Windows 10: Dual monitor setup locks 144Hz monitor at 60Hz

I've been running a multi-monitor setup for a while now, with an ASUS VG248QE 144Hz monitor as my main, and one or more spare monitors as secondary displays. I've set the ASUS monitor to 144Hz without issue in the past, while the other monitors stay at 60Hz.

The other night, Windows wanted to update. I figured it was the usual patch session, so I let it do its thing. However, after restarting my computer, I noticed that my ASUS monitor would only operate at 144Hz if it was the only monitor plugged into the system. When I try to set it higher in the Nvidia control panel, it just reverts back to 60Hz after applying changes. I updated my graphics drivers (though I was only one version behind) and even sought a special ASUS driver for the monitor to resolve the issue, but nothing has helped.

Did Windows recently add a forced refresh rate sync between all monitors recently? If so, that really sucks because I only own one 144Hz monitor.

:)

 

Black Screen issue for Exclusive Fullscreen mode when exiting or Alt+Tab to Desktop after Anniversary Update

I have a dual monitor setup with a G-Sync 144hz and a regular 60hz. Both go black as described.

 

144hz behaves like a 60hz when any of my other 60hz monitors are running GPU bound applications.

Hello there.

I noticed, after upgrading to Windows 10, that the handling of "windowed borderless" and such is much different in comparison to Windows 7. I believe the Desktop Composition is to blame, but that is well known problem (forced vsync etc.)

What I get is a bit more specific. When I use a GPU bound (game, hardware accelerated browser) application on my 60hz monitor, every single GPU bound application on my 144hz becomes 60hz.

FPS is still shown in the real numbers (certian apps/games 200+) but the actual refresh rate is 60hz. When one enables Vsync, it caps at 60, even though the refresh rate is setup in drivers and windows to be 144hz.

When the application is run standalone on the main monitor (144hz), there are no problems. But even Chrome, when the HW accel is not OFF, forces the 144hz to 60hz.

I'd just like Microsoft to look at the "non-average" PC user and make their OS optimized in every way possible. I have a high-end system and I can't enjoy my 144hz unless I use it exclusively. Considering it is current year I'd very much like to see some
love for more-than-one monitor setups and for people that don't have a Pentium from 2004.

My setup: GTX 1070; i7 6700k; DDR4 16GB.

 

Are you sure the other monitors are independent (dual or multiple mode) rather than cloning the main monitor? If they clone the main monitor, then this explains the 60Hz refresh rate, as all settings (resolution, color depth, refresh rate) should be common for all monitors and the others can only do 60Hz.

 

No, they are not set to duplicate the main monitor.

 

Then this is a driver issue. If you have latest official nVidia drivers installed (don't rely on Windows Update), then you may configure monitors from nVidia Control Panel, instead of Windows display properties. Check there. Also check in Device Manager that your monitors are described as "Generic PnP monitor" to enable all possible resolutions and refresh rates.

 

As I said in the OP, configuring the monitors in the Nvidia control panel did not help.

All the monitors are detected properly in Device Manager:





If it were a video driver issue, then why would the multi-monitor setup break after a Windows update? The GPU driver did not change until I updated it in an attempt to solve the issue.

 

How about configuring the monitors from nVidia Control Panel? If all monitors are LCD/LED then there is no difference between 60Hz and higher refresh rates. High refresh rates are used in traditional CRT monitors to eliminate flicker, because they draw the screen pixel-by-pixel. LCD and LED monitors draw the whole screen and only update changes, so there is absolutely no flicker and 60Hz is perfect.

 

1. I've said this twice now. I've configured them in the Nvidia control panel. Please stop suggesting this.
2. There is a massive difference between refresh rates on any type of monitor, so I'm not sure where you're getting your information.
3. I do not know whether or not LCD panels only update the parts of the screen that change at each refresh, but I know for a fact that higher refresh rates equate to smoother motion. It may get to a point at which it is difficult for the eye/brain to discern between two very high refresh rates, but 60Hz is definitely not that threshold for most people.

 

ok I've just registered here to answer you..

your problem is most probably related to the latest big windows 10 update (1511 - threshold 2) if you look at geforce forums or on some reddit threads a lot of people have issue with this

I also have problem with gtx 970 since this update...
wait for a fix or roll back update

 

I'm glad this isn't just an isolated issue. I hope they release a fix soon.

 

I recently suffered a windows update that broke my driver for my quadro K2000D card. The second identical monitor, hooked up to the second DVI port, was no longer recognized by either the nVidia software OR windows itself. I managed to create a workaround. Hopefully this solves most people's problems:

1. open up the NVIDIA Control Panel
2. under Display, select Change resolution
3. Select the monitor that isn't displaying properly (in my case it simply said "Digital Display"
4. under step 2 "choose the resolution" click the Customize button
5. When the Customize dialogue box opens up click the "Create Custom Resolution" button at the bottom.
6. Create your custom horizontal and vertical resolution. I matched it to the native resolution of my ViewSonic VG 2030wm (1680 x 1050).
7. Leave the refresh rate at 60 or set it to whatever you prefer.
8. Click test
9. Apply the changes if you are satisfied with the results. Otherwise tinker with the resolution some more.
10. Click OK when everything is working again.
11. Make sure the troubled monitor is set to your new custom resolution and you should be good to go.

Hope this helps!

 

I solved the issue on my own. If the Xbox app's GameDVR is running, all monitors appear to need to be running at the same refresh rate. Disabling GameDVR let my two monitors operate at different refresh rates.