Help! With using two monitors, my refresh rate keeps changing

[masterchither]

I need help with a problem I have with two monitors connected at the same time to my system. One problem is with my refresh rate changing to 60hz from 144hz, when my two monitors come back from either a screen time out, or from being locked and coming back on. Additionally, sometimes content/apps or a browser that was on monitor 2, the browser will be halfway across monitor one. Monitor two is a Dell S2721QS 4k 3840x2160 connected via HDMI Monitor one is ASUS VG27AQL1A 27 1440P connected DP. GPU Asus Rog Strix 3080 12gb. I have the latest drivers, etc.

Any additional thoughts or trouble shoot steps I could make. Also, why the Dell is connected via HDMI and not DP, is there is only one DP on the monitor, and it's attached to my work desktop when I am not using it for my personal time.

Edit On that system it's the ASUS monitor not the ACER 27" XB273U GX. The ACER 27" XB273U GX is downstairs

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

60hz from 144hz

Monitor two is a Dell S2721QS 4k 3840x2160 connected via HDMI Monitor one is ACER 27" XB273U GX 1440P connected DP.

Is the Acer not 165Hz? And the Dell is 60Hz.

Could you try moving the HDMI to the work desktop and DP to the gaming computer?

 

[masterchither]

Is the Acer not 165Hz? And the Dell is 60Hz.

Could you try moving the HDMI to the work desktop and DP to the gaming computer?

Is the Acer not 165Hz? And the Dell is 60Hz.

Could you try moving the HDMI to the work desktop and DP to the gaming computer?

The work PC is a HP deskpro 600, and does not have a HDMI port. So, I can't switch them. Also my mistake on the monitor, it's not the ACER, it's an ASUS TUF 27" 144hz
thank you

 

[Ruru]

Try to OC the 60Hz one to 72Hz or put the 144 one to 120Hz.

 

[tabascosauz]

I had this same issue a couple weeks ago on one of my monitors (S2721DGF + M32Q) after hurriedly buying a cheap no name DP cable from Best Buy. Sometimes the Dell would just randomly switch to 60Hz (and sometimes even lacked the option for 165Hz in Windows). I switched back to my two better DP cables (one 1.2 Dell from the S2721DGF, and one 1.4 cable from Cable Matters), and no longer have the problem.

As for the window placement when disconnecting/reconnecting monitors, Win 11 should be having less problems but it's not perfect, especially if you run different scaling, or have older games that don't alt-tab very well, or force Fullscreen option in NVCP. Win 11 should have an option to remember window positions under multiple monitors settings.

 

[Mussels]

If you use duplicate, the refresh rates are forced to match
Only extend works with different resolutions and refresh rates


DP is a lot better than HDMI when it comes to sleep/wake since it's a hotpluggable connector, you may actually be able to fix the problem with a cheap DP to HDMI dongle


In win11, i've been able to just hit F5 and refresh the desktop to get icons where they belong - but windows will move to an active monitor to prevent them getting lost if one has failed to wake up from sleep

 

[masterchither]

Try to OC the 60Hz one to 72Hz or put the 144 one to 120Hz.

Thank you

I had this same issue a couple weeks ago on one of my monitors (S2721DGF + M32Q) after hurriedly buying a cheap no name DP cable from Best Buy. Sometimes the Dell would just randomly switch to 60Hz (and sometimes even lacked the option for 165Hz in Windows). I switched back to my two better DP cables (one 1.2 Dell from the S2721DGF, and one 1.4 cable from Cable Matters), and no longer have the problem.

As for the window placement when disconnecting/reconnecting monitors, Win 11 should be having less problems but it's not perfect, especially if you run different scaling, or have older games that don't alt-tab very well, or force Fullscreen option in NVCP. Win 11 should have an option to remember window positions under multiple monitors settings.

I will take a look at the cables too. Thank you

If you use duplicate, the refresh rates are forced to match
Only extend works with different resolutions and refresh rates


DP is a lot better than HDMI when it comes to sleep/wake since it's a hotpluggable connector, you may actually be able to fix the problem with a cheap DP to HDMI dongle


In win11, i've been able to just hit F5 and refresh the desktop to get icons where they belong - but windows will move to an active monitor to prevent them getting lost if one has failed to wake up from sleep

F5 does work, I have been doing that or the Windows key. I forgot to say my taskbar is gone also when its like that. I am going to look for a HDMI to DP connector, now that you mention it. Thank you,