So much screen tearing on external monitor

For the first time, I hooked up a second monitor to my M14X. It's a 21.5 inch 1080p, 60hz, LED monitor. Nothing super special, nothing bargain bin like either. Right away, I noticed a big problem though. From watching movies on VLC to playing games, there is alot of screen tearing.

I know the GT555M should easily be able to power a 21.5 inch monitor. My other laptop with an integrated graphics card and an old dual core processor (not i series) runs the same videos on VLC without any screen tearing. Since the cable and monitor between the tests on my M14X and other laptop were the same, I think it has something to do with the drivers on my M14X.

Any help about fixing this problem would be greatly appreciated!

Edit: I had the M14x on high performance and plugged in.

 

That sounds terrible, anyone else having this problem?
I am thinking about buying one, but this would be a no-go as I usually use screens at home...

btw, i want an alienware docking station ...

 

Yeah... it's really annoying and I haven't figured out what's the problem yet. My M14X's screen never had any screen tearing at all, it only happens when plugging in that external monitor. Usually, the cause for screen tearing is V-Sync or a weak GPU, but if that's the case, how does a laptop with an integrated card not have any screen tearing? Well, I'm hoping someone knows some tips on how to fix it.

 

I thought screen tearing was caused by not having vsync.

 

can be, I'd certainly check that its the same version of vlc your running for your video issue.
As for games, I'd certainly opt for vsync unless it degrades performance too much. FPS games, good frame frames are prefferable to good looks

I tend to use xbmc or straight media player with codecs. I find vlc a bit buggy and poor at ffd/rwd on HD material. It will however play pretty much anything, small footprint and has portable versions. It has plenty of plus points but bettered in other areas.

Have you checked the monitor properties in Win7. Not resorted to a lower refresh rate in the intel gfx or nvidia control panel? Wild stab in the dark that one......

 

OH, I fixed it!

The problem was indeed in the Nvidia control panel. My laptop screen was running at 40hz and my monitor at 60hz. I guess that difference caused the screen tearing? Well, in any case, putting the laptop screen at 60hz fixed the screen tearing problem.

 

what did u mean by screen tearing? :S also i now too run a 24" 1080P monitor with no problems :S

 

By screen tearing, I mean the picture seems like it's cut as in the top part of the screen is maybe a few frames ahead or behind the other part of the screen so it looks like it's messed up. It's hard to put into words, but it's like parts of the screen aren't aligned properly - it's as if the top of the screen is shifted either left or right by a few inches. I'm pretty sure the problem was my laptop's screen being at 40hz and the monitor at 60hz. When I switched my M14X screen to 60hz, the problem disappeared.

Edit:
Just did a quick google search and this picture shows what I had almost perfectly. Look at the tree and tree's branches and the path. I only had screen tearing at the top though.