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Who manages to force Refresh Rates in Vista ?

Zenoth

Zenoth

Diamond Member
If any of you know of a tool capable of forcing a refresh rate in Vista 32-Bit and/or 64-Bit, both for Desktop and applications (including OpenGL !) then please let me know. I've tried PowerStrip, RivaTuner, ReForce, RefreshLock and Direct Refresh, all of which can only sometimes force a refresh rate for the Desktop, but as soon as any OGL or D3D application is launched it will revert back to 60hz.

Is there any registry tweaks I could do to fool that foolish Vista not to force 60hz in 3D applications ? Or as I asked above any tools (software) capable of doing it like ReForce does in XP for example ? I'm thinking of uninstalling Vista because I cannot game on it, due to 60hz refresh rates everywhere and in any games I play, I cannot stand it. Maybe Microsoft thinks we all have LCD's and that 60hz isn't that bad, but think about CRT owners ... they suffer.

Now, please, I request help.

Thanks.
 
Seems to be a common issue. A couple of notes I found online:

You can just use the command r_displayRefresh in most id software-based games (anything based on q3, d3 engine) to set the refreshrate.
Valve-based games can use the -freq commandline switch.

Some else recommend RefreshLock 2.21

A third person suggested the now updates for Vista(?) RivaTuner...
 
Thanks for checking around on the web for that, I do appreciate it.

I, too, came with similar conclusions, however I already tried RefreshLock 2.21 and it doesn't work for applications, only for the Desktop itself. And, also, I'd like to know what do you mean by "the now updates for Vista RivaTuner" ? I'm using RT 2.01, is there a newer version ? I've verified at Guru3D and there's nothing about anything newer than 2.01 or any separate updates, unless I just missed them ?
 
refresh force doesn't work? feels like the early days of XP all over again. I moved my CRT upstairs when my LCD came for the new system and installed Vista on it. If I didn't get a new LCD I would be in the same boat as you. 60hz is a headache factory! :Q
 
"the now updates for Vista RivaTuner" ? I'm using RT 2.01, is there a newer version ?
Click to expand...

Sorry, yea that should say 'new updates'. It was just quote I found about RT 'finally' being update for Vista, I didn't verify it any further...
 
Yeah jzodda, either Microcash never really tested Vista for CRT's, or they never really intended to make it a viable option for CRT's in the first place (I.E subtly forcing consumers to move to LCD technologies). I'd vote for the first theory though ...

And, bsobel, where did you saw that quote ? Was it on Guru3D ? I really can't find anything about RT being "updated" for Vista yet.
 
I know this won't be of much help but I'll post it anyway.

I have a CRT monitor on my old desktop but I have never needed to force the refresh rate even in XP. All the refresh rates are listed in the Display->Monitor tab. The desktop is just using the default Nvidia drivers that came with Vista so that could be it.
 
Reviving my old thread for a moment.

I've found something that might be interesting concerning this subject (refresh rate in Vista with CRT's). The following is from a discussion forum, instructions on how to perhaps fix the issue, entirely, but I'm not sure if it works.

Concerning this problem, you can solve it.

Look for a program called RefreshLock v2.21. If you have installed the driver for you monitor, then just run the app and 'enable' it. It should automatically detect the max refresh rates of all the resolutions.

If you haven't installed drivers (or are not available as in my case), then you can also use the program. Vista installs the Generic PnP monitor for me, which max's all resolutions to 85Hz max.

So, right cin the Display Settings -> Monitor (tab) uncheck Hide modes that this monitor cannot display. At this point, you run RefreshLock and enter the refresh rates manually (only needed once though).

At this point, you should be fine.

Two points:

1.) You cannot set it to start at boot up (through app) cause if you do, all your refresh rate settings are reset to 0 after reboot.

2.) You can set it to load up through the Startup directory in Start -> All Programs. Although, if you have Windows Defender enables, then you will have to unblock RefreshLock at every fresh boot.

So, I just have a shortcut of it on my desktop that I run every boot...easier that way.

Oh, and if there are any problems changing refresh rates, try run the app (or create a shorcut and set it) as 'Run as Administrator'.
Click to expand...

There's one thing though ...

I have un-installed my Vista a long time ago (exactly due to that issue alone, or else I'd still be using it). And right now I do not plan to install Vista, not even on a dual-boot. So please, I'm asking here if anyone using Vista along with a CRT monitor (and who also perhaps experienced the same problems I had with refresh rates) could possibly try that themselves and come back here and tell me (and everyone else concerned by that of course) if it does indeed work (for games ! not just the Desktop, it's very important to me).

Thanks.
 
I run my 19'' LCD at 75hz (whenever possible) because things are a bit smoother.

