Does Connecting a Monitor to Gaming Laptop Increase Refresh Rate?
A common question I get is “If I have a 60Hz laptop screen, can I use a faster monitor like 144Hz?”
The answer is yes! You can play games on a monitor with higher resolution and refresh rate (Hz) compared to what the screen the laptop came with is capable of.
If you connect an external monitor to your laptop, the monitor can run at the maximum refresh rate that it supports. The refresh rate of the laptop’s screen is not relevant, it does not matter.
The caveat is that the way you’re connecting the laptop to the monitor must support the resolution and refresh rate of the monitor.
For example, HDMI 1.2 cannot run a 1440p monitor at 144Hz, however HDMI 2.0 and newer can do this just fine.
If you’re connecting a monitor to your laptop with HDMI, refer to this page to see a list of what HDMI versions are needed to support different resolutions and refresh rates.
If you’re connecting a monitor to your laptop with DisplayPort, refer to this page to see a list of what DisplayPort versions are needed to support different resolutions and refresh rates. Type-C ports use DisplayPort, so check this if you’re connecting with a Type-C cable.
Conclusion
People want to know if they buy a bigger, faster, expensive screen if it will be limited by what the laptop screen runs at. The resolution and refresh rate of the laptop’s screen is not relevant. It depends entirely on what the external monitor you’re connecting supports, and whether the display connection (port) supports the resolution and refresh rate.
34 Comments
Swapnil
Hey Jarrod! I need ur help. I bought a lenovo legion 5 pro laptop after watching ur review. N with the help of the lenovo tech team I updated each n every thing including the drivers on the laptop. But since I never had a gaming laptop before I don’t have anything to compare it with. My problem is that I’m facing some aliasing issues in asphalt 9 n valorant n idk if it’s the game’s issue or the laptop’s. Also, because of that I started to look at every graphic detail more critically. N some of the smaller images like when I open the microsoft store n the thumbnails right below the big image look very grainy, like someone has turned the sharpness to the highest value. Idk if it’s how it’s supposed to look or if there’s something wrong with it. I tried to Google this problem to find out a way to test if the graphics r working as they’re supposed to. But all I found were the apps n ways to run a scan or check the graphic card. But that doesn’t make me feel confident about it. Because this is the second legion 5 pro I got delivered. The last one was malfunctioning n the tech team n the engineer were unable to detect what was wrong with that. In all scans it showed the laptop was working fine as per design. The graphic card was working fine. N yet it kept crashing the moment i tried to play any game. So those scans don’t make me feel secure with my purchase. Is there a way u can tell me I can check if the graphics on my laptop r the way they’re meant to be? Or if u could tell me if those images look as grainy n sharp on ur laptop as they do on mine? I know ur a busy person. But idk who I should ask other than u to help me. Cuz the tech team said they can’t help me with it. They can only act on what the scans r telling them. Also, if u could tell me if the 1 sec delay between the left click n the refresh menu to pop up is normal on a brand new gaming laptop, that would be a great help.
Jarrod
Are you running the games and Windows at the native screen resolution (2560×1600)? I’d manually get the latest Radeon driver for the integrated graphics and Nvidia driver for discrete graphics and would expect things to be fine. There are some text clearness settings you can play with in Windows but not sure if that affects games. Not sure what you mean by refresh menu.
Swapnil
Thank u so much for replying. Yes the resolution is 2560×1600. N I’ll try to install those drivers manually.
About that refresh thing: when I was pressing the right mouse button on desktop, i thought in a brand new laptop the menu to refresh n other things would pop up the moment i released the mouse button. But it took a second to show. That’s why I was a little concerned. But now that I have used it a few times, some times it appears quickly.
Anyways, thank u for the help Jarrod!
Jarrod
It should be pretty fast, if those things don’t fix the problem might need a clean Windows install.
Hesamedin
Hi Jarrod hope you do well, a question, for gaming purpose (mostly) and daily works , you’d prefer legion 5 pro 2021 with rtx3070 or 2022 5I pro with 3060 ? Imagine they are nearly same price in my country for my chose.
Thanks
Jarrod
Haven’t used the new one yet so can’t say how it differs, for gaming I’ve shown that 3070 is about 15% better than 3060 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6asPkbTds3o hope that helps.
Nate
Ayo, Jarrod! I was wondering if I had a laptop with a 144Hz refresh rate for the screen, should I get a monitor with a less, equal, or higher refresh rate?
I was also wondering how I could figure out what a monitor could support and if the display connection port(s) supports 1080p FHD resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.
