My 144Hz Monitor is Only Showing 60Hz (Fix)

Having a high refresh rate 144Hz gaming monitor, but it’s only showing 60Hz?

Don’t worry; this issue can be easily fixed with a few simple steps.

A 144Hz monitor allows frames to display 144 times per second, resulting in much smoother gameplay.

But if it’s not running at 144Hz, you won’t experience that buttery smooth performance.

In this article, I’ll explain why your 144Hz monitor shows 60Hz and how to change the settings to get it running at its full potential.

Quick Answer:

To fix a 144Hz monitor displaying only 60Hz, ensure you’re using a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 cable and adjust the refresh rate settings in your operating system’s display settings.

Why is My 144Hz Monitor Showing 60Hz?

There are a few common reasons why your 144Hz monitor may not be displaying the proper 144Hz refresh rate:

1. Incorrect Display Settings

The most likely culprit is incorrect display settings.

To work correctly, your graphics card control panel and monitor settings must be set to 144Hz.

If either is set to 60Hz, it will limit the refresh rate to 60Hz.

2. Using the Wrong Cable

Not every cable support 144hz refresh rates.

You need a Dual-Link DVI, DisplayPort, or HDMI 1.4 cable to get 144Hz.

Lower-quality cables like VGA and HDMI 1.3 can only support up to 60Hz refresh rates.

Using the wrong cable is a widespread mistake.

3. Game Settings Capped at 60 FPS

Some games have a default in-game frame rate cap set to 60 FPS.

You’ll need to go into the game’s graphics settings and increase the frame rate cap to utilize your monitor’s 144Hz refresh rate fully.

How to Make a 144Hz Monitor Display 144Hz

Follow these steps to get your 144Hz monitor running at its native refresh rate:

1. Set Monitor to 144Hz

Use the monitor’s on-screen display menu to change the refresh rate to 144Hz.

This is usually under a setting called “Max Refresh Rate”, “Refresh Rate”, or something similar.

Refer to your monitor’s manual if you are unsure how to do this.

2. Set 144Hz in Graphics Card Control Panel

Go into your Nvidia/AMD graphics card settings and make sure the refresh rate is also set to 144Hz.

For Nvidia cards, go to the Change Resolution page and select the 144Hz option for your monitor.

For AMD, go to Display > Specs and choose 144Hz.

3. Use a Compatible Cable

To get 144Hz, you need to use a Dual-Link DVI, DisplayPort 1.2, or HDMI 1.4 cable.

Lower-quality cables like VGA and HDMI 1.3 can only handle up to 60Hz.

DisplayPort or Dual-Link DVI are recommended for best performance.

4. Disable V-Sync and Frame Rate Limits

Turn off V-Sync and any frame rate limiters in your games.

V-Sync caps frames at your monitor’s refresh rate for smoother visuals but can interfere with high refresh rates.

Disabling these settings allows games to render as many frames as possible.

5. Restart Your PC and Monitor

After making the above changes, restart your computer and monitor.

This will reload all the settings correctly and allow your monitor to display 144Hz.

Following these troubleshooting steps will get your high refresh rate monitor running smoothly at 144Hz in no time.

Just be patient and double-check each setting.

Once it’s up and running, enjoy an incredibly fluid and responsive gaming experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1: Why do I need a 144Hz monitor?

Ans: A 144Hz monitor displays 144 frames per second, resulting in much smoother animations and camera movement than standard 60Hz monitors.

It’s highly beneficial for gaming, incredibly fast-paced FPS titles where visual fluidity gives a competitive advantage.

Ques 2: What cable do I need for 144Hz?

Ans: To get 144Hz, you need a good quality cable like DisplayPort, Dual Link DVI, or HDMI 1.4.

Older cables like VGA and HDMI 1.3 can only handle up to 60Hz.

Ques 3: How do I know if it’s working at 144Hz?

Ans: Check your monitor’s on-screen display to verify the refresh rate.

Various diagnostic programs will tell you the active refresh rate.

Or you can check for yourself – 144Hz looks more smooth than 60Hz.

Ques 4: Why does 144Hz require so much troubleshooting?

Ans: 144Hz requires you to enable it in the monitor settings manually, graphics card control panel, and games, and use a compatible cable.

There are a lot of potential points of failure. But once correctly set up, it will continue to work at 144Hz with no issues.

Ques 5: Ques Do I need a powerful GPU for 144Hz?

Ans: You’ll need a powerful gaming GPU to fully utilise a high refresh rate for maximum game frame rates.

For 1080p 144Hz, cards like the RTX 2070 or RX 5700 and above are recommended.

For 1440p 144Hz and higher, you’ll want an RTX 3070/RX 6800 or better.