Using a TV as a Second Monitor in Windows

A spare television can give a gaming PC more room for game windows, guides and chat, or serve as a large display for a controller-driven game. It is especially useful when a compact desk cannot fit another monitor. The catch is that a TV is not automatically a gaming monitor: Windows settings and the television’s own picture modes both need attention.

Start by deciding whether you want the desktop extended or mirrored. For a second screen, extend the display, identify the television and make the panel you use for gaming the main display. Resolution and refresh rate can then be set separately for each screen. Australian mains power runs at 230V and 50Hz, and local televisions often accept 50Hz or 60Hz PC signals, while gaming models may offer 120Hz or 144Hz. Check the supported PC modes before buying or connecting anything. A 65-inch set may also look impressive in a showroom but dominate a compact Melbourne or Sydney living room, so measure the furniture first.

Connect the TV and choose the display mode

Press Win+P and choose Extend rather than Duplicate. The PC screen and television can then use separate resolutions and refresh rates, while games can be dragged onto the larger panel. Open Settings with Win+I, go to System > Display, and click Identify if the display numbers are unfamiliar. Screen numbers can change when cables are moved, so use that button rather than assuming the TV is always display 2.

Select the television and open Advanced display, or the main Display settings page on some Windows builds. Set its resolution to the recommended value, then open the refresh-rate menu. The drop-down shows the modes available to the graphics card and display. If 120Hz is missing, check the television’s input menu and specifications: the graphics card, cable, HDMI port and selected signal mode may all limit what is offered.

Connection choices to consider

• HDMI is the easiest route for most gaming PCs. Connect the graphics card directly to the television, avoiding old switchers and receivers that may reduce the available signal modes.
• DisplayPort works with compatible gaming televisions and monitors. A passive DisplayPort-to-HDMI lead can handle basic 1080p60, but it may block high refresh rates, HDR or VRR.
• For 4K at 120Hz, both devices need suitable HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and a cable rated for that mode. An older HDMI 2.0 input may fall back to 4K50 or 4K60.
• Wireless casting introduces compression and delay, making it better for video or casual gaming than for competitive shooters.

Once the PC image is stable, choose the matching HDMI input on the television and use its Game or Low Latency profile. On some sets, this also exposes the high-rate PC input mode. Keep the television as the main display for play if that is where the game will run, and send alerts and the taskbar to the second screen to avoid distractions.

Set the refresh rate for your PC signal

A refresh rate is how many times the screen redraws each second. If your game renders 120 frames per second but the television runs at 60Hz, it can display only 60 of those updates. Choose the highest stable rate supported by the panel and resolution. 60Hz remains perfectly usable for many single-player games, while competitive players often favour 120Hz or higher.

A faster refresh rate does not manufacture extra frames. With a 120Hz screen, a stable 60fps game may appear uneven unless frame pacing is handled well. Use an in-game limiter or the graphics-card control panel to cap output near the display rate, and consider adaptive sync if the frame rate fluctuates.

Adaptive-sync features such as FreeSync or G-SYNC Compatible mode need support from the television, graphics card and connection; an adapter can also limit that support. Matching 50fps to a 50Hz mode can deliver especially steady motion, while a 60Hz screen remains a common match for 60fps play. If frame pacing still looks rough, a 60Hz television with clean timing can be a better buy than a high-refresh model burdened by heavy image processing.

Enable Game Mode in Windows

Windows Game Mode is separate from the Game Mode found on many televisions. In Windows, open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and enable the option that prioritises the game window. It reduces interruptions from background work, including some recording and update tasks, which is useful when Discord, Steam or a browser is open alongside the game.

Game Mode is not a performance multiplier. It does not raise the refresh rate, create additional frames or enable VRR on hardware that lacks it. Depending on the game and Windows version, related fullscreen optimisation settings can also change how a borderless window is rendered. Test a familiar game after switching it on rather than assuming the result will be identical on every title.

On recent Windows 11 builds, check Gaming > Optimizations for windowed games if you play borderless. Where a variable-refresh-rate option appears, selecting High lets a compatible display adjust to the frame rate. It cannot turn a fixed 50Hz or 60Hz television into an adaptive-sync panel, and games that ignore the setting will still show uneven pacing.

Tune the picture and audio for responsive play

Refresh rate settings are only half the job. Many TVs apply frame interpolation, noise reduction, sharpening and dynamic contrast to the PC input. These features can make the picture look impressive while adding input lag. On the television, choose its Game or Low Latency mode and turn off extra motion smoothing if it remains enabled. A PC mode may also remove overscan and give you the intended pixel mapping without cropping.

Match the Windows resolution to the panel’s native grid where practical. A 4K television running a 1080p game can look softer and show colour artefacts, although a larger image and lower graphics settings may be worth that trade. Check the graphics-card control panel for RGB range and scaling, then judge the result in a game rather than from a desktop wallpaper.

Settings worth checking before gaming

• Main display: Send the game to the television and keep desktop tasks on the PC screen.
• Scaling: Try 125% or 150% Windows scaling if a 4K desktop feels too small to read comfortably.
• Overlays: Close unnecessary capture panels, streaming tools and performance overlays before testing input lag.
• HDR: Enable it only when the television and game support it, then adjust brightness using the game’s own controls.

Audio deserves special attention in a lounge-room setup. HDMI carries picture and sound together, so the Windows volume slider affects the TV’s output. ARC or eARC can make television control easier, while Bluetooth headphones may introduce noticeable delay. For competitive play, a wired headset or a low-latency wireless model with a USB dongle is a safer option than casual Bluetooth.

Solve common refresh rate and input problems

If the refresh-rate menu does not show 120Hz, work through the chain in order: confirm the graphics card is driving the TV, select the correct HDMI port, use a cable rated for the target bandwidth and check the television’s input menu. Some sets hide high-rate PC modes behind a Game setting, while others list 4K120 as a separate input label.

A black screen, flicker or blank signal can also be an input handshake problem. Change the television input manually, reconnect the PC while it is awake and avoid hot-plugging DisplayPort adapters. Protected streaming video may require HDCP, which most current HDMI connections provide. If a console shares the TV, leave that input alone while testing the PC.

Windows updates, driver changes and television firmware can alter available modes. Install a current graphics driver, then reboot the PC and television before changing many other settings. On an NBN fibre plan, an Ethernet cable between the PC and router keeps downloads and game streaming out of congested household Wi-Fi, reducing local jitter without replacing the broadband service.

Summer storms make a reputable surge protector and clean shutdown worth considering, especially when the PC, TV and console share one power strip. A small UPS can keep the computer alive long enough to shut down properly if the lights go out. For imported sets, check compatibility with Australian 230V power and the local 50Hz standard before plugging them in.

When shopping in Australia, compare GST-inclusive pricing and warranty coverage across established stores such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman, plus specialist sellers such as Centre Com, PLE, Umart or Mwave for other parts of the rig. For Aussie buyers, good value includes a warranty that can be sorted locally; a low sticker price means less if a faulty panel must go to an overseas service centre. Check that the television’s model number supports the PC resolution and refresh rate you need.

Set the display mode, choose a stable refresh rate and test Game Mode with the same game you play most. Browse Lason Arena Gaming’s gaming display, graphics-card and headset reviews for hands-on findings, then save this checklist for your next living-room PC upgrade.