GTX 1070 FTW. Two 144hz Monitors, One's Capped at 60hz.

[Camro537]

Currently I have two BenQ Xl2411z's connected to my EVGA 1070 FTW. However, one monitor is capped to 60hz, and I cannot adjust the refresh rate though Windows or Nvidia software. The monitor that is able to achieve 144hz is connected through a Dvi-D dual link cable. The monitor capped at 60hz is connected using a Display Port to Dvi-D Dual Link cable as the Xl2411z does not have a Display Port input and the 1070 FTW does not have a second Dvi output. What can I do to get my second monitor to 144hz, any advice is appreciated.

 

[Yoplait95]

What's the adapter uhh?

Try an hdmi at 120hz. If you can do that then it's driver or adapter related.

Else, reinstall drivers for both monitor and gpus.

 

[raisonjohn]

Currently I have two BenQ Xl2411z's connected to my EVGA 1070 FTW. However, one monitor is capped to 60hz, and I cannot adjust the refresh rate though Windows or Nvidia software. The monitor that is able to achieve 144hz is connected through a Dvi-D dual link cable. The monitor capped at 60hz is connected using a Display Port to Dvi-D Dual Link cable as the Xl2411z does not have a Display Port input and the 1070 FTW does not have a second Dvi output. What can I do to get my second monitor to 144hz, any advice is appreciated.

You might want to read this (Guide to Display Cables / Adapters (v2)): https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=120Hz_displays

Excerpts (emphasis, related to your situation, supplied):

"Which connections can support 120+ Hz?

In order of preference:

At 1920×1080 (2K):
DisplayPort (any version)
Dual-Link DVI
HDMI 1.3 or above (some monitors do not accept >60 Hz over HDMI, so don't count on this option)

xxx

Which one should I use?

A straight DisplayPort connection is the preferred option in all cases.

At 1920×1080 if DisplayPort is not available, then use Dual-Link DVI. If Dual-Link DVI is not available, you can try HDMI as a last resort, but it is not guaranteed to work for 120+ Hz (it depends on the monitor; some work, some don't). HDMI 1.3 and above are capable of 1080p 120+ Hz, but not all monitors implement this capability.

xxx

Isn’t HDMI limited to 60 Hz?

No, HDMI is not limited to 60 Hz. This is a common myth. Sometimes, certain displays will not accept HDMI signals above 60 Hz even when the monitor is capable of 120+ Hz signals over other connections, but that is just a limitation of those particular products. HDMI itself allows unlimited refresh frequencies, and this has been the case since version 1.0.

Notable examples of monitors which don't accept >60 Hz over HDMI are the BenQ XL2411(Z) and the ASUS VG248QE (which both use HDMI 1.4a).

xxx

Can I use a DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI passive adapter / cable?

No. DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI passive adapters / cables do not actually exist. Even though most DisplayPort to DVI adapters you see for sale are labeled as "Dual-Link", all of these are fake, they are only Single-Link DVI adapters in disguise.

The DisplayPort connector has 20 pins, which means it can be used as a Single-Link DVI-D port via a passive adapter. However, Dual-Link DVI requires 25 pins, so a DisplayPort connector does not have enough pins to emulate a Dual-Link DVI connection.

xxx

My 120+ Hz monitor only has DVI and HDMI input, no DisplayPort, and my graphics card / laptop doesn't have a DVI output available. What should I do?

HDMI 1.3 and 1.4 can support up to 144 Hz at 1080p, but this will not work on all monitors. Some monitors such as the BenQ/Zowie XL2411(Z) or the ASUS VG248QE will not accept >60 Hz over HDMI even though they have HDMI 1.4a inputs. This is not because "HDMI is limited to 60 Hz" (it isn't), this is just a limitation of these particular products.

xxx

Connecting to the display's DVI input

Single-Link DVI only supports up to 60 Hz at 1080p, so Dual-Link DVI is required for 120+ Hz. This means inexpensive DisplayPort-to-DVI or HDMI-to-DVI passive adapters / cables cannot be used, because DisplayPort and HDMI only support passive adapters to Single-Link DVI, not to Dual-Link.

If you are using a monitor that only has DVI and HDMI inputs (no DisplayPort) and also doesn't accept >60 Hz over HDMI (like the BenQ XL2411Z), then you must use the Dual-Link DVI input. If your computer does not have a native DVI output to connect to it, you must use a DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI active adapter.

