Why is my 240hz monitor only showing 120hz?

Are you trying to figure out that your 240 Hz monitor is only showing 120 Hz for no reason, maybe during games or even all the time, even though you spend money on it?

If you have tried everything in daylight, but still have not solved the problem with the 240 Hz screen, which operates at 120 Hz, in this guide I will explain the most common problems and related solutions so that you can return to work.

Below I will explain how to identify and eliminate each of the 6 most likely causes.

It does not matter if you are playing computer gaming on Windows 10 or on the console. Everything has to be covered. Further, if you are interested to read about the effects of CPU on gaming.

6 troubleshooting tricks when monitor capped at 120Hz

1. Your screen is set to 120 Hz by default

image shows monitor settings
120 Hz by default

How to change hertz on monitor?

A common problem is that your screen defaults to 120 Hz. how to change hertz on monitor?

To change it, go to Settings> System> Display> Advanced display settings> Display adapter properties. Then click on the monitor and select your monitor refresh rate from the drop-down menu.

There you can choose from a variety of refresh rates that your monitor supports. If you plug the HDMI 2.0 cable into the correct ports and your monitor or dual monitor supports 240 Hz, with a perfect CPU(single-core or multi-core CPU) and motherboard, you should be able to see 240 Hz.

2. You are using an incompatible display port or HDMI

display port cable vs hdmi cable
Display port vs HDMI

Unless you’re a tech geek, it’s normal to buy a cable and hope for the best. In terms of technology, the video cables or audio cables used are very important. Using the wrong cable could mean a 240 Hz monitor will only display 120 Hz as the cable limits the monitor’s ability to operate above 120 Hz.

The standard HDMI cable doesn’t support 240 Hz, so it’s easy to see why your screen is only showing 120 Hz.

To change this you need at least a 240Hz compatible cable, e.g. HDMI 2.0.B

If you bought your monitor brand new, this cable should normally come with your monitor in the original packaging.

3. Outdated Graphics drivers

notifcaion of ghrapic card is outdated
outdated graphic card

However, this is very unlikely and an outdated GPU driver could affect your monitor’s Hertz values ​​for some reason. This is likely only true if you haven’t used your computer and graphics card in a long time or haven’t had an update problem in years.

Make sure all of your GPU drivers are up to date with the appropriate GPU software for great video quality.

If you’re using an AMD graphics processor, you’re using AMD software, etc

4. Make sure your monitor actually supports 240 Hz

240hz monitor
240 Hz monitor

Just because your screen is costing a few hundred dollars doesn’t let the price fool you, you might have a 60Hz display. You can easily search your monitor model (Vga, video card) on Google and find its specifications online on websites like the manufacturer or Amazon.

