Why does Win XP set my monitor refresh rate so low by default

[Renegade23216]

My monitor goes a lot higher but it sets it to like 60 hz by default. Should I turn it up or leave what windows decides on...

If i should turn it up, to what?

 

[Lord Evermore]

It's the lowest common denominator. All monitors can support that and Windows isn't smart enough to figure out that there are higher resolutions available because it could damage monitors that don't support them.

 

[JZilla]

Turn it up now, but keep it within the monitor spec. I like 85hz.

 

[nebula]

Yep, 85Hz is good, but anything is better than 60Hz! At higher refresh rates, you get less eye strain/fatigue.

 

[Rotax]

Aye, I have to use 85hz, anything less and my eyes can tell, its very hard on the eyes after to long.. I can't believe that some ppl can use the 60hz or even 75hz for that matter.

 

[0roo0roo]

i can't stand lower then 85. 100-120 or whatever your monitor can handle is best. if it can't handle it, you'll see nothing for the 15 second countdown window does b4 going back. pretty safe.

its legacy thing, so people can install windows on the crappiest monitors imaginable.

 

[NTB]

I use 60Hz without a problem...of course, I'm also using a pair of LCDs 😛 . For CRT screens, I prefer 85Hz or so, but I can put up with 75 for a while if need be. The other guys are right in that 60Hz is the lowest common denomitator, so that's what windows shoots for.

If change resolutions regularly and don't want it to revert to 60Hz, go here and find a little program called MultiRes. It's a little program that runs in your system tray and resets the refresh rate automatically whenever the resolution is changed. You have to do it manually the first time, so that it knows what refresh rate to change to, but after that it should do all the work.

Nate

 

[Davegod]

60hz is basically compatibility mode, always going to work at 60 if at all.

There really should be a popup in windows etc to tell inexperienced users to change it, 60hz is appalling ergonomics, and you really cant expect computer users to know about what really is an obscure setting they would never find out about unless specifically told.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Davegod
60hz is basically compatibility mode, always going to work at 60 if at all.

There really should be a popup in windows etc to tell inexperienced users to change it, 60hz is appalling ergonomics, and you really cant expect computer users to know about what really is an obscure setting they would never find out about unless specifically told.

Yeah, some people I've known have complained that their monitor is hard on their eyes. I changed it from 60Hz, and what do you know, the eyestrain went away. Just explaining HOW a CRT works to some of these users is hard enough, let alone explaining why a high refresh rate (a what rate?) is better than a low one.