How to enable 10-bit color on a gaming monitor
Updated 2026-09-03
You want 10-bit colour (for HDR, or smoother gradients), but the option is missing, greyed out, or it drops your refresh rate when you enable it.
The short answer
10-bit needs about 25% more link bandwidth than 8-bit. If your current mode is already near the connector's limit, the GPU will only offer 10-bit at a lower refresh rate, or only with DSC / chroma subsampling. Set it in the GPU control panel, not just Windows.
Where the setting is
- NVIDIA: NVIDIA Control Panel → Display → Change resolution → "Use NVIDIA color settings" → Output color depth → 10 bpc. If 10 bpc is absent, lower the refresh rate or switch "Output color format" to YCbCr422.
- AMD: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition → Settings → Display → Color Depth (and Pixel Format).
- Windows HDR: Settings → System → Display → HDR. Turning HDR on generally switches the output to 10-bit automatically.
Why 10-bit can cost you refresh rate
Bandwidth scales with bits per pixel. Going 8-bit → 10-bit is a factor of 10/8 = 1.25. A mode that just fits at 8-bit over DisplayPort 1.4 may need DSC at 10-bit, and if DSC isn't available the GPU falls back to a lower refresh rate or to 4:2:2 chroma (which looks softer on text).
Check it in order
- Confirm the monitor actually accepts 10-bit at your resolution - some 8-bit+FRC panels only take a 10-bit input at reduced refresh, and some spec sheets don't state it at all.
- Set colour depth in the GPU control panel, at 8-bit first, then try 10-bit.
- If 10-bit forces a lower refresh, decide: full refresh at 8-bit, or 10-bit / HDR at a lower rate. For SDR gaming, 8-bit is usually the better trade.
- If the mode needs DSC for 10-bit, make sure your GPU and monitor both support DSC on that connector.
- Run a check for your exact GPU and monitor with the 10-bit option set to see whether the mode is verified.