Setting Up Your Amd Graphics Card For A Smooth 144Hz Experience

If you've bought a monitor that offers a 144Hz refresh rate, you'll need to change some settings and sort out your hardware to get it to run as advertised. This includes checking your display settings, using the right cable, and updating your graphics drivers. The process differs depending on your PC configuration, so you'll need to follow different steps for Windows 10, Windows 7 or 8, and Windows 11.

Confirm device compatibility

To confirm device compatibility, you must ensure that your monitor is capable of running at 144Hz. This is done by checking your monitor specifications. Most 144Hz monitors will connect at that specification on Windows computers by default.

On Windows 10, head to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display Settings > Display Adapter Properties. Click the ""Monitor" tab, and you should be able to set 144Hz in the drop-down list. If you are using Windows 7 or 8, right-click on the desktop and select "Screen Resolution". Then, select your monitor (if you have multiple monitors) and click the "Advanced Settings" link. Click the "Monitor" tab and choose the refresh rate from the "Screen Refresh Rate" box.

If you don't see 144Hz in the drop-down list, your monitor might not be capable of running at that refresh rate. In that case, you can try updating your monitor drivers, as monitor issues can sometimes stem from outdated drivers.

Additionally, the type of cable you use can impact whether your monitor can run at 144Hz. Some monitors may have both HDMI and DisplayPort connections but may be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate when connected via HDMI. In this case, you would need to use a DisplayPort cable. Check your monitor's specifications or setup guide to determine the supported connection types and refresh rates.

Make sure you are using a certified, high-quality cable that meets the required specifications. For example, if you are using DisplayPort, use a certified cable built for DisplayPort 1.2 or higher. If you are using HDMI, ensure you have a "high-speed" HDMI cable, as older "standard" HDMI cables may not support 144Hz.

Finally, ensure that your computer's GPU is powerful enough to support your monitor's refresh rate. Integrated graphics or older discrete graphics might not be able to handle a 144Hz refresh rate.

Use a Display Port connector

To set up your 144Hz monitor with an AMD graphics card, you'll need to use a Display Port connector. This is because only Display Ports and a few Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports can transfer data at a higher refresh rate than the basic 60Hz.

HDMI cables and VGA cables do not support a refresh rate of 144Hz. If your monitor has both HDMI and Display Port connections, it may be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate when connected via HDMI. In this case, you will need to use a Display Port cable.

When using Display Port, ensure you have a properly certified cable that's built to the Display Port specification. A Display Port 1.2 cable should work fine with Display Port 1.4. There are also some Reduced Bit Rate (RBR) Display Port cables on the market that will only support 1080p, so make sure you don't have one of those.

If you're using a newer (7th Generation+) motherboard with a display port on its I/O ports, you can still enable and enjoy higher refresh rates like 120Hz/144Hz without a graphics card. However, if you're using a poor-performing graphics card that doesn't have a display port, you won't be able to enable a higher refresh rate. So, you'll need a good graphics card with at least one display port.

Enable the higher refresh rate from the Windows settings

This is the last step to enabling a higher refresh rate on your gaming monitor. The process is pretty simple and straightforward.

I will show you how to enable 144Hz on your computer. Other refresh rates like 120Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz, etc. are done in the same way.

The main reason why you cannot set the monitor refresh rate to 144Hz is because of device incompatibility. You cannot increase the screen refresh rate to 144Hz if the monitor doesn't support a higher refresh rate than 60Hz.

Enable 144Hz on Windows 10

To enable a higher refresh rate than 60Hz in Windows 10, follow these steps:

• Go to the settings of Windows 10 by searching for it or by hitting the Windows key and then clicking on the settings button.
• Click on System in the settings.
• Open the Display tab.
• Go to Display adapter properties > Monitor tab.
• Choose 144Hz from the drop-down menu of screen refresh rates in the monitor settings.
• Hit Apply, then OK to enable 144Hz on Windows 10.

If you don't find the options to choose 120Hz, 144Hz, or higher, be sure to check that your device is compatible with these higher refresh rates and that you have the right cable.

Enable 144Hz on Windows 7/ Windows 8

• First, right-click on any blank space on your desktop. Then click on Screen Resolution.
• Select Advanced Settings.
• Here, in the Monitor tab, you'll find the option to choose your desired refresh rate.
• Select 144Hz as your desired option, then press OK.

That's it! Your Windows 7/8 PC is now running at a higher refresh rate than before.

Check your display settings

To check your display settings, follow these steps:

For Windows 10:

• Go to Settings by searching for it or by hitting the Windows key and then clicking on the Settings button.
• Click on System in the Settings menu.
• Open the Display tab.
• Go to Display Adapter Properties and click on the Monitor tab.
• Choose your preferred refresh rate from the dropdown menu of screen refresh rates in the monitor settings.
• Hit Apply, then OK to enable the new refresh rate on Windows 10.

For Windows 7/8:

• Right-click on any blank space on your desktop, then click Screen Resolution.
• Select Advanced Settings.
• In the Monitor tab, you will find the option to choose your desired refresh rate.
• Select your desired refresh rate and press OK.

For Windows 11:

• Launch the Start menu, search for Settings, and click on the Best match.
• From the sidebar, click on System and then navigate to Display > Advanced display.
• In the "Choose a refresh rate" dropdown box, select the advertised refresh rate.

For AMD Graphics Cards:

• Right-click on your desktop and select Display Settings.
• Scroll down and click on Display Adapter Properties.
• Once there, select List All Modes (it's right under the Adapter Information window).
• Scroll down until you find your preferred screen mode and select it.

For Nvidia Graphics Cards:

• Open the Nvidia driver menu.
• Head to the Change Resolution tab under the Display options.
• Next to the Resolution window, there is a Refresh Rate drop-down menu. Open it and select your preferred refresh rate.

It's important to note that you may need to select the correct monitor if you have multiple monitors connected to your system. Additionally, ensure that you have the right cable to support the desired refresh rate.

Check your cables

To set up a 144Hz monitor with AMD, you'll need to check your cables. Here's a detailed guide:

First, it's important to understand that not all cables are created equal. The type of cable and its quality will impact your monitor's performance. If you're aiming for a high refresh rate, you need to pay attention to the ports on your monitor. While some monitors may have both HDMI and DisplayPort connections, they might be limited to a lower refresh rate, such as 60Hz, when connected via HDMI. In such cases, switching to a DisplayPort cable is recommended.

DisplayPort connections generally offer greater bandwidth and support higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. DisplayPort can handle video resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 pixels at 120Hz, with a maximum bandwidth of 32.4 Gbps. On the other hand, the commonly used HDMI 1.4 supports 4K resolution at 30Hz and has a maximum bandwidth of 10.2 Gbps. If you're using HDMI, opt for a "Premium High-Speed" HDMI cable instead of the standard version.

Additionally, be cautious of Reduced Bit Rate (RBR) DisplayPort cables, which only support a maximum resolution of 1080p. Always refer to your monitor's specifications or setup guide for cable requirements. You can also visit the official websites of DisplayPort and HDMI for more information on cable specifications.

Even with the right type of cable, cable quality can still be an issue. Cheap or low-quality cables can cause problems like screen flickering and refresh rate drops. If you're experiencing issues, try replacing the cable with a higher-quality alternative, preferably the one that came with your monitor.

Lastly, ensure that your cables are securely connected. A loose connection can also lead to problems. If you encounter any issues, unplug and replug the cable to ensure a solid connection.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your cables are not the bottleneck when trying to achieve a 144Hz refresh rate with your AMD setup.

Frequently asked questions