Refresh rate Windows 7 64-bit

Hi everyone,

I installed Windows 7 on my main computer today however I have hit a problem with the fact it will not let me set a refresh rate above 85Hz for my monitor. A google suggests this is a known problem with the nvidia 64-bit drivers, i've tried a few of the workarounds on google but can't get any of them to work. The nvidia forums are down at the moment so I can't check them either.

I was wondering if anyone on here might have had the same problem and knows of a workaround? After using 100hz with the same monitor for 8 years, my eyes really do not like being forced to look at 85hz.

Thanks all !

Haven't worried about refresh rates since I bought an LCD monitor. I presume you're still using a CRT?

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

Haven't worried about refresh rates since I bought an LCD monitor. I presume you're still using a CRT?

Yep, still using my trusty Dell CRT, still prefer it

Been fobbed off by Nvidia support that it is my monitor drivers causing this (if so why did it work perfectly on XP?). Getting really annoyed now as I can't look at the screen for more than 10 minutes without feeling a bit dizzy.

Time to send an email to MS, failing that, back to XP.

I really do like Windows 7 but if they can't get something like this right then I will not be using it on my main system. It would probably take nvidia/MS (whoever is to blame... i suspect a bit of both) a few lines of code at most to fix.

Problem is also present in 32bit version.

if so why did it work perfectly on XP?

Because XP drivers aren't the same as Windows 7 drivers?

Actually it seems the most likely explanation. NVidia have updated their drivers for Windows 7, but I doubt that Dell have done so for their CRT monitors as they are fairly ancient now.

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

if so why did it work perfectly on XP?

Because XP drivers aren't the same as Windows 7 drivers?

Actually it seems the most likely explanation. NVidia have updated their drivers for Windows 7, but I doubt that Dell have done so for their CRT monitors as they are fairly ancient now.

The point is though there should be an option to override the capable refresh rate, like there was on XP, you untick the box, and then you can select whatever refresh rate you like.

It does have an override option infact, but if you type in anything which isn't in the predefined, it ignores you as it knows better, therefore what's the point?

I am inclined to believe it is just a shoddy oversight which they are not bothered to correct because not many users have CRT.

The drivers for the CRT should only be needed to display safe resolution and refresh rates, it should not limit me from taking the settings into my own hands.

Sorry for the rant, i'm very frustrated as I've found no solutions so far and I was looking forward to enjoying Windows 7 since I had never bothered with vista, well, it looks like it is back to XP tomorrow.......

Edited by Pipexer (Tue 03-Nov-09 21:48:33)

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

if so why did it work perfectly on XP?

Because XP drivers aren't the same as Windows 7 drivers?

Actually it seems the most likely explanation. NVidia have updated their drivers for Windows 7, but I doubt that Dell have done so for their CRT monitors as they are fairly ancient now.

The point is though there should be an option to override the capable refresh rate, like there was on XP, you untick the box, and then you can select whatever refresh rate you like.

There is an overide button and it does work. My iiyama 450pro is working @100hz (1280x1024). And its the same drop down box and its in the same place as it was in xp .... Screen res > advanced button and then monitor. Also make sure u have the 191 or 195 geforce drivers (win7 ofcourse).

That override with a Generic PNP Monitor only gives me a choice of 60 or 75. Which indicates to me that, as Microsoft said, the problem is with the monitor driver, not the graphics driver or Windows 7 itself.

Has the OP tried using NVidia Control Panel to create a custom resolution?

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

That override with a Generic PNP Monitor only gives me a choice of 60 or 75. Which indicates to me that, as Microsoft said, the problem is with the monitor driver, not the graphics driver or Windows 7 itself.

Has the OP tried using NVidia Control Panel to create a custom resolution?

then change the montior driver ...

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

Has the OP tried using NVidia Control Panel to create a custom resolution?

Yes of course, I'm not that daft

Regardless of screen resolution it is only allowing 75 and 85hz.. (even with 640x480)

Tried a wide range of the nvidia drivers including latest and serveral month old versions.

In reply to a post by Taras:

then change the montior driver ...

OK, I have read about decorating drivers and/or workarounds to force this 100hz option, but a) I can't read text very well on 1280x1024 on this screen anyway as it's too small , b) Headache after not so long.

It has the effect of wearing glasses when you don't need to.

I thought the set custom refresh rate is meant to ignore the "drivers" and just set the screen resolution (after I accept the warning that it may blow up etc).

So if you have any advice or links on altering the driver... I'm definately up for trying.

My Mitsubishi CRT is set at 72 hertz and I can't see any flicker. Could be a monitor issue?

In reply to a post by broadband66:

My Mitsubishi CRT is set at 72 hertz and I can't see any flicker. Could be a monitor issue?

Noooo, not a monitor issue at all, it is not a flicker like you would get with 60hz but my eyes can definately appriciate the difference between 75hz and 100hz. It is frustrating as it is accepted that a 100hz is better for the eyes than 75hz (and it is), i've used the monitor for 9 years (that long I can't remember) in this setting and now I am effectively being forced now to have it in 75hz mode.

