Force DVI/HDMI resolutions and refresh rates

How to Force DVI or HDMI Resolutions and Refresh Rates in Windows 7​

   Information

There have been innumerable posts on SevenForums about things like 59Hz refresh rates and 1080p 16:9 HDTVs that display only 1024x768 when connected with DVI or HDMI. After a ton of research and development I think I've got a working solution for virtually all of these issues.

Starting with Vista, Microsoft has required graphics vendors to read and respect monitor capability information from the display itself if they wanted to pass Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification. This display capability data is encapsulated in an EDID. Few HDTV manufacturers sought WHQL and it's unclear whether Microsoft tests display EDIDs from monitor manufacturers as a WHQL requirement. Please let me know if you have a WHQL display that seems to have a bad EDID.

As a result, many DVI/HDMI connected HDTVs and some monitors are locked into displaying only those resolutions and refresh rates that are specified in the EDID. No graphics adapter or driver is supposed to allow configurations not listed in the EDID at least as a default. Newer ATI drivers allow for a small number of HD resolutions to be forced but it's been hit or miss for the users I've surveyed and nVidia's offerings don't seem to be a 100% solution either.

The natural solution would appear to be changing the EDID information in the display. Rarely, this is possible with Powestrip if the display stores the EDID in a flash memory but more commonly the EDID is stored in an EPROM that can only be updated with specialized hardware. I've talked with several display vendors during the development of this tutorial and none of them consider a bad EDID grounds for warranty service. So if next to no displays support updating the EDID through software and the manufacturer won't fix the hardware, what are we left to do? Break out the toolkit and warm up the soldering iron?

While that's well within my capabilities it seems to put some end-users off a bit, although I really can't understand why -- I love the smell of solder in the morning! But there has to be a better way right? Again, Microsoft has a solution if you really dig for it and do your homework: How to Use an INF to Override the Monitor EDID While it's not intended for end users, what really fun stuff is? The challenge was to develop a method accessible to a greater audience -- to improve on the solution that Microsoft provides that's intended for hardware manufacturers and make it work for us.

   Warning

Prerequisites

• Read and understand both linked documents above.
• Post questions if anything is unclear before you proceed.
• Don't blame me when you ruin your $3000 HDTV. Smoke can happen.
• Read up on what your displays true capabilities are stick close to them.
• This is more of a coffee tutorial than a beer tutorial...

Procedure

1. Download View attachment Phoenix.zip and extract it to a working folder.
2. Run it and click the registry toolbar button.
3. Click the pencil toolbar button for edit mode.
4. Change the EDID settings to reflect you display's true capabilities
5. Pay special attention to the Standard Timings tab.
6. Detailed Timing blocks 2-4 provide some very interested additional options.
7. Save the EDID to a .DAT file in the working folder.
8. Download moninfo.exe and install it.
9. Open the saved .DAT with MonInfo and make sure it doesn't complain about it
10. If it does post here for help
11. If MonInfo reads in an displays the settings the way you configured them in Phoenix then...
12. Select Create INF... from the file menu and save it to the working folder.
13. Feel free to edit the strings in the INF to your liking.
14. Open Start, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
15. Select the monitor you want to change, right click and select Update Driver Software
16. Use the tried and true "Have Disk" method to select the INF and install it.
17. Reboot and enjoy your new resolution!

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Screen Refresh Rate in Windows 7
• How to Change the Screen Resolution in Windows 7
• How to Create a Custom Screen Refresh Rate with NVIDIA Control Panel in Windows

 

[chivoX]

It seems that this problems are very very common just found someone whos hdmi ports (2 of them) failed in the same way. The hmdi inputs where working one day and the next one they didnt. Its the same problem i have.
Check this at here.

Hello guys, I will highly appreciate your assistance.
I am sure that there are many topics about this but I think I have read most of them and didn't find the solution to my problem.

Recently I have purchased a new Sharp AQUOS LCD 32'' (HD ready, 2 HDMI ports etc.). I have NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT 512RAM (it has VGA, DVI and S-Video output), the current driver is 181.20 (I think the latest). In order to connect the PC with the TV I have purchased a 5m cable DVI-HDMI. The first time I connected the PC and the TV, I started the NVIDIA TV Wizard / Display Wizard - it has detected the HDMI and asked for resolution..., everything went smooth and I have successfully setup a Dualview and Clone modes (I was able to set the HDMI format to 1080i).

