Easiest Way On How to Set Up 144Hz Monitor

You have just brought a new 144Hz monitor for gaming and are excited to use it, right? Well, a 144Hz monitor is undoubtedly the new sensation in the gaming market. It is known to offer a faster refresh rate for smoother visuals. To enjoy them, it is vital to know how to set up a 144Hz monitor.

Such a monitor offers a refresh rate of 144Hz. Well, you may have even plugged it to start using it. However, that is not all to its setup. This is because although it may be working fine, it may not be doing so at its promoted refresh rate.

You can check this out in the system settings. If it is not so, you will have to set it to that rate. So, read on to know how to set the marketed refreshed rate.

Setting Your Monitor to 144Hz

It is obvious for you to ensure that the new monitor works at the specified rate instead of a lower one such as 60Hz or 120Hz. For this, perform the following steps on Windows 10:

1. On Windows 10 PC, navigate to Settings and select System.
2. Locate and select the Display option from the left panel.
3. Locate and select Advanced Display Settings from the right panel. The Display Adapter Properties dialog box is displayed.
4. Select the Monitor tab.
5. Check the value selected in the Screen refresh rate field. If it is not 144Hz, continue with the next step.
6. Select 144 Hertz from the drop-down Screen refresh rate field.
7. Click Apply and OK. You have set the screen refresh rate to 144Hz.

If you have Windows 7 or Windows 8, perform the following steps, as they are a bit different.

1. Right-click desktop and select Screen Resolution from the context menu. The Screen Resolution window is displayed.
2. Select your monitor in case you have more than one monitor in use.
3. Click the Advanced settings link.
4. Select the Monitor tab. The remaining steps are the same as above from Step 5.

If you do not see the 144 Hertz option in the drop-down field, it indicates that the problem is somewhere else. In short, there is more you need to check or do. For example, the issue can be with the cables in use.

Checking the Cables

For a high refresh rate of 144Hz, just any old cable will not do. A few monitors may support DisplayPort as well as HDMI connections. If you are using the HDMI cable and the corresponding port, ensure that you use only a high-speed cable.

It is unwise to use an older or a standard HDMI cable, as it is less likely to support high refresh rates. There is no need of having an HDMI cable with the support for Ethernet.

However, when connected using an HDML cable, it is likely to support a restricted refresh rate of up to 60Hz. If this is what is happening with you, it is time to try using a DisplayPort cable.

For utilizing DisplayPort, make sure to use an authentic cable, a cable that is certified and built as per the standard DisplayPort specifications. A well-manufactured, legitimate cable for DisplayPort 1.2 works fine in most cases. It also works well with DisplayPort 1.4.

However, the market is filled with many cables of poor quality. If you have one such cable for DisplayPort 1.2, it is less likely to function well with DisplayPort 1.4.

Apart from these cables, the market is also filled with some Reduced Bit Rate (RBR) cables for DisplayPort. These cables support a resolution of only 1080p. Thus, having one of them is also futile for a 144Hz monitor.

You should check the specifications of your monitor to know that you are using the right cable. If you have a doubt and cannot verify the authenticity of the cable you are using, it is wise to use the cable that came with your 144Hz monitor. To know how to set it, go through the setup guide.

Unfortunately, the cable included with the monitor may not be good enough. If not brought from a reliable store, you may end up getting a low-quality cable or not a genuine 144Hz monitor.

According to howtogeek.com, the cable included an ASUS monitor failed to render a stable signal at 144Hz. This resulted in the occasional flickering of the screen and that the refresh rate fell to 60Hz until a reboot.

Last but not least, ensure that the cables are tightly as well as securely connected. In case of any issue, consider unplugging and then re-plugging the cable to ensure a solid connection. Many times, a loose connection is the cause of display issues.

If there is no DisplayPort or the DVI-D port, the refresh rate of 144Hz will not be available as an option. In short, there is no need to bother about the type of cable. Just inspect the port and the cable itself!

Looking for Other Causes

Apart from the improper cable and invalid settings, some more issues can cause the monitor to not work at its targeted refresh rate. Let’s take a look at them.

• An insufficient or inefficient GPU. It is a fact that obsolete integrated graphics will not support the refresh rate of 144Hz. So, you should ensure that the graphics card supports this rate.
• Obsolete graphics drivers. It is essential to install the latest drivers from the brand’s official website.
• Lower resolution. You should not run a 144Hz monitor at a lower resolution if you want the desired refresh rate. As a rule of thumb, the lower the resolution, the lower shall be the refresh rate and vice-versa. Thus, you should run the computer to use for the monitor’s native resolution.
• Integrated settings of the game you are playing. Some games come with their own graphics settings. For these games, it is necessary to select the refresh rate and native resolution of your monitor from the graphics options menu.

Conclusion

The answer to how to set up a 144Hz monitor is to ensure that its native resolution and specified refresh rate are set. You may have to check the cable connection in use and ensure that it is a supporting one.