Yes of course, I'm not that daft

Well, you were daft enough not to tell us. Not that I mind a good guessing game.

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

Yes of course, I'm not that daft

Well, you were daft enough not to tell us. Not that I mind a good guessing game.

well the fact i suggested i've googled the issue and tried a few workarounds would imply i've also done the obvious, but if it neede stating then so be it.

If I thought that everyone who poses a problem in these forums had tried all the obvious steps then I wouldn't bother to post suggestions. But it's surprising how many people haven't tried the obvious, or fail to tell us what they have tried.

Now that I know that the answers to your problems are obscure I can safely ignore your queries.

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

If I thought that everyone who poses a problem in these forums had tried all the obvious steps then I wouldn't bother to post suggestions.

I know but when it is someone as clever as me

In reply to a post by broadband66:

My Mitsubishi CRT is set at 72 hertz and I can't see any flicker. Could be a monitor issue?

With CRTs the bigger the screen the higher the hertz you need to remove the flicker.

Back to WinXP on 100hz (verified in monitor OSD too), Woohoo!

...same problem (resolved)

"hide modes that this monitor cannot display" option is not functional in win 7 .
there are no drivers for old crt monitors for win 7 .

solution:
remove pin #12 from vga cable
http://nookkin.com/content/allowing-any-screen-resol...

In reply to a post by jihugy:

...same problem (resolved)

"hide modes that this monitor cannot display" option is not functional in win 7 .
there are no drivers for old crt monitors for win 7 .

solution:
remove pin #12 from vga cable
http://nookkin.com/content/allowing-any-screen-resol...

Aye I came across the pin removal solution quite early in my search but was reluctant to faff like that. Thanks for the heads up though Much appriciated. To me it seems crazy that they are not prepared to allow a workaround and that people are going to have to resort to physically altering their hardware to get a feature that worked in XP to work in Win7.

Edited by Pipexer (Sat 28-Nov-09 14:30:58)

To me it seems crazy that they are not prepared to allow a workaround and that people are going to have to resort to physically altering their hardware to get a feature that worked in XP to work in Win7.

But that is always going to be the way with new Operating Systems. At some point they drop support for legacy devices. For example, try getting a parallel port Zip drive to work with Vista. If the manufacturers don't supply updated drivers it's a little unfair to expect the OS vendor to do so.

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

To me it seems crazy that they are not prepared to allow a workaround and that people are going to have to resort to physically altering their hardware to get a feature that worked in XP to work in Win7.

But that is always going to be the way with new Operating Systems. At some point they drop support for legacy devices. For example, try getting a parallel port Zip drive to work with Vista. If the manufacturers don't supply updated drivers it's a little unfair to expect the OS vendor to do so.

Agreed but this isn't really compatibility it is just foolishness on their behalf to not allow the user to override the refresh rate. A mere few lines of code are surely required to enable the user to ignore the EDID and choose what they like (at their own risk). Probably initially an oversight and now they are not prepared to spend a bit of their time to fix the bug (because it is essentially a bug... because if it adheres to the EDID there is no point in giving an option to override but then ignoring the override)

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

In reply to a post by AnotherExPipex:

To me it seems crazy that they are not prepared to allow a workaround and that people are going to have to resort to physically altering their hardware to get a feature that worked in XP to work in Win7.

But that is always going to be the way with new Operating Systems. At some point they drop support for legacy devices. For example, try getting a parallel port Zip drive to work with Vista. If the manufacturers don't supply updated drivers it's a little unfair to expect the OS vendor to do so.

Agreed but this isn't really compatibility it is just foolishness on their behalf to not allow the user to override the refresh rate. A mere few lines of code are surely required to enable the user to ignore the EDID and choose what they like (at their own risk). Probably initially an oversight and now they are not prepared to spend a bit of their time to fix the bug (because it is essentially a bug... because if it adheres to the EDID there is no point in giving an option to override but then ignoring the override)

Not sure what is going on with your machine but I could do that on win 7 rc .. (before my crt died )

8 years!

Save some leccy, space, and the environment! Get an LCD

On transition, the preference you have for your CRT will wane.

Edited by deleted (Sat 28-Nov-09 14:46:50)

The OP is looking after the environment by not purchasing something he doesn't need. If we all did that then the refuse disposal points wouldn't be full of old unwanted but working electrical items.

I had a Sony CRT that gave up the ghost after 4 years so had to buy a new TV, but if it had kept working I would have been happier and not out of pocket.

true, i had a 32" widescreen CRT tele and it was working fine, i was itching to get a nice shiney (big) lcd but grudged the idea of ditching a working tv - especially since i got my tv when a 32" was big screen and cost a pretty penny (appx 9 years ago) - but it was more the idea of ditching a working machine that (wee-wee'ed) me off

and after checking with all reletives/friends nobody wanted or needed the tv

so you can imagine my joy when the tv finally went on the fritz after looking at new tv's for over a year!!!!!

dud tv waiting to be removed by me, nice big shiney! lcd getting watched