Couple of days later, I started the PC and I noticed that my mouse doesn't move out of the primary display. I started the TV to the correct input and there was no signal, when I went to the NVIDIA Control Panel the Sharp TV was not listed. This was very strange and I started testing different settings, resolutions, rebooting, changing the HDMI port etc. Once I changed the HDMI port, I was able to run new Display Wizard which asked me for the HDMI format and it was ok (after numerous tests). Then I tried changing to the first HDMI port and everything was fine for another couple of days.

Now I had to make some house arrangements and I had to disconnect the TV. When I connected everything as it was there was no signal.
I tried running the wizard once again without any success. It seems that now the NVIDIA is not receiving any signal from the TV, there is no Sharp TV recognized and the only thing I can see when I try to setup multiple displays is simply TV. The Television Setup Wizard says that this is TV, Connector type: Auto-select, Signal type: M/NTSC

I can no longer detect the HDMI signal (on both HDMI ports) and I don't have any ideas how and why this has happened - it was working fine!!!

Does anyone had such issue and is there any solution to this? Is the problem with NVIDIA dirvers or something else? I will be glad to receive suggestions and some basic step-by-step guide to fix this problem.

Thanks,
Chris

I just left my TV in a service center to see if they could fix it since i tried everything on this guide with no results.

Im even thiking about buying a new TV since the LG`s seem to have lots of HDMI issues.

Something extra, i tried to use my hdmi cable with a new Sony HDTV and it works so its not a cabling issue my hdmi sony cable works. Its definitely a problem with the hdmi port. Everything else is working, component and A/V inputs are working.

And I also found this. Something called hdmiOn a program wich resends the EDID to revive your connection. Hope this helps someone. Check it out here.

Any help ??

Thanx

 

[Bconrad]

Envision G22LWk EDID broken?

Hello,

I need some help please! I've scoured the internet and keep coming back to this forum, but I can't get anything working correctly for my Envision 22" LCD, model G22LWk.

1. Any 3rd party program I've tried doesn't see any EDID for my monitor. They will not pull one from the monitor directly, and they do not see one in the Windows Registry. I've tried modifying the Envision .INF file but it doesn't seem to do anything.

2. The MAIN issue is tearing. Tears bad when gaming, tears bad when watching movies, tears bad when movement occurs in general like dragging windows around.

3. I first thought it was limited to my 3D applications like games, but it's not. The screen tears and doesn't run correctly.

4. Windows shows a resolution possible of 1680 x 1050 @ 32 bit color. nVidia Control Panel shows a "native" resolution of 1680 x 1050 @ 16 bit color.

5. I should state I'm using DVI cables for BOTH monitors, and programs like MonInfo and PowerStrip DO see my secondary DELL 1707FP LCD's EDID.

6. I tried calling Envision, and the tech stated that they do not have Windows 7 drivers for my G22LWk. I said I realize that, and that I wanted them to send me a file of the EDID info the screen should have. He said no, ie. they want me to buy a new monitor instead of looking at the one I purchased as an investment, ie. I'm never buying another Envision device in my lifetime.

7. The biggest issue is this: I cannot edit the EDID info for this G22LWk screen as shown in your tutorial if these 3rd party programs don't see an EDID to edit in the first place, and editing Hex code manually from scratch is well beyond my capabilities.

8. From what I can tell, nVidia's custom timings are fighting Windows 7 concerning the 59Hz vs. 60Hz. Windows 7 sees the G22LWk as either a "Generic plug-n-play device," or a "Display Device on DVI" depending on whether I manually install the driver from Envision.

9. The Envision driver doesn't seem to help anything, and the tech saying there are no drivers for this screen for Windows 7 confirms it.

