Connected laptop to an external monitor and got 5x more FPS

[ogname]

So I had this issue where my game was lagging at over 200 FPS like it felts choppy and it was stuttering so I decided to see if anyone on the forum could help but nothing worked, so I decided to use my cousins external display and on MC my FPS went up to 1000! And all the lag and stuttering was gone whilst my FPS only went up 100 frames from 140 originally on valorant it still felt VERY SMOOTH. Can anyone explain how this is? The resolution was 1600x900 75hz my laptop has a 1920x1080 res with 60hz. Resolution can’t be it since I tried 1600x900 on my laptop and there was little to no difference.

 

[R00kie]

are you sure you were on 60hz on the laptop screen?

 

[ogname]

are you sure you were on 60hz on the laptop screen?

Yes but the FPS increase is insane, what gives?

 

[Bill_Bright]

Did you disable the notebook monitor when viewing on the external monitor? If so, that might explain it. If the notebook monitor was not being used, the notebook's internal voltage dividers and regulators would be less stressed resulting in less heat being generated.

 

[ogname]

Did you disable the notebook monitor when viewing on the external monitor? If so, that might explain it. If the notebook monitor was not being used, the notebook's internal voltage dividers and regulators would be less stressed resulting in less heat being generated.

I don’t believe I did, how could I do that on my laptop? Shouldn’t my laptop also be capable of the performance?

 

[Bill_Bright]

how could I do that on my laptop?

There will be a Fn + F-key combination to cycle through display options. The options typically are notebook monitor, external monitor, both. There is no industry standard for which F-key does it so you will have to look at your keys for labels, or your manual.

Shouldn’t my laptop also be capable of the performance?

I guess that depends on who you talk to. If you talk to the notebook maker's marketing people, they will tell you, yes. But many experienced users, especially those with expertise in hardware and hardware cooling will tell you notebooks are incapable of making good gaming machines or "desktop replacements".

Why? Because notebook makers can pack the power of a PC into a tiny notebook case, but they can't pack the necessary cooling.

If a standard tower case, which typically supports many large (140mm or larger) case fans and large CPU and GPU heatsink fan assemblies is challenged to keep the innards properly cooled, how can a tiny, thin notebook case be expected to provide adequate cooling?

 

[ogname]

There will be a Fn + F-key combination to cycle through display options. The options typically are notebook monitor, external monitor, both. There is no industry standard for which F-key does it so you will have to look at your keys for labels, or your manual.
So in order for me to reach that performance, I MUST be connected to an external display?

I guess that depends on who you talk to. If you talk to the notebook maker's marketing people, they will tell you, yes. But many experienced users, especially those with expertise in hardware and hardware cooling will tell you notebooks are incapable of making good gaming machines or "desktop replacements".

Why? Because notebook makers can pack the power of a PC into a tiny notebook case, but they can't pack the necessary cooling.

If a standard tower case, which typically supports many large (140mm or larger) case fans and large CPU and GPU heatsink fan assemblies is challenged to keep the innards properly cooled, how can a tiny, thin notebook case be expected to provide adequate cooling?

So in order for me to reach that performance, I MUST be connected to an external monitor?

 

[milewski1015]

So in order for me to reach that performance, I MUST be connected to an external monitor?

If that's what's working for you, then it would seem that way.

I forget if this was already covered in another thread, but have you tried capping your frame rates? If your laptop display is only 60Hz, it can't show you more than 60 fps. By leaving your FPS uncapped, your GPU is working as hard as it can to produce those high FPS numbers that you can't make use of. That means your GPU is just pushing itself to the limit for no reason.

 

[Bill_Bright]

So in order for me to reach that performance, I MUST be connected to an external monitor?

I don't know.

I don't know the full capability of your notebook or its graphics solution. And I don't know why you seem to be limited with the notebook's own monitor - for example, is your notebook throttling due to heat? I don't know.

 

[ogname]

If that's what's working for you, then it would seem that way.

I forget if this was already covered in another thread, but have you tried capping your frame rates? If your laptop display is only 60Hz, it can't show you more than 60 fps. By leaving your FPS uncapped, your GPU is working as hard as it can to produce those high FPS numbers that you can't make use of. That means your GPU is just pushing itself to the limit for no reason.

If I cap my frames nothing is fixed, it still lags with a side of input lag. So I guess I'm going to get a monitor in order to get the performance.

I don't know.

I don't know the full capability of your notebook or its graphics solution. And I don't know why you seem to be limited with the notebook's own monitor - for example, is your notebook throttling due to heat? I don't know.

It can't be that since I only reach max 92 cel which is normal for gaming laptops.

My display is set to 60.030 hz could that be a reason for the stutters and lag? I mean it won't let me change it.