Also, if you don’t mind could you recommend a monitor that is fast but cheap (perhaps under $100, if possible) and is compatible with the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-5700?
Thanks in advance!
Jarrod
It does not matter from a technical perspective, it just depends on what refresh rates/resolutions the ports support. Personally I’d probably get the same or better than the laptop’s screen so it’s not a downgrade, but that’s just personal preference.
You want these pages, they tell you which version of HDMI/DP do what resolutions/refresh rates:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
I don’t review monitors so don’t have any idea as to pricing, sorry. Maybe check out “Hardware Unboxed” on YouTube, they do lots of round up style content of monitors.
Nate
Ah, thank you for the information!
Luis Stoever
Hi Jarrod, big fan of your videos here, im from México and just purchased a asus tuf fx706heb f17, i play fighting games y liked the way laptops can offer to a local fighting community, im used to play on ps4 with a 10ms response time monitor benq rl2755h and i was wondering how much display lag /response time have the asus tuf f17 fx706hn because i feel a little lag on the laptop display. Thanks in advance for your repply
Jarrod
I haven’t tested the TUF F17 specifically so can’t say, but check my reviews for similar machines like TUF A15 and look at the screen timestamp, I have response time for the panel as well as LDAT graph which shows the latency (time between mouse click and action taking place on screen).
Nate
Hello Jarrod, I recently broke the screen for my Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-5700 model and I was wondering if you knew where I could get a replacement screen. I haven’t found any online so it would be really helpful if you could help with this. Thanks!
The screen is a 1920×1080 LED-backlit Full HD IPS display.
The display screen type is LCD.
Other specs are on the Acer website. https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NH.QESAA.002
Jarrod
Use HWinfo to get the exact model of the panel and then look on sites like ebay/google to find someone selling it.
utkarsh
Hey jarrod, I have a lenovo legion 5 2020 with ryzen 5 4600h and gtx 1650. I’m thnking about getting an external gaming monitor of refresh rate 144hz, so does HDMI 2.0 support 144hz with g-sync?
and also does the USB type c 3.2 can be used to do the same?
Jarrod
HDMI 2.0 does yes, you can see what it offers here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
USB doesn’t do anything in itself, the port needs to provide DisplayPort which is optional.
Chris
Jarrod,
My son currently extends his gaming laptop to a 27″ non gaming monitor. He asked for 2 gaming monitors for his bday/xmas and the goal is to have both of them be extended so he can have both screens going (likely one 1 will ever be for his games while the other is for youtube/discord). Anyway, I want to make sure the signals to the monitors support the higher Refresh Rates. Any thoughts on the type of Hub that can support > 60MHz?
Jarrod
It all depends on the versions of either HDMI or DisplayPort being used on the laptop, dock and monitor. Take HDMI for example, this shows what resolution/refresh rates are supported with the varying versions. The lowest version in the chain will be the limit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
Ranbo
Hello,
I currently have a lenovo L340 Laptop with a 60hz refresh rate and has a intel I5 and GTX 1650. I am planning to buy a 144hz External Monitor. Can I use the 144hz refresh rate of the external monitor instead of having 60hz refresh rate from my Laptop. Like If I disabled the laptop’s monitor and set the external monitor as my primary one will I have 144hz on my external monitor? or it will still cap at 60hz? I also have an HDMI 2.0
Jarrod
Yes, HDMI 2.0 supports 1080p ad 144Hz and above, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
Dem
Hey Jarod, I need an opposite from my laptop: I need either the USB-C DP or HDMI to connect directly to the iGPU. Specifically to an AMD APU.
My old budget gaming laptop did this, and maybe it was aweful for gaming on an external screen, but it’s a life-saver for running Linux on the laptop.
Now that manufacturers all listened to your complaints, is there any laptop left that would let me connect an external screen to the iGPU?
Jarrod
Nothing comes straight to mind as that’s uncommon, best bet is to check the “ports” timestamp in my review videos on YouTube as I mention where everything connects there. Unfortunately I do not document this in a central spot so cannot just look it up.
Addison
Hi Jarrod,
I am a fan of your laptop/pc reviews at Youtube, and I am wondering if the prices you are sharing over there are indicative of prices in Australia. Thanks in advance for the feedback.
Jarrod
Videos are almost always USD only, I will specify the currency at the time.
Mahesh
Hey Jarrod! I’ve bought an Acer nitro 2022 with 3050 thinking, not knowing the Mux switch support is only for the 3060 and above. Does having a Mux switch make a difference if I primarily plan to use an external monitor, while gaming atleast?