Bestseller No. 1
Sceptre Curved 24.5-inch Gaming Monitor up to 240Hz 1080p R1500 1ms DisplayPort x2 HDMI x2 Blue Light Shift Build-in Speakers, Machine Black 2023 (C255B-FWT240)
  • 240Hz Refresh Rate: Stay above the pack with 240Hz, giving you an edge in performance as frames transition instantly.Specific uses for product - Gaming
  • 1ms Response Time: Colors fade and illuminate instantly with a 1ms response time, eliminating ghosting and piecing together precise imagery during action-packed scenes and gaming.
  • 1500R Curvature: The 1500R degree curved design immerses you into all of the action no matter where you choose to sit in the room.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Acer Nitro 27" 1500R Curved Full HD PC Gaming Monitor | AMD FreeSync Premium | 240Hz | 1ms VRB | Speakers | HDR10 | ErgoStand | VESA Mounting Compliant | 1 x DP 1.4 & 2 x HDMI 2.0 | XZ270 X2bmiiphx
  • Resolution Matters: The Nitro 27" Curved Display with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution offers the sharpest picture quality and provides a perfect picture with a broader view.
  • ZeroFrame: The zero-frame design does away with the thick frames found on conventional monitors freeing up precious screen space, so you have more to look at from edge to edge.
  • 240Hz Refresh Rate: The 240Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver an ultra-smooth 2D motion scene. With a rapid refresh rate of 240Hz, Acer Monitors shorten the time it takes for frame rendering, lower input lag and provide gamers an excellent in-game experience.
Bestseller No. 3
AOC C27G2Z 27" Curved Frameless Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p, 0.5ms 240Hz, FreeSync, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x Display Port, Height Adjustable, Xbox PS5 Switch Ready, 3-Year Zero-Bright-Dot
  • 27" AOC Gaming G2 series monitor with 1920x1080 Full HD (1080P) Resolution Curved VA panel.Aspect ratio:16:9.Viewing Angle:170.0 degrees
  • 240Hz refresh rate (via DP1.4) and rapid 0.5ms MPRT response time lets you target moving opponents with precision, putting you ahead of the game. Fast-moving action and dramatic transitions will be rendered smoothly without the effects of ghosting with AMD FreeSync Premium technology.
  • 1500R curved monitor wraps around your vision for an immersive gaming experience
SaleBestseller No. 4
Acer Nitro 27" WQHD 2560 x 1440 PC Gaming IPS Monitor | AMD FreeSync Premium | Up to 240Hz Refresh | Up to 0.5ms | DisplayHDR 400 | sRGB 99% | 1 x Display Port 1.4 & 2 x HDMI 2.1 | XV272U W2bmiiprx
  • 27" WQHD (2560 x 1440) Widescreen IPS PC Gaming Monitor
  • AMD FreeSync Premium Technology
  • Refresh Rate: 240Hz (Using Display Port) – 144Hz (Using HDMI Port) | Response Time: 1ms (G to G) - Up to 0.5ms (G to G) | Pixel Pitch: 0.233mm | 2 Speakers, 2 Watts Per Speaker
Bestseller No. 5
KTC 27'' 280Hz 240Hz Gaming Monitor 1ms GTG 350nits Fast VA 1080P Tilt 126% sRGB Adaptive Sync 4000:1 Contrast Ratio HDR DisplayPort 1.4/HDMI 2.0 VESA
  • [280Hz Gaming & 1ms GTG Seamless Gameplay]Enjoy smooth gaming with our 27-inch gaming monitor featuring a 280Hz refresh rate, which is compatible with gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox.
  • [Outstanding Color Accuracy] Boasting a brightness of 350 cd/m², 8-bit color depth, an astonishing 1.07 billion colors achieved through 8-bit color depth plus FRC technology, a 4000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 126% sRGB coverage, this monitor display offers rich hues. It is the best gaming monitor choice for gamers as it captures image details well.
  • [Fast VA Panel FHD] Featuring Fast VA panel technology, enjoy deep blacks and vivid colors that bring your games to life. Enjoy top color performance and reduced fatigue during long gaming sessions on this 1080p (1920*1080) gaming monitor.
Bestseller No. 6
SANSUI 27 Inch WQHD 240Hz Gaming Monitor 1440P-1ms AMD FreeSync 丨DCI-P3 98% 丨Fast IPS丨Speakers丨HDR10 丨2×DisplayPort 1.4丨2×HDMI丨Height Adjustable Vertical/Horizontal Rotating Gaming PC Monitor
  • ⭐27-inch WQHD(2560 x 1440) @ 240Hz Fast IPS Rotating Gaming Monitor with Cool RGB lights
  • Performance: OD 1ms Response Time丨MPRT Low Motion Blur Technology丨Noise Reduction丨 Adaptive Sync丨320Nits Brightness丨Crosshair/RTS/FPS Game Assistant
  • Screen Colors: HDR 10丨10bit 丨DCI-P3 98%丨sRGB 130%丨178°V/H Viewing Angle
Bestseller No. 7
Z-Edge 24.5" Gaming Monitor, Z-Edge UG25I FHD 1920x1080 240Hz Gaming Monitor, 1ms Frameless LED, AMD Freesync Premium Display Port HDMI
  • 240Hz High Refresh Rate: Featuring rapid 240Hz refresh rate, this allows for a smoother, more responsive gaming experience with less motion blur. Low 1ms response time guarantees pixels on the screen can change color quickly, reducing motion blur and ghosting. Premium Free-sync technology can synchronize the gaming monitor's refresh rate with the graphics card's output, reducing screen tearing and stuttering during gameplay.
  • Born for Gaming: FPS and RTS Game Modes are preset display settings built for an enhanced gaming experience. HDR technology allows for a wider range of colors and greater contrast, resulting in more vivid, lifelike images, this can enhance the gaming experience and provide a more immersive visual experience.
  • Powerful and Strong Connection: Built-in two HDMI 2.0 inputs and one Display 1.4 port, you can connect Desktop PC, Gaming Laptops, Switch, XBOX, PS gaming console to the monitor. All of the ports support up to impressive 240Hz refresh rate, our gaming monitor can offer pro-level gaming experience for the users.
SaleBestseller No. 8
SAMSUNG 25" Odyssey G4 Series FHD Gaming Monitor, IPS, 240Hz, 1ms, G-Sync Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium, HDR10, Ultrawide Game View, DisplayPort, HDMI, Fully Adjustable Stand, LS25BG402ENXGO
  • FHD RESOLUTION & IPS PANEL: You can see games like never before; IPS panel delivers clear colors and a wide 178º viewing angle for clarity from any viewpoint; With more pixels and greater depth, gaming gets closer to reality than ever before
  • 240Hz REFRESH RATE & 1MS(GTG) RESPONSE TIME: Speed through scenes; 240Hz refresh rate eliminates lag for exhilarating gameplay with ultra-smooth action; Jump on enemies right when you see them with a 1ms(GTG) response time and blur-free frames
  • NVIDIA G-SYNC COMPATIBLE: Screen sync technology keeps your GPU and panel synced to eliminate choppiness, screen-lag and image tears; G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium support ensures fast-action game scenes are stable and stutter-free

