Multiple monitor refresh rate improvements coming to Windows 11

Microsoft is introducing a new feature in Windows 11 that makes it easier to use multiple high refresh rate monitors. The update automatically adjusts the refresh rates on different monitors based on the content being displayed. This not only improves power usage but also reduces the need for GPU fans to spin up frequently.

According to a Windows Insider blog by Microsoft, this improvement in refresh rate logic allows for different refresh rates on different monitors. It is particularly useful for multitasking scenarios, such as playing a game and watching a video simultaneously.

Using multiple monitors with high refresh rates often increases GPU power draw. Nvidia RTX 30- and 40-series Founders Edition cards have a zero RPM mode, but it gets disabled when multiple high refresh rate displays are connected. With Microsoft’s update, these GPUs will maintain zero RPM mode and switch to higher refresh rates on different monitors based on the content displayed. Currently, the workaround is to manually lower the secondary monitor’s refresh rate.

In addition to multiple monitors, Windows 11 is also introducing Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) improvements for laptops. When battery saver is enabled, the refresh rate of a laptop’s screen will be lowered until the battery saver mode is disabled.

These refresh rate improvements are currently being tested in Windows 11 test builds and will be available to all Windows 11 users in the near future.