Question Random Refresh Rate

ThundyUK

Honorable
Nov 23, 2019
66
3
10,535
Hallo,

This is more of a what do you think this could be than anything.

I've got an RTX 3060 & an old BenQ xl270z 144hz monitor. A few weeks ago I had driver corruption and a faulty DP cable (or so I thought...maybe it wasn't) at the same time. Used DDU and got a new DP 1.4 cable, took some working out, but it fixed the problem I was having (stuck in 720p and green crap all over the screen as graphic corruption).

All seemed okay till today when after a reboot the screen looked a bit washed out and some transparency effects in Windows weren't working. Checked the refresh rate and it was stuck at 60hz or below only but still in 1080p. I tried another reboot and then it got stuck in 720p again at 60hz 😛

This is weird I thought so (leaving the PC on) I pulled the DP 1.4 cable out, and put it in again. Voila, back to 1080p but still stuck at 60hz.
Hey, it helped once I'll try it again - ripped the cable out again, and plugged it back in. Boom! Back to 144hz, 1080p, and transparency effects are all back again.

Quite funny in a way, but what do you reckon the likely culprit is here? I'm thinking the cable I replaced might have been ok at this point too lol

*quick edit* I should note that I have another OS installed on the PC too, and the problem followed it there so we can (or should be able to) rule out drivers.

.**second edit - I should also point out that this monitor (due its vertical adjustability) has broken a good half dozen cables over the years with them constantly bending when it's lowered right down - port with the DP socket could be fubar?*


Thanks :)
 
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You can try HDMI to rule out the GPU. If you wiggle the DP cable in place while it's working does the issue reappear? If so, it's probably the monitor port. If the connection is good though and you aren't touching it at all I don't think it you would be seeing too much inconsistency with the cable.
 
You can try HDMI to rule out the GPU. If you wiggle the DP cable in place while it's working does the issue reappear? If so, it's probably the monitor port. If the connection is good though and you aren't touching it at all I don't think it you would be seeing too much inconsistency with the cable.

Wiggling it didn't do anything that I saw. I do move the monitor vertically A LOT though as I raise it up when working / playing, and lower it when I'm watching the other monitor at its side when in bed most nights watching some TV or YT (the BenQ is in the way a bit, unless I drop it down a bit on the stand).

I'll give it a go, though I'm not sure this old monitor can run HDMI at higher refresh rates off the top of my head. It does DVI and DP at higher rates, but the 3060 doesn't have a DVI. It does say HDMI 1.4 though so mebbe.

Just ordered a Ugreen HDMI cable to test, cheers
 
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