So you lot've purchased a monitor that offers a 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate and plugged it in–great! But don't terminate at that place. Your monitor may non really run at its advertised refresh rate until you modify some settings and sort out your hardware.

Set Your Refresh Rate in Windows

Near importantly, you lot'll desire to ensure Windows is actually set at the advertised refresh rate and not a lower refresh charge per unit, similar 60Hz.

On Windows x, caput to Settings > System > Display > Avant-garde Display Settings > Display Adapter Properties. Click the "Monitor" tab, cull your monitor'southward advertised refresh rate from the "Screen Refresh Rate" list, and click "OK".

On Windows 7 or 8, right-click the desktop and select "Screen Resolution". Select your monitor (if y'all take multiple monitors) and and so click the "Advanced Settings" link. Click the "Monitor" tab and choose the refresh rate from the "Screen Refresh Rate" box.

If you don't come across your monitor's advertised refresh rate in this list—or if you tin can't seem to go your monitor to stay configured at the advertised refresh rate—there'southward more you need to do.

Check Your Cables

Y'all can't just use any old cablevision and expect a high refresh rate. Some monitors may take both HDMI and DisplayPort connections, just may be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate when connected via HDMI. In this instance, you'd need to use a DisplayPort cable. Check your monitor'southward specifications or setup guide for more than data.

You don't just have to worry about the type of cablevision, either–yous have to worry nearly the cable itself.

If you're using DisplayPort, exist sure you have a properly certified cable that'south built to the DisplayPort specification. A properly manufactured, certified cablevision built for DisplayPort 1.2 should piece of work perfectly fine with DisplayPort 1.4. Unfortunately, there are a lot of poor quality cables out there, so a cable built and sold for DisplayPort 1.2 may not work with DisplayPort 1.4. There are besides a few Reduced Flake Rate (RBR) DisplayPort cables on the market that will only back up 1080p—merely make sure yous don't take one of those. Visit the official DisplayPort website for more information.

If you're using HDMI, you'll want to ensure you're using a "loftier speed" HDMI cablevision and not an older "standard" HDMI cable. However, you don't need an HDMI cable with Ethernet included. Visit the official HDMI website for more information.

When in doubt, employ the cablevision your monitor came with. It should piece of work–in theory. Unfortunately, inexpensive, low-quality cables can likewise cause problems. Your monitor's included cable might not even exist adept enough. We recently found that the included cable with an ASUS monitor couldn't provide a stable indicate at 144Hz. Instead, the screen would occasionally flicker and the refresh rate would drop down to 60Hz until we rebooted the computer. We replaced the cable with a college-quality Accell DisplayPort cable and the monitor operated fine at 144Hz without whatever flickering or refresh rate drops.

Every bit always, make sure your cables are securely continued. If you're experiencing a problem, try unplugging the cable and plugging information technology back in to ensure a solid connexion. A loose cablevision connection could cause problems.

More Troubleshooting Tips

RELATED: How to Update Your Graphics Drivers for Maximum Gaming Performance

Lots of other issues could cause your monitor to not function at its advertised refresh rate:

  • Your reckoner's GPU isn't good enough. Integrated graphics or older detached graphics might not back up your monitor'due south refresh rate. Be sure your graphics menu supports the monitor's resolution and refresh charge per unit.
  • Y'all need to update your graphics drivers. Be certain to install the latest available version from NVIDIA or AMD's website.
  • You're attempting to run your monitor at a lower resolution. Select your monitor's native resolution–it may but support the higher refresh rate at its native resolution and be express to 60Hz at lower resolutions.
  • You're playing a game and that game has its ain integrated graphics settings. You may need to select your monitor's native resolution and the refresh rate of 120Hz or 144Hz in each game's graphics options carte or that game may use a lower refresh charge per unit.

Hopefully, after going through these steps, you'll discover that your monitor runs in its butter-shine high refresh rate.

Image Credit: Lalneema