FAQ
TL;DR: On Acer XN253QP, HDMI tops at 60 Hz; DisplayPort delivers 144 Hz. "HDMI
DP only works in this order!" To get 144 Hz from a GTX 1650 with only HDMI/DVI, use an active HDMI‑to‑DisplayPort converter and a DP cable. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
Why it matters: It shows HDMI‑only GPU owners how to unlock 144 Hz on DP‑only 144 Hz monitors.
Quick Facts
- Acer Predator XN253QP: 24–60 Hz via HDMI; 30–144 Hz via DisplayPort. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
- The discussed GTX 1650 unit exposes HDMI and DVI‑D only (no DP on that build). [Elektroda, Astrexiak, post #19380097]
- Direction matters: DP→HDMI cables won’t work from HDMI source to DP display; you need an active HDMI→DP converter. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380126]
- Recommended path: GPU HDMI → active HDMI→DP converter → DP cable → monitor’s DP input. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380126]
What cable do I need for 144 Hz on an Acer XN253QP?
Feed the monitor’s DisplayPort input. If your GPU has DP, use a DP‑to‑DP cable. If your GPU only has HDMI/DVI, use an active HDMI‑to‑DisplayPort converter, then a DP cable to the monitor. Passive DP‑to‑HDMI cables won’t work in this direction. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380126]
Will HDMI 2.0b on a GTX 1650 give 144 Hz on this monitor?
No. This Acer’s HDMI input is limited to 60 Hz. Its DisplayPort input supports 30–144 Hz. So even with HDMI 2.0b on the GPU, you won’t see 144 Hz via HDMI on this model. Use DisplayPort for 144 Hz. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
How do I connect an HDMI‑only GPU to the DP‑only 144 Hz input?
- Connect your GPU’s HDMI output to an active HDMI→DisplayPort converter.
- Run a DP cable from the converter to the monitor’s DisplayPort input.
- In Windows/NVIDIA Control Panel, select 1920×1080 at 144 Hz. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380126]
Can a DP‑to‑HDMI cable work from my GPUs HDMI to the monitors DP?
No. DP‑to‑HDMI cables carry a DP‑source signal to an HDMI display. You have an HDMI source and a DP display. You need an active HDMI→DisplayPort converter. Using the wrong‑direction cable usually yields no picture. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380126]
My tower shows only HDMI and DVI‑D. Do I even have DisplayPort?
Check the GPU’s rear I/O. In the thread case, the chassis exposed HDMI and DVI‑D only. Some GTX 1650 variants omit DP. If yours lacks DP, plan on an active HDMI→DP converter to reach 144 Hz on this monitor. [Elektroda, Astrexiak, post #19380097]
Why does my new HDMI cable still show 60 Hz?
Because the monitor’s HDMI input is capped at 60 Hz. Cable versions cannot bypass a device limit. The same monitor’s DisplayPort input allows 30–144 Hz. To see 144 Hz, switch the signal path to DisplayPort. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
When using an adapter, which side gets HDMI and which gets DP?
Connect the PC’s HDMI to the adapter input, then adapter DP out to the monitor’s DP. “HDMI → DP only works in this order!” If you reverse the path, it won’t sync to 144 Hz. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
Will DVI‑D Dual Link help me reach 144 Hz on this monitor?
No. Your Acer Predator XN253QP exposes only HDMI and DisplayPort. It lacks any DVI input. DVI‑D from the GPU cannot connect directly here. Use DisplayPort via cable or an active HDMI→DP converter. [Elektroda, Astrexiak, post #19379640]
Do mismatched HDMI/DP versions bottleneck my refresh rate?
Yes. The chain runs at the lowest supported standard in the link. If a device or cable supports an older version, that becomes your limit. Plan the connection around the weakest element’s capability. [Elektroda, Pawel13741, post #19379830]
What exact models are discussed in this thread?
Monitor: Acer 24.5" Predator XN253QPbmiprzx (XN253QP). GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR5. The user provided these identifiers for the setup. [Elektroda, Astrexiak, post #19380012]
After connecting correctly, how do I enable 144 Hz?
Open Windows Display settings or NVIDIA Control Panel. Select the Acer monitor. Set resolution to 1920×1080. Choose 144 Hz for refresh rate. Ensure you are on the DisplayPort input, which supports 30–144 Hz. HDMI remains at 60 Hz. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
Is 144 Hz noticeably smoother than 60 Hz?
Yes. 144 Hz delivers 2.4× as many frames as 60 Hz. Motion clarity improves, and input feels faster. On this Acer, you must use DisplayPort to access 144 Hz. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19380020]