I'm not sure I would've tried it but xtknight said he has been doing this for months without issue.

point being, this can apply to LCD users too.
 
Bump.

This is the reason I got rid of Vista. Almost all the other harware ran perfectly (had to use older X-FI driver due to the 4gb ram bug) but I couldnt get the refresh rates to stick no matter what program I tried.

I found a way to add custom resolutions and refresh rates here http://hardforum.com/showpost....1342501&postcount=3201. This file http://http.download.nvidia.co...es_Users_Guide_2.1.pdf shows you how to do it, but I couldnt figure out the hex code for the refresh rate range (no clue about that, i just like hardware and games 😀) so i just used the custom option where you type in the resolution and a custom resolution and refresh rate, for example 1440x900=8xxx where xxx is a 3-digit hex version of the refresh rate you want, so 110hz would be 806E.

Using this method i was able to get add all my resolutions at the correct rates, rebooted and they worked greath on the desktop but they DONT stick in game damn it, no matter what i set in ReForce or any other program. The only resolution that worked in games was 1440x900, and that was after i changed the monitor driver to FW900 and let ReForce repopulate the list, then i set 1440x900@110hz and it worked in games. All the other resolutions default to 60 or 85hz in games even though the custom registry setting i added work on the desktop. Maybe 1440x900 work because it never existed in the nvidia or monitor driver before i added it myself, no idea. I have tried rivatuner override and custom monitor driver, no dice. The overrides dont do anything (i tried all 3 modes), and the custom driver won't let me go higher than i already get in games (60 or 85hz).

I dumped vista and got the eval copy of XP x64, it's FW900 driver actually has all the best refresh rates by default, would it help if i loaded it in Vista? I dont know which file it is, i would reinstall Vista and try.

Anyone have an idea, this is the only thing keeping from using Vista fulltime.
 
Thanks a lot for all that information, but alas I need the Refresh Rates to stick specifically for games.

I contacted Microsoft about that but they said that technical details concerning Vista and Refresh Rates are already answered at their web-site's knowledge base, which I visited more than an hundred times (no exaggeration), trying to find out more about it, but all I found was instructions on how to set custom resolutions and refresh rates for the Desktop (duh !), and nothing else.

Technically speaking I don't know HOW such a matter literally escaped Microsoft's engineers' hands when creating and/or testing Vista. I'm pretty sure now that in fact they just NEVER tested Vista on a CRT in the first place. I can imagine them working in their offices with LCD's all over the place and shouting "ok guys it's ready to go !", and one of them perhaps saying "hmmm ... I'm sure we forgot something ... but what could it be ? Meh, who cares anyway, I did my job and got my money, ok guys it's good to go !".

Clearly CRT consumers that happen to be gamers go SCREWED up big time, and I WON'T buy a new LCD for a long time. I DO plan to, one day, I just don't know when. I DO want to use Vista, in fact I liked its interface, even though I'm still more "used to" XP, but I know that over time I will eventually get used to Vista's instead and forget about XP and even wonder why I liked XP so much. It did that with Windows XP, when I switched to it from 2000, it took around a year or so but eventually I started to praise XP, which I kept bashing on when I had 2000.

It is the ONLY thing holding me back from installing Vista and using it 24/7 all year long, sadly.
 
Originally posted by: Zenoth
Re-bump.

C'mon, there has to be a Vista user with a CRT around here ?
Click to expand...

I guess that would be me. (Using 2x HP P1110 21" CRT's...purchased earlier this year for $25 each 😛)

I can't really play any newer games since I have a 9700 Pro, and none of the games I DO play default to 60Hz without having adjustments available. That is, until I broke out my old copy of Quake2 today. 60Hz and no in-game adjustments available.

I noticed in an earlier post you quoted a reference to RefreshLock 2.21 - that's what I ended up downloading and it works in my case. 85Hz for Q2 now rather than 60. I don't bother keeping it resident in memory though since I never actually play Quake2, and I can set refresh rates in all my other games.

I can confirm it does work though...
 
Are you SERIOUS !?

Ok ok *takes a deep slow breath* ...

Can you tell me exactly which games that trick with Refresh Lock work with ? I mean which games from the ones you do own and have installed ? I NEED to know. By the way is Quake 2 OpenGL ? I can't remember. Because it NEEDS to work with OpenGL as well, not just DirectX or else it won't be enough for me. I play tons of Half-Life 1 modifications using OpenGL, along with Quake IV and Prey (on-line mostly), so if it does work with OGL as well then I'd be a happy man, not to mention that I got two extra sticks of RAM for a total of 4 GB if I ever move to Vista once more (64-Bit of course, what else ?).

I do believe you, believe me hehe, and I am very excited at the moment ... BUT I'd like to see more comments from similar cases (I.E from people using Vista with a CRT monitor having issues concerning refresh rates while playing games).
 