 

[dgianstefani]

There will be a Fn + F-key combination to cycle through display options. The options typically are notebook monitor, external monitor, both. There is no industry standard for which F-key does it so you will have to look at your keys for labels, or your manual.


I guess that depends on who you talk to. If you talk to the notebook maker's marketing people, they will tell you, yes. But many experienced users, especially those with expertise in hardware and hardware cooling will tell you notebooks are incapable of making good gaming machines or "desktop replacements".

Why? Because notebook makers can pack the power of a PC into a tiny notebook case, but they can't pack the necessary cooling.

If a standard tower case, which typically supports many large (140mm or larger) case fans and large CPU and GPU heatsink fan assemblies is challenged to keep the innards properly cooled, how can a tiny, thin notebook case be expected to provide adequate cooling?

False, I push 200+ fps in my blade daily with settings turned up.

The simple answer to your convoluted "reasoning" is that laptop components run in the sweet spot for efficiency. They trade about 20-30% frequency for about a 60% of the power draw. Hence a laptop Ryzen APU running at 80-90% of a 3700x while using less than half the power. Same with GPUs.

The other thing is that laptops tend to use more exotic cooling solutions like huge vapour chambers for example.

 

[Papahyooie]

What is this, like the third account you've made to ask crazy nonsense questions like this?

 

[phanbuey]

do you have panel self-refresh enabled? Mostly likely a buggy software setting / driver issues that's getting kicked off when the main panel is being used, and is shut off when external monitor directly to GPU.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It can't be that since I only reach max 92 cel which is normal for gaming laptops.

Normal? No.

While that may not be considered "HOT!", it is very very warm and not normal.

False

True. Your one-off anecdotal example does not set the rule. Of course there are always exceptions but exceptions don't make the rule.

It is just a simple fact that notebook cases do not have the physical space to support 3, 4, 5 or more large cooling fans (let alone alternative cooling solutions like water cooling). Notebook cases don't have the physical space to support big CPU (or GPU) heatsinks and big (width AND depth) CPU fans. And of course, notebook cases cannot easily be opened up to totally expose the interior for thorough cleaning of heat trapping dust.

The simple answer to your convoluted "reasoning" is that laptop components run in the sweet spot for efficiency.

LOL Yeah right! And PC components don't? Now that's convoluted (and totally incorrect) reasoning. Notebooks, for sure are superior in two key areas. (1) Mobility. And (2) throttling back in performance when they get too hot.

The other thing is that laptops tend to use more exotic cooling solutions like huge vapour chambers for example.

Let's be realistic here, okay. Sure vapor chamber cooling are great inside the tiny confines of a notebook case. But vapor chambers still can't complete with full size heat pipes in a decent mid or full tower PC case. And for sure, any decent water cooler in a PC is more efficient than even the best vapor chamber cooling solution.

Sure, there are decent notebooks out there that game well. But even the best notebooks that are marketed as "gaming notebooks" are still compromises compared to gaming PCs. They still have heat control issues. They tend to be much thicker, bulkier, heavier (thus less mobile). They have a tiny display, cramped keyboard and no mouse. Of course, you can connect an external monitor, full-sized keyboard and mouse, but then you lose all mobility. And you still have the heat control issues.

I get it. Gaming notebook users love their gaming notebooks. And they are marvels in technology. But they are still notebooks in tiny notebook cases. The Laws of Physics apply. Notebook cases cannot support the same cooling capabilities in them that PC cases can. So notebook makers have to incorporate compromises and mitigation technologies to prevent thermal damage due to the excessive heat that will be generated but can't be expelled fast enough from those notebook cases.

 

[dgianstefani]

LOL Yeah right! And PC components don't? Now that's convoluted (and totally incorrect) reasoning. Notebooks, for sure are superior in two key areas. (1) Mobility. And (2) throttling back in performance when they get too hot.

Yes, PC components don't run in their sweet spots, this is correct reasoning and you have said nothing that disproves it.

The sweet spot for 14nm++ intel is around 3.8ghz, which can be achieved with 65w TDP on a 10C processor sustained. For the same 10C processor to reach 5.2ghz on all cores it requires around 255w, 4x higher wattage for a frequency increase of 35%.
For Ryzen the sweet spot is around 3.6 ghz and their 16core 3950x can run all cores at this frequency sipping approximately 70w, but needing 190+w to hit 4.3. Does that seem like diminishing returns? It is.

Come back with some logic behind your statements.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Yes, PC components don't run in their sweet spots, this is correct reasoning and you have said nothing that disproves it.

But notebooks do? Okay. I'm out of here.

 

[dgianstefani]

Yes... Notebooks do... The same silicon dies clocked at much lower frequencies for a tradeoff of roughly 30% frequency for less than a third of the power draw compared to desktop chips. Go read a spec sheet and educate yourself.