10. I did try to manually edit the Envision INF, but I'm not sure it changed anything.

Here is a copy of the stock Envision .INF:

----------------------------------------
; Envision INF File for Windows(R) 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Server 2003/XP/Vista x64
; Revision Date: Jan 25,2007

[Version]
signature="$CHICAGO$"
Class=Monitor
ClassGuid={4D36E96E-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Provider=%Envision%
CatalogFile =G22LWk.CAT
DriverVer=01/25/2007,1.0.0.0

[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect.NT=Monitor\EPI2204

[ClassInstall]
AddReg=ClassAddReg32
[ClassInstall32]
AddReg=ClassAddReg32

[ClassAddReg32]
HKR,,,,%MonitorClassName%
HKR,,Icon,,"-1"
HKR,,NoInstallClass,,1

[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir= 11

[Manufacturer]
%Envision%=Envision,NTx86,NTamd64,NTia64

[Envision]
%G22LWk%=G22LWk.Install,Monitor\EPI2204

[Envision.NTx86]
%G22LWk%=G22LWk.Install,Monitor\EPI2204

[Envision.NTamd64]
%G22LWk%=G22LWk.Install,Monitor\EPI2204

[Envision.NTia64]
%G22LWk%=G22LWk.Install,Monitor\EPI2204

[G22LWk.Install]
DelReg=DEL_CURRENT_REG
AddReg=G22LWk.AddReg,1680,DPMS

[DEL_CURRENT_REG]
HKR,MODES
HKR,,MaxResolution
HKR,,DPMS

[1680]
HKR,,MaxResolution,,"1680,1050"

[DPMS]
HKR,,DPMS,,1

[G22LWk.AddReg]
HKR,"MODES\1680,1050",Mode1,,"30.0-83.0,50.0-76.0,-,+"

[Strings]
MonitorClassName="Monitor"
Envision="Envision Peripherals, Inc."

G22LWk="Envision G22LWk"
--------------------------------

I'm not sure what to do, and ANY reply would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[chivoX]

the hdmi port was damaged form the inside . it seems like someone pulled it to hard.

 

[gameover350]

I'm trying to make an .inf file to EDID override my Acer GH245HQ inf. I've used Phoenix/Moninfo to create the new inf but "Have Disk" will not let me load the file. Windows just beeps when i click "open" on the openfile dialog. Any idea why Win7 x64 won't allow me to install the override .inf?

What i am trying to do is create an inf that only has the 1920x1080@120 timing available in the hope that this will force Eyefinity to run at 120hz for my racing game addiction. Since it seems ATI hasn't quite made CCC capable of doing this the easy way!

Chris...

 

[baarod]

I'm trying to make an .inf file to EDID override my Acer GH245HQ inf. I've used Phoenix/Moninfo to create the new inf but "Have Disk" will not let me load the file. Windows just beeps when i click "open" on the openfile dialog. Any idea why Win7 x64 won't allow me to install the override .inf?

What i am trying to do is create an inf that only has the 1920x1080@120 timing available in the hope that this will force Eyefinity to run at 120hz for my racing game addiction. Since it seems ATI hasn't quite made CCC capable of doing this the easy way!

Chris...

Open Start, type PSR and press enter. Start recording and record the steps you're taking to install the INF. Post results here. Thanks!

 

[gameover350]

i've since discovered that Eyefinity cannot do 120hz regardless of EDID override, so i'm moving back to nVidia hardware that has 120hz capability. Thanks for the offer of support!

Chris...

 

[gameover350]

BTW, i at least solved the beeping when trying to install the .inf

It seems win 7 x64 doesn't like using the My Docs folder for them, i moved it to c:\ and it loaded right up.

still didn't solve my eyefinity problem but at least got the inf loading.

Chris...

 

[anda]

desperate

Hi guys, i'm really desperate, i've done everything the tutorial says to change the refresh rate but i get an error when i try to switch to it
my monitor is Philips 107E, a CRT one,
i prefer 1024x768@100 Hz, in windows XP it works perfect
in Win 7 it doesnt

so,the error i get is
80k/99hz
something about frequency range not beeing good..its a black screen

please help

 

[SolUP]

Problems WIN7 x64 - Medion 1772LA

Hey guys,

it took me hours to find soemthing like a "semi-solution" for my CRT in Windows 7 x64...
(Excuse me for my "strange" english, but I'm a foreign person.)

But one after the other:

1) Downloaded: - softmccs - pheonix - moninfo.exe
2) Got Monitor-Information with softmcs (but no DDC/CI)
3) Removed pin Number 7. (I have VGA-DVI)
4) At last (after a long experience) got a new *.inf.
5) Rebooting with the new *.inf installed meant "60 HZ-BUG". So I changed back to only nonPNP-Monitor. But it's hard to force the right rates. I can only manage this with ATI-Tray Tools; and only if I change the rates manually. I can't force to fix the rates.
Nearly every rate from 640x480 to 1600x1200 is shown, but I only need the rates till 1280x1024.
Very important for me are 1280x960 and 1280x720.

