[SOLVED] Recommended graphics card(s) for dual 144hz monitors?

[el bojo loco]

Hello,

I am planning on upgrading my current setup:

• GTX 970
• 27" 1080p 60hz
• 24" 1080p 60hz

To one that supports at least one 144hz display (and has the power to run games that fast too). I'm quite flexible with the displays, they don't have to be 27", 24" is fine too. I've read online that 1080p and 1440p is a noticable difference when you are using a 27" monitor though, so that plays a factor. I'd prefer to get two of the same monitor for OCD reasons, but it's not a requirement. Now the top of the line for me would be to get this monitor twice: https://www.msi.com/Monitor/Optix-MAG271CQR (dual 144hz@1440p)

But that will cost me € ~800,-. So a more realistic and value approach would be to get the 1080p versions of that monitor instead: https://www.msi.com/Monitor/Optix-MAG271C
Costing me € ~680,-.

Now to have my second display on 144hz or 1440p is quite unnecessary, but I have read too many horror stories online about different refresh rate or resolution screens not being compatible. Either way, let's say I were to run dual 144hz@1080p displays, what is the recommended video card to run games at at least around 100fps? Let's use GTA V as a good example.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Honestly, I would not go for dual 1440p/144hz panels. You can only game on one panel as the bezel would be split between dual monitors. You would need a triple monitor setup to game on. So there is really no reason spending the extra money on an extra 1440p/144hz monitor that you will only use as a secondary screen.

I would look at a different option and go with a 21:9 monitor. You can get a 3440x1440p panel that is basically like having two monitors together with no bezel. Once you go ultrawide, it is hard to go back.

The pricing on ultrawides has been high, but they have really dropped over the past year or so and can get a decent budget monitor in the $500 range. Here is a list from pcpartpicker.

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=344001440&D=95000,240000&sort=price&A=2,1

To push 1440p, you will need a good GPU though. The 970 is not a 1440p card. So I would look at least at a 2060 or higher to get decent fps.

 

[el bojo loco]

Honestly, I would not go for dual 1440p/144hz panels. You can only game on one panel as the bezel would be split between dual monitors. You would need a triple monitor setup to game on. So there is really no reason spending the extra money on an extra 1440p/144hz monitor that you will only use as a secondary screen.

I would look at a different option and go with a 21:9 monitor. You can get a 3440x1440p panel that is basically like having two monitors together with no bezel. Once you go ultrawide, it is hard to go back.

The pricing on ultrawides has been high, but they have really dropped over the past year or so and can get a decent budget monitor in the $500 range. Here is a list from pcpartpicker.

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=344001440&D=95000,240000&sort=price&A=2,1

To push 1440p, you will need a good GPU though. The 970 is not a 1440p card. So I would look at least at a 2060 or higher to get decent fps.

Thanks for the insight! The goal is the stay with 2 screens - not to have a wide game, but to multitask. Do you have any advice on whether I could combine a 144hz@1080p screen with a 60hz@1080p screen? A lot of people online seem to have issues with that, however it would be the golden combination for my use case. Would a 1080 Ti suffice?

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Thanks for the insight! The goal is the stay with 2 screens - not to have a wide game, but to multitask. Do you have any advice on whether I could combine a 144hz@1080p screen with a 60hz@1080p screen? A lot of people online seem to have issues with that, however it would be the golden combination for my use case. Would a 1080 Ti suffice?

You can multi task with a 21:9 monitor. You can have a bunch of pages all open on the screen at one time. It is like having (2) 27" monitors together. That is why I like my 34" screen cause I do more than game as it makes work much easier.

As for combining monitors, you can have a 1080p 144hz and a 1080p 60hz monitor running. The 144hz will run at 144hz and the 60hz will run at 60hz. It should be plug and play, but you may need to go into control panel to change the refresh rate, but I doubt it.

A 1080ti will be just fine, especially for 1080p. My recommendation would be to go for a 27" 1440p/144hz monitor and a 1080p/60hz monitor paired with a 1080ti. The 1080ti will push the 1440p monitor just fine for gaming, and the extra monitor will allow for multitasking. You dont need a fancy high refresh rate monitor as a secondary screen. The refresh rate really only matters for gaming, so you only need one "good" monitor.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Well for a second monitor for multitasking you dont need another high end monitor.

Id go 1x144hz 1440p and one 60hz 1080p

 

[el bojo loco]

Sounds good! And which GPU would you recommend for that? I'm currently looking at RTX 2080 / RTX 2080 Ti

 

[NightHawkRMX]

For 144hz 144p you will want as strong of gpu as possible. So 2080 or 2080ti.

 

[Snatchinson]

it is to be noted though that when running a 144hz monitor and a 60hz monitor. Anything that comes up on the 60hz display like a twitch chat for instance or any video, will set your 144hz display to 60hz. Which is essentially lag if youre actually gaming at high fps. I just upgraded my secondary panel to a 144hz as well for this reason.