, since it is a digital signal rather than an analog one, a few extra considerations come into play when you start gaming at really high frame rates. These may include compatibility with your display and potential latency issues that arise from digital-to-analog conversion.
Generally speaking, however, high frame rate gaming over HDMI will work fine as long as you meet a couple of prerequisites. If you are looking for a gaming monitor, you should look at my dedicated article on it: Best Gaming Monitor.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand why your 144hz monitor is refreshing at 60hz and how you can make it refresh at 144hz. If you’re using a 144hz monitor and it’s refreshing at 60hz, then the first thing you should do is check that your computer can actually support the monitor. If not, you can upgrade your computer.
If your computer can support the monitor, then it’s likely that there’s an issue with your computer that’s causing the refresh rate to be reduced. Also, You should check that your graphics card is securely connected to the monitor and that no programs are blocking it.
