Stuck at 60hz refresh rate! HELP!

[Aradune]

I just got a new Sapphire 9700gold. I have tried setting my refresh rate higher in the display properties settings, but it has no effect at all. I have also tried using powerstrip to force it higher. I have the inf file for my monitor fully loaded. I'm using windows98se and I'm really confused because I used to run 75hz easily. I have the latest ATI 3.1 drivers, so there's no reason why it shouldn't go higher. Powerstrip detects that the monitor can go higher, but won't do it for some reason.

 

[Tates]

RefreshForce

 

[McCarthy]

Thank you, dropped in looking for this very solution myself. Worked great.

 

[gcogger]

ReForce doesn't work in Win98SE, I'm afraid (at least not for me!). Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: gcogger
ReForce doesn't work in Win98SE, I'm afraid (at least not for me!). Does anyone have any other ideas?

Does Win98 know what kind of monitor you have? If not, you can inform it if it's in Win98s database of monitors. Same thing with your video card. Do you have a recent driver for your video card installed? Is there a driver for your montor? Most don't have them but some do.

 

[Boogak]

I just had this same issue after reinstalling WinXP on my HTPC with a 8500LE and the 3.1 drivers. No matter what I set my refresh rate to in the Display Properties / Advanced / Monitor, it would stick at 60hz. I finally figured out under the "ATI Displays" tab, my monitor was set to a Maximum Refresh Rate of 60hz even though it was capable of more. I changed it in there and I could use higher refresh rates again. Hope this helps!

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: gcogger
ReForce doesn't work in Win98SE, I'm afraid (at least not for me!). Does anyone have any other ideas?

For Win9x, I used HZTool.

 

[gcogger]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: gcogger
ReForce doesn't work in Win98SE, I'm afraid (at least not for me!). Does anyone have any other ideas?

Does Win98 know what kind of monitor you have? If not, you can inform it if it's in Win98s database of monitors. Same thing with your video card. Do you have a recent driver for your video card installed? Is there a driver for your montor? Most don't have them but some do.

Yes, I have the correct monitor inf file installed, and Win98 recognises it. The graphics card drivers are the latest ATI Catalyst 3.1 (a couple of days old).

I tried HZTool also, but it had no effect - the ATI control panel still said it was setting 85Hz, and the monitor still said it was running at 75Hz.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: gcogger

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: gcogger
ReForce doesn't work in Win98SE, I'm afraid (at least not for me!). Does anyone have any other ideas?

Does Win98 know what kind of monitor you have? If not, you can inform it if it's in Win98s database of monitors. Same thing with your video card. Do you have a recent driver for your video card installed? Is there a driver for your montor? Most don't have them but some do.

Yes, I have the correct monitor inf file installed, and Win98 recognises it. The graphics card drivers are the latest ATI Catalyst 3.1 (a couple of days old).

I tried HZTool also, but it had no effect - the ATI control panel still said it was setting 85Hz, and the monitor still said it was running at 75Hz.

You might try uninstalling your video driver (use Safe Mode, some would say. I'd say, if you have any problems), rebooting and then install the driver again. Did Boogak's tip help??

 

[hollowman]

I thought win98/me didn't have any refresh rate problems.. just the 2k/xp..

 

[gcogger]

You might try uninstalling your video driver (use Safe Mode, some would say. I'd say, if you have any problems), rebooting and then install the driver again. Did Boogak's tip help??

Been there, done that
Boogak's tip about setting the max refresh would be a good one to try - except that that option does not appear when running Win98!

 

[UncleWai]

Try go to the display property, click on your monitor, uncheck get DCC information and change the hz/res manually to 85 and 1600x1200.

 

[gcogger]

That option is not there in Win98 either!

I think it's the same as the old registry hack, though, and that doesn't work on the latest drivers :-(

Crucial (who I got the card from) have just offered me a refund if I can't sort this out, and I'll have to seriously consider it. I also submitted a problem report to ATI, after checking the FAQs. Their reply said to check the FAQs and, if that didn't work, submit a problem report! I could end up going round in circles forever...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: gcogger
That option is not there in Win98 either!

I think it's the same as the old registry hack, though, and that doesn't work on the latest drivers :-(

Crucial (who I got the card from) have just offered me a refund if I can't sort this out, and I'll have to seriously consider it. I also submitted a problem report to ATI, after checking the FAQs. Their reply said to check the FAQs and, if that didn't work, submit a problem report! I could end up going round in circles forever...

Whatever you do, don't settle for 60 Hz. That sucks.

 

[daabrams]

Dude, same exact problem running a 9500 pro on Windows 98 SE.

I've found that if I switch around the monitor driver, toggle the refresh rate (which doesn't do anything) and then restart, it *sometimes* (2 times out of 15 or so) gives me 85 Hz, which is what I was running for 4 years with an all in wonder '98.

If anyone hears of anything else, let me know. I will be contacting ATI tech support on Monday, and report the results.

 

[gcogger]

Don't hold your breath waiting for tech support from ATI. I've submitted a report on this twice. Both times the reply has said to look at the FAQs (even thogh I stated that I had done so) and, if that failed, to submit a report! With that level of customer service I'm seriously considering returning the card for a refund.

 

[Maverix2]

I just recived my ATO 9700Pro and I have EXACTLY the same problem. I have a dual OP system Win ME and XP in my XP enviroment every thing works perfectly but when booting up in ME I am stuck with 60 HZ, dammit!!

Maverix

 

[gcogger]

Someone on the rage3d forums (mczak) posted a registry hack that actually works! It is dangerous though, as could open up refresh rates not supported by the monitor. I'm sure he won't mind if I repeat it here...

Start regedit, go to HKLM/Software/ATI Technologies/Driver/0001/DAL (or instead of 0001 whatever number your current driver uses).
Insert a new binary value, named "DALRULE_ALLOWNONDDCCRTALLMODESUPTO1600x1200". Set the value to 01 00 00 00.
Or, you could try "DALRULE_CRTSUPPORTSALLMODES" and set this to 01 00 00 00 instead. (Both work here perfectly, the difference being that one allows resolutions up to 1600x1200x200, the other 2048x1536x200.
That's it, just reboot.
IMPORTANT: you need to set the refresh rate for all resolutions you want to use manually with regedit, since the driver will likely set them to 200hz when you switch resolutions, so you won't get a picture unless your monitor can handle that. So, go to [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0000 (or whatever number your monitor has)\MODES\x\y,z]. Make a new string "RefreshRate" and set it to "85" or whatever you like and your monitor can handle.
If you forget to do this you might be forced to boot in safe mode since you might get an "out of range" value by your monitor upon boot-up...

I found that the last step (after the 'IMPORTANT') was not necessary, presumably because I'd used 'HZTool' to set up refresh rates beforehand. This was the ONLY fix that worked for me, other than having 'Powerstrip' run on startup.

And if mczak reads this - thanks! I would have posted on rage3d, but my account seems locked out.

 

[Maverix2]

Thanks for the tip,,, it WORKS!!

Maverix