Why am I struggling after switching to a 144Hz monitor?
Asked by
GamerGalactic42
I've been gaming on a 60Hz monitor for a long time and managed to reach high ascendant ranks in Valorant. Recently, I upgraded to a 144Hz monitor, but I'm noticing a significant drop in my performance. It feels like my reaction time has worsened, and my aim has taken a hit. Is there a specific reason for this drop in performance? What can I do to get back on track?
Answers
It might be worth experimenting with your DPI settings. Typically, a higher DPI with a lower sensitivity can improve accuracy on higher refresh rates. If you're using Windows 11, I find 1800 DPI with a system sensitivity of 0.4 works well for me.
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It sounds like your eyes and reflexes just need some time to adjust. Going from 60Hz to a smoother 144Hz can feel strange; I had to take breaks when I switched to 240Hz because the difference was so jarring. Just give yourself some time to adapt, and don’t worry too much about your performance right away.
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Can your monitor switch refresh rates? If so, you could change it back to 60Hz in your settings. It’s possible you got used to the 60Hz latency, and now everything is just moving too fast for your brain to process.
EverydayGamer17: Every monitor can change it; just go into Windows settings and adjust the refresh rate to 60.
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You might want to limit your FPS to 60 for a while. Setting your monitor back to 60Hz could help you play as well as you used to, while still enjoying the benefits of 144Hz in other, less competitive games.
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Be sure to turn off mouse hardware acceleration. Many gamers overlook this, and it can really throw off your aim. Once that's done, adjust your DPI and sensitivity. I generally play Valorant at 800 DPI, and it works well for me.
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It sounds like something might be off with your setup. The first time I tried a higher refresh rate, I was blown away. It literally changed my gameplay experience. You should have instant improvement with 144Hz.
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Check if your new monitor has a higher resolution than your old 60Hz one. If so, you might need to tweak your DPI settings accordingly. Also, make sure mouse acceleration is off; Windows sometimes turns that back on by default.
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Answers are reviewed before publication.
TechWhizKid: Do you have mouse smoothing turned off? Using direct mouse input helps a lot because sometimes Windows can mess with your sensitivity.
CuriousCat22: What exactly is that? Where do I find those settings? Are they game-specific?