Some of the best-selling 240hz Monitors online:

Acer Nitro XZ270 Xbmiipx 27″ 1500R Curved Full HD

Sceptre 27 inch 240Hz 1080p Gaming Monitor

AOC C27G2Z 27″ Curved Frameless Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor

Dell 240Hz Gaming Monitor 24.5 Inch Full HD Monitor

SAMSUNG 32″ Odyssey Neo G8 4K UHD 240Hz 1ms G-Sync

SAMSUNG Odyssey G4 Series 25-Inch FHD Gaming Monitor

Another way to check is to check the settings.

For Windows 10, go to Settings> System> Display> Advanced display settings> Display adapter properties. Next, go to the “Monitor” tab and choose your page refresh rate from the drop-down menu.

What you see in this list can be removed from your Monitor.

5. Check if your console supports 240 Hz

os4 and ps5
ps4 and ps5 console

If your monitor is 240Hz but only shows 120Hz, another common problem is that while your monitor supports 240Hz, it might not be your console.

For example, all PS4 models (including the PS4 Pro) only have a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz. This also applies to the Xbox One and all of its models.

PS5 and Xbox Series X can run at 120 Hz with 1080p resolution.

Most likely your console doesn’t support 240Hz unless you’re playing on a PC.

Learn more about 120hz vs 144hz Monitors For Gaming .

6. Plug the cable into the wrong ports

hdmi port
HDMI port

Finally, perhaps the craziest thing you can do is plug the appropriate cables into different ports. The only reason I know it’s possible is because I did it myself, despite the shameful claim.

And no, I haven’t connected HDMI 2.0b to a normal HDMI connector port yet, because that’s not possible.

I did this by plugging HDMI 2.0B into the HDMI 2.0 port on the computer case to make sure I never plugged it into the GPU port, but somewhere else. Yes, it’s crazy, but it’s happening. Make sure it’s not something you’ve done.

To prevent your 240Hz monitor from running at 120 Hz, you must connect HDMI 2.0b to the GPU port. The other end of the cable should go to the HDMI port 2.0b on your new monitor. Simple, isn’t it?

FAQ’S

Can HDMI reach 240Hz?

HDMI 2.0 displays 1440p at 144Hz and 1080p at 240Hz. Versions 1.4 and 2.0 support adaptive synchronization, i.e. AMD FreeSync technology.

HDMI 2.0a adds support for High Dynamic Range (HDR), while HDMI 2.0b has the advanced HDR10 format and support for the HLG standard.

How do I check the HZ of my monitor?

Right-click on the desktop and click Display Settings.

Find and select the Advanced Display Settings tab.

Click Video Adapter Properties.

Click the Monitor tab.

Select the desired refresh rate and click Apply and then OK.

How do I enable the 240hz Nvidia control panel?

open the Nvidia control panel, then go to the “Resolution” tab under “Displays”, then select the desired resolution under “PC (not Ultra HD, HD, SD)” and “Select» 240 ». Hertz” under the “Refresh Rate” option.

Conclusion

Hopefully, thanks to all of the above, I was able to solve your problem and now you can jump back and play your favorite games at a curved screen of 240 Hz. If you find other potential reasons why you could use 120 Hz instead of 240 Hz, please leave a comment below.

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