Jarrod
No, as long as the port you’re connecting to connects to the 3050 and not the integrated graphics. With the monitor connected, you can check which it connects to in the Physx tab in nvidia control panel.
guru
I need know tbe proper way to connect the my external Montior to laptop.
I will start with what I got :
Laptop: legion 5 15ar05 (graphic card :1650ti)
External monitor: dell24 va 165hz.
I have read that hdmi2.0 can run at 165hz
And still people say display port connection is better
So having an external display port dock is better
Or should I continue to use the hdmi2.0 ?
Jarrod
It also depends on the resolution. Generally DisplayPort is better, but if you’re talking like 1080p or 1440p either port should be fine and you would just want to use the port that connects directly to the dGPU (can find this out in Nvidia control panel physx tab, or task manager and see which GPUs are active with a game running).
Stuff like this will tell you the refresh rates/resolutions supported for a version of the port: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video
dimo
Hello Jarrod I know this is an old post , well I have the HP Omen 15 with rtx 3060 and Ryzen 7 5800h and I’m gonna buy a new monitor with 280hz 1080p , my laptop supports hdmi 2,1 and dp 1.4 should I plugg hdmi or dp, also do I have to do something inside laptop like on Nvidia control
Panel ..Optimus etc ? ( also I think it has
Mini dp not the big )
Jarrod
Nope, HDMI 2.1 is plenty for that resolution / refresh rate as per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video for connecting the monitor to dGPU, you can’t control it in software, you can use the Nvidia control panel to confirm which GPU it’s connecting to but you can’t change it – therefore you don’t need to customize anything.
Dimos
I should check it when i plug the new monitor or should i check it now ?
Jarrod
You can only tell with the monitor connected.
Dimos
Well i bought G2524H 1080 240HZ MONITOR OVERCLOCK 280..
well i need really help if u can answer as fast as u can.. first of all i conenct her with type c cable because the monitor came with dp usb and type c cable.. not hdmi inside and my laptop has mini dp to dp so the only way was t connect the type c.. should i change cable and which one will another cable be better for gaming..
with type c i find the 240hz on display settings..
2) should i turn on g sync or i iwill get bad colour and lag?.. i play apex legends and valorant.. i use RTX 3060 AND RYZEN 5800H HP OMEN 2021
I HAVE ALL LOW SETTINGS BOTH GAMES,. IM GETTING ON APEX FROM 140-150 MIN TO 200-220 MAX FPS
AND VALORANT FROM 200-300 FPS
SHOULD I TURN ON G SYNC ? OR OFF? FOR BETTER COLOUR SMOUTH NO LAG .. CAUSE I CANT NOTICE THE DIFF
ALSO SHOULD I CHANGE CABLE FOR GAMING WILL BE BETTER FOR EXAMPLE A MINIDP OR HDMI?.. ALSO I DONT LIKE SOME COLOUR NOW MAYBE ITS TYPE C?
Dimos
READ ABOVE FIRST … ALSO I FORGOT T WRITE U THAT ON APEX I HAVE A LOT OF TIMES 240 FPS IN DIFFERENT PLACES ..
Dimos
i will write you all in one here sorry …
Well i bought G2524H 1080 240HZ MONITOR OVERCLOCK 280..
well i need really help if u can answer as fast as u can.. first of all i conenct her with type c cable because the monitor came with dp usb and type c cable.. not hdmi inside and my laptop has mini dp to dp so the only way was t connect the type c.. should i change cable and which one will another cable be better for gaming..
with type c i find the 240hz on display settings..
2) should i turn on g sync or i iwill get bad colour and lag?.. i play apex legends and valorant.. i use RTX 3060 AND RYZEN 5800H HP OMEN 2021
I HAVE ALL LOW SETTINGS BOTH GAMES,. IM GETTING ON APEX FROM 140-150 MIN TO 200-220 MAX FPS
AND VALORANT FROM 200-300 FPS
SHOULD I TURN ON G SYNC ? OR OFF? FOR BETTER COLOUR SMOUTH NO LAG .. CAUSE I CANT NOTICE THE DIFF
ALSO SHOULD I CHANGE CABLE FOR GAMING WILL BE BETTER FOR EXAMPLE A MINIDP OR HDMI?.. ALSO I DONT LIKE SOME COLOUR NOW MAYBE ITS TYPE C?
ALSO I FORGOT T WRITE U THAT ON APEX I HAVE A LOT OF TIMES 240 FPS IN DIFFERENT PLACES
and which RESPONSE TIME SHOULD I USE ? ( FAST, SUPER FAST,EXTREME)