Originally posted by: Zenoth
Are you SERIOUS !?

Ok ok *takes a deep slow breath* ...

Can you tell me exactly which games that trick with Refresh Lock work with ? I mean which games from the ones you do own and have installed ? I NEED to know. By the way is Quake 2 OpenGL ? I can't remember. Because it NEEDS to work with OpenGL as well, not just DirectX or else it won't be enough for me. I play tons of Half-Life 1 modifications using OpenGL, along with Quake IV and Prey (on-line mostly), so if it does work with OGL as well then I'd be a happy man, not to mention that I got two extra sticks of RAM for a total of 4 GB if I ever move to Vista once more (64-Bit of course, what else ?).

I do believe you, believe me hehe, and I am very excited at the moment ... BUT I'd like to see more comments from similar cases (I.E from people using Vista with a CRT monitor having issues concerning refresh rates while playing games).
Click to expand...

Yes, Quake 2 is OpenGL. As I said, it didn't have any effect on any of my other games, since they all have options for in-game refresh rate adjustment anyway.
 
Originally posted by: kheldorin
I know this won't be of much help but I'll post it anyway.

I have a CRT monitor on my old desktop but I have never needed to force the refresh rate even in XP. All the refresh rates are listed in the Display->Monitor tab. The desktop is just using the default Nvidia drivers that came with Vista so that could be it.
Click to expand...



The issue in XP is that even if you set 75-100 Htz in a game it will still default to 60 Htz when you're in game but go back to what you have it set to when you're out of the game. Some games actually will use the desktop refresh rate correctly though, and some won't, but you can lock refresh rates from within the control panel with ATI or NV cards.
 
The problem obviously isn't in XP, that I do know of course, I always use Refresh Force (a.k.a ReForce) in XP, 24/7. I play all my games at a minimum of 85Hz, usually 95Hz, and a few at 100Hz. I cannot stand anything below 85Hz, and even the games I do play at 85Hz aren't games I'll play for too long because I still notice some flicker at that refresh rate.

Now let's keep the discussion focused on Vista shall we.
 
WOW. I nearly went back to XP after finally jumping the ship to Vista.

Ok. After numerous research and a bunch of other crap. The most recent method listed here works perfectly fine for me. I'm happily playing my games at 85hz-120hz again. After a very frustrating morning.

Ok..

Download Refreshlock 2.21 ( google is your friend -- or you can go here http://dl.winsite.com/files/85...ysutil/refreshlock.zip )

Unzip to wherever you'd like to run the application from, create a shortcut to your desktop for said application.

*Right Click* on shortcut to Refreshlock 2.21 and 'Run As Administrator'

Do NOT set it to boot with windows. Personally, I reboot maybe once a week/fortnight or whenever some lame ass application/driver requires me to do so. So having a shortcut to run once per session for me is not a major hassle. I'm just happy to be back gaming.

Tested on the following games.

EA Rugby 2008 (1280*1024 @ 85hz)
EA Tiger Woods 2008 (1280*1024 @ 85hz)
Steam - Bioshock, Counterstrike-Source, Half-Life 2 (1024*768 @ 100hz)
Transformers The Game (1280*1024 @ 85hz)
Far Cry (1280*1024 @ 85hz)
F.E.A.R (1280*1024 @ 85hz)

Current System Rig.

P4 3.0ghz LG775 Hyperthreading 800mhz FSB
1GB 400mhz Dual Channel RAM
NVidia 7600 GT 256MB
300GB SATA
Philips 109S

Operating System is Windows Vista Ultimate
 
Awesome, absolutely fabulous guys.

I think this subject should be stickied, because the issue I'm describing here is experienced by thousands using Vista and a CRT. In fact I'm pretty certain that most casual PC gamers are still using CRT's. I'm glad we finally found out a method that works well enough. I will start backing up all my data this week, and next week-end I will GLADLY move on, again, to Vista. Because believe me, when you spend hundreds of dollars on a new OS that you find out isn't working properly with your current monitor is very depressing. And it's the type of product that the store won't take back (due to the CD-Key I believe, that nothing proves to them that I might have kept it and then just returned the OS).

One last thing though, I do hope that the method (or rather the software) will work properly with Vista 64-Bit. Because RefreshLock is obviously an old application and is 32-Bit. I just hope it won't refuse to start-up or something like that in 64-Bit. I'm crossing my fingers because my Vista copy is 64-Bit.
 
Helious, with Refresh Lock are you able to force refresh rates higher than the monitor driver allows? Can anyone please show me where the monitor driver file is located on the hard drive so I can manually edit it? I use 140hz for CS:S and it wont let me go past 60hz for 1280x800 WTF!!!!
 
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