Not just any DisplayPort to DVI active adapter will work. Inexpensive DisplayPort to DVI active adapters are all Single-Link-only and will not work for 1080p 120+ Hz. True DP to DL-DVI active adapters are very expensive, and generally quite unreliable. They should only be used as a last resort."

Original Poster: Glenwing (https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=120Hz_displays)

 

[Yoplait95]

Currently I have two BenQ Xl2411z's connected to my EVGA 1070 FTW. However, one monitor is capped to 60hz, and I cannot adjust the refresh rate though Windows or Nvidia software. The monitor that is able to achieve 144hz is connected through a Dvi-D dual link cable. The monitor capped at 60hz is connected using a Display Port to Dvi-D Dual Link cable as the Xl2411z does not have a Display Port input and the 1070 FTW does not have a second Dvi output. What can I do to get my second monitor to 144hz, any advice is appreciated.

You might want to read this (Guide to Display Cables / Adapters (v2)): https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=120Hz_displays

Excerpts (emphasis, related to your situation, supplied):

"Which connections can support 120+ Hz?

In order of preference:

At 1920×1080 (2K):
DisplayPort (any version)
Dual-Link DVI
HDMI 1.3 or above (some monitors do not accept >60 Hz over HDMI, so don't count on this option)

xxx

Which one should I use?

A straight DisplayPort connection is the preferred option in all cases.

At 1920×1080 if DisplayPort is not available, then use Dual-Link DVI. If Dual-Link DVI is not available, you can try HDMI as a last resort, but it is not guaranteed to work for 120+ Hz (it depends on the monitor; some work, some don't). HDMI 1.3 and above are capable of 1080p 120+ Hz, but not all monitors implement this capability.

xxx

Isn’t HDMI limited to 60 Hz?

No, HDMI is not limited to 60 Hz. This is a common myth. Sometimes, certain displays will not accept HDMI signals above 60 Hz even when the monitor is capable of 120+ Hz signals over other connections, but that is just a limitation of those particular products. HDMI itself allows unlimited refresh frequencies, and this has been the case since version 1.0.

Notable examples of monitors which don't accept >60 Hz over HDMI are the BenQ XL2411(Z) and the ASUS VG248QE (which both use HDMI 1.4a).

xxx

Can I use a DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI passive adapter / cable?

No. DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI passive adapters / cables do not actually exist. Even though most DisplayPort to DVI adapters you see for sale are labeled as "Dual-Link", all of these are fake, they are only Single-Link DVI adapters in disguise.

The DisplayPort connector has 20 pins, which means it can be used as a Single-Link DVI-D port via a passive adapter. However, Dual-Link DVI requires 25 pins, so a DisplayPort connector does not have enough pins to emulate a Dual-Link DVI connection.

xxx

My 120+ Hz monitor only has DVI and HDMI input, no DisplayPort, and my graphics card / laptop doesn't have a DVI output available. What should I do?

HDMI 1.3 and 1.4 can support up to 144 Hz at 1080p, but this will not work on all monitors. Some monitors such as the BenQ/Zowie XL2411(Z) or the ASUS VG248QE will not accept >60 Hz over HDMI even though they have HDMI 1.4a inputs. This is not because "HDMI is limited to 60 Hz" (it isn't), this is just a limitation of these particular products.

xxx

Connecting to the display's DVI input

Single-Link DVI only supports up to 60 Hz at 1080p, so Dual-Link DVI is required for 120+ Hz. This means inexpensive DisplayPort-to-DVI or HDMI-to-DVI passive adapters / cables cannot be used, because DisplayPort and HDMI only support passive adapters to Single-Link DVI, not to Dual-Link.

If you are using a monitor that only has DVI and HDMI inputs (no DisplayPort) and also doesn't accept >60 Hz over HDMI (like the BenQ XL2411Z), then you must use the Dual-Link DVI input. If your computer does not have a native DVI output to connect to it, you must use a DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI active adapter.

Not just any DisplayPort to DVI active adapter will work. Inexpensive DisplayPort to DVI active adapters are all Single-Link-only and will not work for 1080p 120+ Hz. True DP to DL-DVI active adapters are very expensive, and generally quite unreliable. They should only be used as a last resort."

Original Poster: Glenwing (https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/729232-guide-to-display-cables-adapters-v2/?section=120Hz_displays)

Ik all this, thanks though. His monitor, and easily the 1070, supports 120hz over hdmi.. That's why I said that.

Citation: BenQ XL2411z