Can the P170EM with 7970M handle an external 120/144Hz monitor?

I understand that the DVI port is not dual-link and that the DisplayPort has to be used. Before I buy a 144Hz monitor, I just wanted to know if my computer can handle it. I'm not interested in using the 3D aspect of these monitors. I just want to play CS:GO at 144Hz.

 

The max listed resolution for the HD3000 is 2560x1600 at 60hz.

IIRC it can do 120hz 1080p but it can be picky with what displays it works with and what options it allows for each.

 

The i7-3720QM in OP's laptop has HD4000 GPU. Does it support higher resolutions and/or refresh rates, than HD3000?

 

Nope. 2560 x 1600 is the ceiling for HD 4000.

https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-processor-graphics

 

That link isn't really accurate. I've been told otherwise by the Intel engineers I've worked with in the past.

IF you use DP you "should" be able to do 120Hz or even 144Hz if you're on the latest Intel drivers, at least up to 1080p. The older ones didn't support it but any of the recent ones do.

I have a 144Hz refresh rate using DP on my HD4600 CPU iGUP and it works on 144 or 120Hz fine.

Can't say for sure on the higher res part though but 1080p is fine.

 

Really? That's interesting. I had someone yesterday that called in that seemed to run into the same limitation. His 675M faces a similar resolution cap, though I suppose that's kind of irrelevant with muxless Optimus.

 

I don't plan on playing 1080p as that causes my frames to drop with the highest settings. I'm playing at the lowest res possible, 16:10 ratio, with low-ish settings. The quality of the graphics isn't that important to me. I just want the smoothness of a high refresh rate and high fps. Thanks all for the replies so far. My monitor is coming in tomorrow and I already have my DP cable.

One more question, though. If I use two monitors, and one is only 60Hz, will I still be able to use the new monitor at 144Hz or will both be running at the lowest common denominator?

 

Maybe they need to update intel driver?

https://communities.intel.com/message/223311

This is the thread where I figured out it was the driver

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...m-clevo-p150sm-120hz-display.html#post9348133

Every driver since has been fine though.

Just MUST be display port and must be on Intel drivers dated after Feb.

I don't know the resolution limit, but I know 120 or 144Hz WILL work on HD4x00 iGPU at least on 1080p.

Refresh rate is per monitor.
I can run my laptop monitor at 1080p 60Hz and my external at 144Hz 1080p at same times just fine.
Multiple monitors will hurt your FPS though.

 

I see. I have no choice, though, I need to have two monitors (both external), with laptop screen disabled.

 

That brings up a new issue. I don't think you can have two external monitors on that machine. I could be wrong but because the way the iGPU and the dGPU are in series it limits to laptop and 1 external I think.

I had a dell at one point and could have 3 but that was because the laptop display used iGPU and the external dGPU. In our case it all tunnels iGPU.

 

I've done 3 external monitors (1 in each port) and it worked just fine. It was a bit clumsy but it worked. I can't remember if I had the laptop screen on too, though. Not sure if it was 4 total displays or just the 3 external monitors.

 

It should not impact your fps much unless you are at low memory speeds.

 

To clarify: that wasn't the issue. The issue was running resolutions considerably higher than 1080p @ 60 Hz or above.

I believe three total displays is the limit.

 

Yes it's three total, intel have guidelines on multi monitor setups:

Graphics Drivers — Configuration 3-Displays FAQ