Laptop HDMI FPS drop

[Fergus_2]

So today I plugged my Lenovo laptop into my TV using an HDMI cord because I wanted to play Mass Effect 1 on a bigger screen; I'm trying to introduce my brother to the game. There didn't appear to be any discrepancy in frames between the computer and my TV when it was on the desktop, and I've frequently watched Netflix using this cord at perfect 60 FPS.

The whole time I played the game on that TV, the framerate was abysmal--20 FPS maybe, but it held constant. Meanwhile,my computer's display was running the game at a perfect 60.

I tested a few other games, like Mass Effect 2 and Rocket League and the same thing happened; perfect 60 on both computer and TV on the desktop or in a web browser, but when I started a game the framerate would drop on the TV and stay perfect 60 on my computer.

Any idea what could be causing this? Will I be able to experience the ME trilogy on a big screen at a framerate that isn't painful to look at?

 

[bishopi5]

100% your resolution of your laptop is lower then the TV, there for when you plugged into TV its running at higher res, Looks nicer but uses a hell of a lot more GPU.

 

[Fergus_2]

100% your resolution of your laptop is lower then the TV, there for when you plugged into TV its running at higher res, Looks nicer but uses a hell of a lot more GPU.

I'm running it at 1080 on my laptop and I'm pretty sure it's 1080 on my TV...also, it's Mass Effect 1, my computer has a GTX 860, there shouldn't be a problem. But if the resolution is the issue, how do I fix it?

 

[bishopi5]

If you are 100% sure you are running at 1080p on the laptop, and the TV is not some crazy nice res, Then this is not the issue, I still feel like it is though. Please triple check both the TV and laptop are same resolution

 

[Fergus_2]

If you are 100% sure you are running at 1080p on the laptop, and the TV is not some crazy nice res, Then this is not the issue, I still feel like it is though. Please triple check both the TV and laptop are same resolution

Just double checked and I am definitely at 1920x1080 on my laptop, and I believe my TV is also in 1080 although it may be in 720 (it's a 5 or 6 year old TV). Regardless, do you think running the game in a lower resolution will help?

 

[bishopi5]

Yes it will help, also make sure you are not duplicating the screen, Make sure the TV is the only thing displaying, the laptop should be black

 

[Fergus_2]

Yes it will help, also make sure you are not duplicating the screen, Make sure the TV is the only thing displaying, the laptop should be black

Really? When I use the HDMI cable the screen always duplicates, with the image shown on the TV and laptop simultaneously, which is why I noticed the discrepancy so quickly; I had 60 FPS right in front of me and 20 up on the TV. That could have something to do with it. How would i change that?

Also, I just did some research and apparently my TV has a 1366x768 resolution, so running the game in that resolution may help

 

[bishopi5]

You need to make the TV as a primary monitor and not duplicate, this will allow the TV to take control and the proper res to be set, this is definitely why you are having issues, right click desktop > display settings > make the TV primary monitor, disconnect any other displays, laptops usually have a button for this, if you can see anything on your laptop you have done it wrong, the TV should be the only thing showing signal

 

[RobCrezz]

when its plugged in, you can use Windows key + P to select what screen to output to.