Refresh rate

[RASHEED NP]

"HELLO,I am using an old model monitor, dell E771p. Recently I installed windows 7 ultimate. Now I am unable to change refresh rate,there is no option on the monitor tab only have"Use hardware default setting'. Driver update shows'Best driver already installed'.But aero trouble shooter indicates" contact manufacture for driver'. When it was windows xp I could change the refresh rate. Here are hardware info. Adapter-standard vga graphic adapter, chip type-ATI rage 128, BIO- 01.000. PC- DTK-MS-6566. Could you please help to fix this problem without buying a new vedio card? Thanks"

 

[Ben90]

Open up the registry and search for DALNonStandardModesBCD. Pick any of them to add in a custom resolution.
The first four duets are your resolution, next four should be 00 00, and last four are the refresh rate. For example if you wanted to add 1024x768 @ 101Hz:

10 24 07 68 00 00 01 01

If you are still unable to select your desired resolution after a restart, you could try downloading powerstrip and force it through there.

 

[KingFatty]

Open up the registry and search for DALNonStandardModesBCD. Pick any of them to add in a custom resolution.
The first four duets are your resolution, next four should be 00 00, and last four are the refresh rate. For example if you wanted to add 1024x768 @ 101Hz:

10 24 07 68 00 00 01 01

If you are still unable to select your desired resolution after a restart, you could try downloading powerstrip and force it through there.

Would this work with other AMD cards, say a 5850 running the latest AMD drivers?

Say, if I have a 1600x1200 monitor, could I use this registry edit to add a custom resolution of 1600x1000?

 

[Ferzerp]

Holy crap that's some old hardware.

 

[RASHEED NP]

HELLO, BEN Thanks for your reply , could you please send the steps to find the 'dalan onstandardmodes bcd' registry. Thanks

 

[iCyborg]

type 'regedit' in Start and then search for "DALNonStandardModesBCD".

If you don't find it, then drivers haven't been installed. This would explain why it says "Adapter-standard vga graphic adapter". If this is in Device Manager under Display Adapters, then it's using default MS VGA driver.
I think ATI Rage 128 is not supported on Win 7, it's a really old card, so perhaps that's why you can't update it. Try downloading a Catalyst install package, start installation until the point it detects hardware and generates a list of available packages. If display drivers are not in the list, then your graphics cards is no longer supported.

 

[RASHEED NP]

Hello BEN90,First I use the oppertunity to thank you and all members of Anandtech for the instruction. I installed the power strip, it was amazing and unbelievable my refresh rate is changed. In advance timing option on vertical geometry tab I changed the refresh rate to 79.737. May I have more information about the power strip that what is it and it is any health problem especialy to eyes by changing refresh rate using the power strip ? Should I take any precuations when it is in use? Another one still I couldnot find DALANOnSTANDARDModesBCD in the registry, can I download it? Thanks very much

 

[Ben90]

If you end up going the Powerstrip route, be very careful of pushing your monitor past its limits. It can become addicting to push CRTs as far as they can go, but if they start showing artifacts, its time to back down a bit. Most CRTs won't attempt to run faster then they are specc'd out for, but it IS possible to damage them by running them too fast.

Another problem I have noticed when tuning using only a single monitor is being able to nudge into no man's land with the realtime adjustment. For example your monitor has a maximum Horizontal Refresh Rate of 70Khz. It will run at 70Khz all day long. Remove a line of vertical blanking space, and it probably won't fuss. Eventually one by one, you are quite a bit past the 70Khz and your monitor will still be taking it like a champ. Then you restart your computer and your monitor has to pick up the new much faster signal from scratch. It will reject it and you will be stuck with no video.

Your options here are to either boot from safe mode (F8 on startup) and disable PS, or preemptively get your hot-keys working with PS to bail yourself out.

 

[RASHEED NP]

Hello Ben, I appreciate your valued reply, but unfortunatily you didn't touch the main topic in MY last message that anything bad effect to the health especially to eyes by increasing the refresh rate (80) using"POWERSTRIP" because I haven't any info.about the powerstrip. No matter anything damage the hardwares.Sorry for disturbing you.Thank you very much.

 

[Ben90]

Generally when the refresh rate is too low, your eyes get strained a little more. The most serious realistic health effect is you may start to feel noxious or just physical fatigue in general.

The higher you push the refresh rate, the less your eyes need to strain to see the picture until any health effects are completely negated. 60Hz bothers me quite a bit. 75Hz is pretty good but maybe after a few hours I might get a little tired. 85Hz is great for me on all but the shortest persisting phosphors.