Refresh rate limited when 2 monitors are running?

I have HDMI (plasma) and DVI (monitor) out on my Radeon HD graphics card. I also run duplicate monitor mode in Windows.

However, for whatever reason, Windows 7 limits my refresh rate at 29hz. If I disable the plasma (only show desktop on monitor 1) I can run at 60hz. Also in CCC I can force the Plasma to run at 60hz.

How comes Windows when in my desktop on my monitor limits the refresh rate at 29hz?

This is used as a HTPC so both outputs need to be active so I have to run duplicate monitors.

Is this a Windows 7 fault?

I think its more likely to be a limitation of your Graphics Card. If you have two monitors with high resolution then it may have trouble refreshing them both at the normal 75/60hz.


Dave

However, for whatever reason, Windows 7 limits my refresh rate at 29hz.

No, your TV is limiting the refresh rate to 29 Hz. That would be because you are running in duplicate/clone mode, which will run both displays at the highest supported resolution/refresh rate of whichever display has the lowest numbers. It also isn't a card limitation as the card is seeing it as a TV and running it at the resolution/refresh rate that the TV says it supports. Check your TV's settings and see if it can be set to computer when connected to the computer via HDMI.

You want to be able to configure each display independently you need to run them in extended mode.

I have to run duplicate monitors.

Unless you have to or need to mirror what is on both displays, run them in extended mode and just open your media player on the TV (or open it on the monitor and drag it to the TV.

Okay thanks, it does have Computer Mode so I will check that out – I’ll also try Extended Desktop although I have a feeling that it will be a bit of a pain having WMC opening up on just the TV without having to drag it across.


Is there a way to set it so that when WMC opens it ALWAYS opens on my HDTV as a maximised window?

After dragging it to the TV, it should open there on its own the next time you open it.

Thanks man - I'll have a play tonight.... and then I might try and do this ha ha. Sorry, poor joke. Anyway, yeah I'll give it a go tonight and make this as solved when/if it works.

LOL! Good luck.

Thanks a lot - this works.

However, is it possible to lock to mouse to the different displays? When I'm using this (surfing etc) I am not using my HDTV and the mouse often goes off the side when I'm closing windows down ha. I know it's a little trivial but is there such a feature?

Thank you again.

Only way I know of is to use something like Ultramon,

UltraMon Features - Other features

which does have that feature in it. Not free but has quite a few options/features for a multi monitor set up.

One thing you can do is to open the Windows display settings (right click the deaktop and select Screen Resolution), and assuming that the TV is the one on the right, drag it so that it is on the left side of the monitor (or left to right). That will stop the mouse from drifting off the right side of the monitor, just makes it that you have to remember that if you want to do anything on the TV you will have to move the mouse left off of the monitor.

Thanks!!