Setting up more than one screen for your computer, especially for work or gaming, means you’ve got to think about how fast each screen can show new images, called refresh rate. It’s measured in Hertz (Hz), telling us how many times a screen can refresh in a second. The smoother the movement looks on your screen, the higher the refresh rate. While it would be perfect to have screens that all refresh at the same speed, sometimes that’s not possible or really needed, depending on what you use them for.
In this writing, we’re looking into whether having screens with different refresh rates is a good or bad idea. We’ll see how it affects stuff like gaming, work, and just regular computer use. Knowing the ups and downs can help you pick the right screens for your setup. Let’s start by looking at how different refresh rates change what you see and what to think about when picking your screens.
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Do multiple monitors with different refresh rates impact gaming in any way?
One big area where the refresh rate really matters is gaming. A screen with a high refresh rate (like 120Hz or 144Hz) makes everything look smoother and less choppy, which is super important for games that move fast. But if you have one screen at 144Hz and another at 60Hz, you might run into some issues.
Also see: Game Stuttering and Lag on Dual Monitor (Fix)
Synchronization problems
Playing a game on screens that refresh at different speeds can cause stuttering or tearing because the graphics card can’t keep the images in sync.
Reduced performance on higher refresh rate monitor
If you’re showing the game on both screens, the one with the higher refresh rate might not perform as well because it’s being held back by the other screen’s slower refresh rate.
User sensitivity to frame rate differences
Some gamers really notice the difference in how smooth the motion is and might find it annoying or distracting to have one screen refresh a lot faster than the other, especially if they’re using both at the same time for gaming and other stuff.
Linked issue: 144Hz Monitor Only Showing 60Hz in Windows 11, Why?
Potential solutions and workarounds
To deal with these issues, here are some things you can try:
- Enabling G-Sync or FreeSync: Changing settings on your graphics card to make the frame rate match up with the screen refresh rates might help, but it’s not a sure thing.
- Use high refresh rate monitor for gaming: Lots of gamers just play their games on the faster screen and use the other one for less important stuff, like surfing the web or chatting.
- Adjusting game settings: Make sure the game’s graphic settings match the screen’s resolution and refresh rate, like setting it to “1920×1080 (144 fps)” for a 1080p screen that supports 144Hz.
In short, for gamers, not having the same refresh rates on all screens can be a bummer, but there are ways to make it less of an issue. What you decide to do depends a lot on the games you play.
Recommended read: 144Hz vs 165Hz Monitor: Can you tell the difference?
How do dual or triple monitors with different refresh rates impact general use?
For non-gaming stuff like graphic design, video editing, and just regular office work, having screens with different refresh rates doesn’t usually make a big difference, but it’s still something to think about.
Desktop management and window movement
You might notice that moving windows or the cursor between screens isn’t as smooth, which can be annoying if you do it a lot.
Video playback on secondary screens
Watching videos on the slower screen might not be as smooth as on the faster one, especially for high frame rate videos.
Design and detailed work
For precise work like graphic design or photo editing, the difference in smoothness when using tools or moving objects could be a bit annoying, but usually, it’s not a big deal.
Software compatibility
Some programs might not work right on setups with screens that have different refresh rates, especially older ones or those not made for using more than one screen.
Eye strain and comfort
Different refresh rates can sometimes make your eyes tired, especially if you’re switching back and forth between screens with very different rates. This is more of an issue for people who are really sensitive to flicker or motion smoothness.
Considerations and recommendations
Even though these things might bother you, they’re usually not too hard to deal with:
- Pick the right screen for the right job. Like, use the faster screen for videos and the other for things that don’t move, like text.
- Adjusting your display settings to make the screens more alike can help make the difference less noticeable.
- Setting up your screens so you don’t have to move stuff between them a lot can also make things easier.
Overall, for work and everyday use, having screens with different refresh rates is usually not a big problem. What matters more is what you need for your work and what you prefer for your screens.
Related resource: What happens if you play 1440p on a 1080p monitor?
What can you do to lessen the issues of a multi-monitor setup with different refresh rates?
Since there can be problems with screens that refresh at different rates, it’s good to know what you can do to fix or lessen these issues. Here, we’ll go over some handy tips for making your multi-screen setup work better, even with different refresh rates.
Updating drivers
Keep your graphics card drivers updated. Newer drivers often fix problems with using more than one screen.
Adjusting refresh rate settings
Check the settings on your computer or graphics card to make sure each screen is using its best refresh rate. For NVIDIA, go to the NVIDIA Control Panel, and for AMD, check out the Radeon Settings.
Enabling synchronization technologies
Using things like NVIDIA’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync can help match the frame rate with the screen’s refresh rate. This is really helpful if one of the screens can change its refresh rate.
Physical arrangement of monitors
Put the faster screen right in front of you if it’s the main one you use, especially for things that need to look smooth, and use the other screen for stuff that doesn’t change much.
Task allocation
Use each screen for what it’s best at. Like, have the faster one for videos or games and the slower one for reading or coding.
Aligning resolutions
Matching the resolutions can make it nicer to move windows or apps between screens, even though it doesn’t fix refresh rate differences. You can try lowering the refresh rate of the faster screen to match the slower one, or maybe get two screens that match.
TL:DR: Summing things up
To sum up, whether it’s bad to have screens with different refresh rates really depends on how you use them. For gamers, not having the same refresh rates can be a big deal because it can cause stuttering, tearing, and sync problems. This is especially true for fast or competitive games where you want everything to look super smooth. But even for gaming, there are things you can do to make it better.
For just using your computer, doing work, or less intense stuff, the difference in refresh rates usually isn’t a big deal. You might notice it when moving windows or the mouse between screens, but it doesn’t usually make things harder or less fun.
So, is it bad to have monitors with different refresh rates? Not really. It’s more about knowing what to expect and how to set things up to make the best of it. If you’re not really into gaming and mostly use your computer for work or everyday stuff, you probably won’t mind the differences much.
