How to Optimize a Gaming Laptop for 144Hz

A 144Hz refresh rate on a gaming laptop unlocks smoother visuals and a more immersive gameplay experience. However, simply having a 144Hz display doesn’t automatically guarantee top-tier performance. Many gamers find that their laptops fall short of fully utilizing this potential. This guide will help you optimize your gaming laptop to take full advantage of 144Hz, providing smoother gameplay, reduced screen tearing, and better responsiveness.

Understanding 144Hz: Why It Matters

The refresh rate of a display refers to how many times the screen updates per second. A 144Hz display refreshes 144 times per second, compared to the standard 60Hz. This makes fast-paced action games look much smoother and more fluid, which can even give players a competitive edge.

But to enjoy this benefit, your laptop needs to be configured and optimized correctly. Below are the steps to ensure your gaming laptop performs optimally for 144Hz gaming.

How to Check If Your Gaming Laptop Is Running at 144Hz?

​​To check if your gaming laptop is running at 144Hz, follow these steps:

1. Check Display Refresh Rate via Windows Settings

Steps:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.
3. Under Display Information, look for:
   • The connected display (e.g., “Display 1: Internal Display”)
   • Refresh rate (Hz) – it should say 144Hz.

If it says 60Hz or another value, click on “Display adapter properties for Display 1”, then:

4. Go to the Monitor tab.
5. In the Screen refresh rate dropdown, select 144Hz.
6. Click Apply and OK.

2. Use GPU Control Panel

NVIDIA Control Panel:

• Open it from the desktop context menu or system tray.
• Go to Display > Change resolution.
• Under “Refresh rate,” ensure it’s set to 144Hz.

AMD Radeon Settings:

• Open the software.
• Go to Display.
• Check and set the refresh rate to 144Hz.

3. Use Third-Party Tools

You can also use utilities that display real-time monitor stats:

• Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) – to view all refresh rates supported.
• FPS Monitor – to see real-time FPS and refresh rate during gameplay.

4. Use TestUFO (Browser Test)

Visit www.testufo.com/refreshrate in Google Chrome or a compatible browser.

• The tool will automatically detect and display your current refresh rate.
• Ensure your browser is in full-screen mode for best results.

 5. Check In-Game Settings (Optional)

Many modern games show your current FPS or monitor refresh rate:

• Open game settings > video or graphics tab.
• Look for Display Mode and Refresh Rate.
• Set to 144Hz if available.

How To Enable 144Hz in Display Settings

Many laptops don’t use the 144Hz setting by default. To activate it:

Windows:

• Right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings.
• Scroll down and click on Advanced Display Settings.
• Choose the 144Hz display from the dropdown (if multiple screens are connected).
• Click Display Adapter Properties for Display 1.
• Go to the Monitor tab and set the Screen Refresh Rate to 144Hz.
• Click Apply and then OK.

Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers can limit performance and cause compatibility issues.

Steps:

• Visit the official site for your GPU brand (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
• Download the latest drivers for your graphics card model.
• Use proprietary software like NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software for automatic updates.

Tip: Clean install the drivers for best performance by selecting “Perform a clean installation” in the custom installation options.

Optimize In-Game Settings for High FPS

A 144Hz screen only benefits you if your GPU can push out frames close to or above 144 FPS.

Recommendations:

• Set game resolution to native for sharp visuals.
• Lower graphical settings (shadows, post-processing, anti-aliasing) if FPS is below 144.
• Use DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR (AMD) if available for higher frame rates.

Focus on competitive settings if playing multiplayer games—these prioritize performance over visuals.

Adjust Power Settings for Maximum Performance

Windows may throttle performance under default or power-saving modes.

How to change it:

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options.
• Select High Performance or Ultimate Performance (on supported devices).
• For laptops, ensure you’re plugged in when gaming to avoid power limitations.

Configure Graphics Control Panel

Most GPUs come with control panels that allow further optimization.

NVIDIA:

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Go to Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings.
• Set Power Management Mode to Prefer Maximum Performance.
• Set Vertical Sync to Off (unless screen tearing is an issue).

AMD:

• Open AMD Radeon Settings.
• Navigate to Graphics > Global Settings.
• Enable Radeon Chill only if trying to conserve power (not for max performance).
• Set Texture Filtering Quality to Performance.

6. Disable Background Apps and Services

Apps running in the background consume CPU and memory resources, reducing game performance.