Unless of course you think theres no difference between h class notebook chips running at 4ghz all core 45w tdp and k class desktop chips running at 5ghz all core 125w+ tdp...

How about u class chips running at 3ghz all core on a 15w power budget? Still all the same to you?

Either you're intentionally trolling or somehow that ignorant.

Desktop chips trade efficiency for raw performance since they have cooling in reserve, notebook chips run more efficiently at a cost of some frequency. Why are you even arguing about this?

 

[Bill_Bright]

Desktop chips trade efficiency for raw performance since they have cooling in reserve, notebook chips run more efficiently at a cost of some frequency. Why are you even arguing about this?

I'm not. You are. In fact, you just proved my initial point but since you really don't understand heat, electronics and cooling, you don't get it!

You seem to think the best gaming is achieved through maximum "efficiency". WRONG! As you even suggested, it is all about "raw performance".

Yes, maximum "efficiency" is a desired goal in notebooks. Why? Because maximum efficiency equates to less wasted energy (energy wasted in the form of heat). And that means less heat to dissipate and expel (always a problem with notebooks) for the amount of energy consumed, and it means longer battery run times. But less heat, less consumed energy and longer battery run times does NOT equal better performance for the "best gaming". That's where "raw performance" comes in.

Are you seriously going to pretend the best "gaming" notebooks can match the gaming performance of the best gaming PCs?

And since my initial comment also claimed that notebooks can't be true "desktop replacements" are you seriously going to claim a notebook can simultaneously run multiple VMs, 3D rendering of CAD/CAE images, very large spreadsheets, data mining and more - all at full throttle?

I will say this one last time, then move on. Notebook makers can pack the power of a PC into a notebook case, but not the necessary cooling. I am sorry you can't see that. But that's just a fact.

 

[dgianstefani]

You're putting words in my mouth, and arguing about things noone has even raised, maybe you need to take a chill pill and work out what it is you're upset about before ranting.

"notebooks are incapable of making good gaming machines" false.
"notebooks are slightly slower than desktops" true.

First off you deny that notebooks operate at the sweet spot for efficiency, then you try and swing the argument to "efficiency never mattered" when that trash got shot down.

As to your trollop that notebooks can't pack the necessary cooling - they don't need to, since your idea of necessary cooling is based off the concept of a 400-500W waste TDP instead of the actual sub 200W notebooks actually need to cool.

Learn to read.

And since my initial comment also claimed that notebooks can't be true "desktop replacements" are you seriously going to claim a notebook can simultaneously run multiple VMs, 3D rendering of CAD/CAE images, very large spreadsheets, data mining and more - all at full throttle?

As to this rubbish - of course they can. A huge quantity of coders, 3D modellers and office workers work off workstation notebooks. We're not in the 90s anymore in case you didn't notice, PC shipments have fallen flat, and notebook shipments are steadily rising, with a huge proportion of those being powerful gaming or workstation systems.

 

[95Viper]

Help the OP, please... do not get into a pissing match about who's theories are the correct ones.
Keep the thread on the topic and stop the detours to side discussions.

Thank You and have a nice day

 

[Swolley]

There is so much fluff here and no one seems to be able to tell you why your performance shot up

An external monitor will almost always give you a performance boost as it will be directly connected to your graphics card, while your internal monitor is most likely connected to your CPU first (then gpu, it runs in a hybrid mode causing it to lose FPS)

 

[dgianstefani]

There is so much fluff here and no one seems to be able to tell you why your performance shot up

An external monitor will almost always give you a performance boost as it will be directly connected to your graphics card, while your internal monitor is most likely connected to your CPU first (then gpu, it runs in a hybrid mode causing it to lose FPS)

Mostly correct. If the laptop does not have a gsync display, the DGPU is routed through the IGPU, to allow for graphics switching. If the laptop does have a gsync display, the video output is direct from the DGPU at all times, unless you toggle it in the bios.

 

[Batou1986]

What's going on is your GPU has to send its signals through the CPU's GPU to the laptop screen, the external monitor bypasses that as its connected directly.

External Monitor Boosts Laptop Gaming Performance!?

Connecting an external monitor to a laptop should increase gaming performance in most instances, let’s discuss why this is the case, and find out just how big the difference is in a number of...

techplanet.today

30s on google vs 20 something posts of arguing
Also if your CPU is under heavy load and throttling I imagine that could slow things down even more.

 

[sneekypeet]

Seven month old thread where OP hasn't been on TPU in the last six.

Well worth adding anything at this point. SMH

 

[Bill_Bright]

Well worth adding anything at this point. SMH

Assuming you meant "hardly worth", I agree.