Will Using Two Monitors Lower My FPS?

Wondering if having two monitors messes with your FPS when you’re gaming or hitting up some heavy-duty apps? Well, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. A lot depends on your computer’s specs, how you’re using those screens, and what exactly you’re running.

Here’s the lowdown on what you should know:

• Your Graphics Card’s Game: Modern graphics cards are pretty robust, so handling a couple of displays is usually no biggie. If you’ve got something like an NVIDIA RTX, you’re probably fine. But if you’re rocking an older or entry-level card, you might notice a dip in performance.
• Demanding Apps are the Real Test: When you’re pushing your PC to its limits with a graphically heavy game and streaming Netflix on the side, things can get dicey. Streaming live or downloading while gaming could really test your system.
• Resolution and Refresh Rate Matter: Got two high-res monitors (we’re talking 1440p or 4K)? That’s more pressure on your GPU. High resolutions need more muscle, so your setup might snag some frames here and there.
• Pop-Out Windows Aren’t Just for Fun: If you’ve ever been into flight simulators like MSFS, you’ll know that moving game panels to another screen can tank your FPS. Players have reported a drop of 13 to 18 FPS with those extra windows. Go figure!
• Your Overall System Setup: How beefy is your CPU and RAM? If we’re talking power-packed, you’re likely good. But older systems may struggle a bit when juggling multiple displays.

So, what’s the cheat sheet for keeping FPS in check? Here it goes:

• Upgrade, Upgrade, Upgrade: Make sure you’ve got the hardware that can keep up.
• Tweak Those Settings: Shift resources where you need them most.
• Stay Up to Date: Don’t slack on those driver updates.
• Cut the Clutter: Ditch unnecessary background apps sucking up resources.

At the end of the day, while two monitors can make a difference in FPS based on a bunch of factors, most modern rigs handle it pretty decently unless you’re really pushing the limits.

Having two monitors can mess with your FPS during gaming and regular use, and here’s why:

First up, there’s the graphics card load. If you’ve got a single GPU powering more than one screen, brace yourself for a dip in FPS when you’ve got those high-intensity games running. And if you’re cranking up the resolution and refresh rate on both monitors—like going from good old 1080p to two 4Ks—the GPU’s really sweating it out. Plus, if you’re like me and love having YouTube or Twitch open on the second monitor while gaming, that’s another strain on the GPU that can throttle FPS.

Moving along, let’s talk about your CPU and RAM. Doing a gazillion things at once on dual monitors can put your CPU through its paces, especially if you’re doing anything complicated on the second screen. Memory-wise, slapping on more monitors can eat up your RAM, especially if you’re like me and can’t resist multitasking.

So, what can you do? Try tweaking display settings—shave down the resolution and refresh rate of the second monitor to cut the GPU some slack. If that’s still not enough, it might be time to fork out some cash for better hardware. Bumping up your GPU and RAM can make a noticeable difference. Also, always keep your GPU drivers updated and, if needed, lower those in-game graphic settings to keep your FPS from tanking. Alternatively, keep the gaming strictly to one screen and save the other monitor for lighter tasks like social media or Zoom calls.

And there you have it—going dual monitor may cause a few hiccups in FPS, but with a bit of tweaking, you can smooth things over.