Recommendations:

• Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to close unnecessary apps.
• Disable startup apps via Task Manager > Startup tab.
• Use Game Mode in Windows: Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, and turn it on.

Overclock GPU and Monitor (Optional)

For advanced users, overclocking can push your hardware beyond default limits.

Caution:

• Use tools like MSI Afterburner for GPU overclocking.
• Only slightly increase the core clock and memory clock, and test stability.
• Monitor temperatures using tools like HWMonitor or GPU-Z.
• Some monitors can also be overclocked to exceed 144Hz, but this can void warranties.

Ensure Proper Cooling and Maintenance

Thermal throttling occurs when your laptop overheats, reducing performance.

Cooling Tips:

• Use a cooling pad to reduce heat buildup.
• Clean air vents regularly to prevent dust accumulation.
• Apply new thermal paste every 1–2 years if you’re comfortable opening the laptop.
• Keep fans set to aggressive cooling profiles in BIOS or software utilities.

Use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+ for External Monitors

If you’re using an external display, ensure the connection supports 144Hz:

• DisplayPort is preferred.
• HDMI 2.0 or newer is required for 1080p @ 144Hz.
• Avoid HDMI 1.4, which caps at 1080p 60Hz.

Benchmark and Monitor Performance

Use benchmarking tools to track your laptop’s performance:

Tools:

• FPS Monitor – Displays real-time frame rates and resource usage.
• 3DMark – For GPU stress testing.
• UserBenchmark or PassMark – For overall system evaluation.

This helps identify if your laptop is underperforming and where improvements can be made.

How to Increase FPS for a 144Hz Display?

Increasing FPS (frames per second) is crucial to fully benefit from a 144Hz display. If your FPS doesn’t reach or stay near 144, you won’t experience the smoothness your screen is capable of. Here are effective ways to boost FPS on a gaming laptop:

1. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

Focus on reducing:

• Shadows
• Anti-aliasing
• Post-processing effects
• Motion blur
• Ambient occlusion

Set presets like “Medium” or “Low” in competitive games for smoother performance.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause poor performance.

• Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software, or go to the official GPU website.
• Perform a clean install when possible for best results.

3. Enable Performance Mode in Windows

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options.
• Select High Performance or Ultimate Performance.
• Also, turn on Game Mode via Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.

4. Disable Background Programs

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
• End unnecessary tasks consuming CPU, GPU, or RAM.
• Disable startup apps that slow down your system boot.

5. Optimize GPU Settings

For NVIDIA:

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings.
  • Power management mode: Prefer maximum performance
  • Texture filtering: Performance
  • V-Sync: Off (unless you see tearing)

For AMD:

• Open Radeon Software > Graphics settings.
  • Enable Radeon Boost.
  • Set Texture Filtering Quality to Performance.
  • Turn off Vertical Refresh (V-Sync).

6. Improve Cooling

Overheating causes thermal throttling, reducing FPS.

• Use a cooling pad.
• Clean fans and vents regularly.
• Avoid gaming on soft surfaces (like a bed or pillow).

7. Overclock GPU (Advanced)

Use tools like MSI Afterburner to increase GPU clock speeds.

Caution: Monitor temperatures, increase gradually, and stress-test after changes. Only overclock if you’re experienced.

8. Keep Storage and OS Clean

• Ensure you have enough free space on your SSD.
• Run Disk Cleanup and delete junk files.
• Use software like CCleaner to clean temporary files and registry issues.

9. Use Direct Power, Not Battery

• Plug your laptop into the charger while gaming.
• Laptops often reduce GPU/CPU power when on battery to save energy.

10. Benchmark and Monitor

Use tools like:

• MSI Afterburner (overlay for real-time FPS/temperature)
• FPS Monitor
• 3DMark or UserBenchmark for synthetic tests

These help identify bottlenecks (GPU, CPU, RAM) that may be limiting your FPS.

Final Tip:

If your laptop still struggles to hit 144 FPS, aim for consistent frame rates (like 100–120 FPS). It’s still a big improvement over 60Hz and will look much smoother.

Final Thoughts

A 144Hz display is a powerful asset for gamers—but only when paired with a properly optimized system. By following the steps outlined in this guide—ranging from enabling the right settings to tuning your hardware—you can ensure your gaming laptop consistently delivers fluid, high-refresh-rate gameplay.

Regular maintenance and performance monitoring are essential. As games evolve and system requirements change, revisiting these settings every few months will help keep your laptop in peak condition.

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