Maybe someone can make an inf for me which can solve this! That would be so nice!

A list of supported displays with refresh rates (although in the attached manual): 640x480 - 120 hz
800x600 - 100 hz
1024x768 - 85 h
1152x864 - 75 h
1280x720 - 85 h
1280x960 - 72 h

(If nearly all "normal" display-rates are shown till 1280x1024 would be nice!)

I have attached a manual (it`s not 100% the same monitor, but it's from the same manufacter and I think it has the same data.)
And the *.inf that I created. Renamed it in pdf, because got error when trying to attach it as inf.

 

[SolUP]

Forget about my first post.

I got it!

Two things that are a little annoying (The Rest is fine!):

1) I can only play games with max. refresh-rate if I put the desktop to the same resolution.
I want to get through that by staying always at 1024x768 at Desktop.

2) I am using ATI TRAY TOOLS. When I start the PC everything is fine, but little time before the task-symbol of ATT appears the monitor gets black and seems to switch. That takes about 3 seconds and than it is Ok. If I use standard-nPn-monitor drivers it does not appear.
What can I do to solve that?

(Attached working dat and inf)

TY for help!

 

[loquillo]

Hi, I have a problem with my LCD 32''. The native resolution is 1280x720. I have no problem setting it and even no problems forcing the refresh rate to 75hz (as I had it on WinXP but no forced then).

The problem is that I had the edges off the screen. So the "default" resolution happens to be 1216x684. I can't force the refresh rate with that resolution and some games didn't recognize it (only has the "standards" on wich I had the edges off the screen).

I tried a few nvidia drivers (I have a MSI GTX560 Ti) and a couple of the tweaked ones and nothing.
The TV doesn't has any options to resize the screen (i mean, in the remote).

I've tried the tutorial. I can generate the *.INF and "update" the monitor driver, but nothing happens after the reboot, the refresh rate is the same, also the resolution and obviously, the edges are off the screen.

Any help?
Thanks in advance.

 

[baarod]

Hi, I have a problem with my LCD 32''. The native resolution is 1280x720. I have no problem setting it and even no problems forcing the refresh rate to 75hz (as I had it on WinXP but no forced then).

The problem is that I had the edges off the screen. So the "default" resolution happens to be 1202x684 (I know it isn't 16:9, I set it manually so it's possibly that I missed a few pixels). I can't force the refresh rate with that resolution and some games didn't recognize it (only has the "standards" on wich I had the edges off the screen).

I tried a few nvidia drivers (I have a MSI GTX560 Ti) and a couple of the tweaked ones and nothing.
The TV doesn't has any options to resize the screen (i mean, in the remote).

I've tried the tutorial. I can generate the *.INF and "update" the monitor driver, but nothing happens after the reboot, the refresh rate is the same, also the resolution and obviously, the edges are off the screen.

Any help?
Thanks in advance.

Look for this control in the nVidia control panel:
Guru3D.com Forums - View Single Post - Blurry graphics in full screen

 

[loquillo]

I'm not having blurry problems. I tried that control and nothing changed. Off game and in game, the edges are still off the screen.

In game is less annoying because new games always recognize the windows resolution (1216x684) and can play "full screen".
Off game it's really the problem because the media player controls are always off screen as well as all the movies borders (of course the task bar too).

 

[baarod]

I'm not having blurry problems. I tried that control and nothing changed. Off game and in game, the edges are still off the screen.

In game is less annoying because new games always recognize the windows resolution (1216x684) and can play "full screen".
Off game it's really the problem because the media player controls are always off screen as well as all the movies borders (of course the task bar too).

Same issue as the other guy. He just set his media players like they were games...

 

[loquillo]

I've tried that solution and still no changes. The games only run "full screen" when I can select 1216x684 in its menu. If I choose 1280x720 the game goes out of screen.


EDIT: I could fix it thanks to this post: HDMI: How to disable?.
The thing was to use the TV with the DVI connection. In the first page you have the complete workaround and a few pages later you have a registry solution (based on the first one) wich is the one I used. No re-installing drivers, just modifying a key in the registry, restarting and working

It even worked with a TV, despite that workaround is mainly for monitors.

 

[Lurk]

Hi to everyone, I'm here sitting at my desk after pulling up an all-nighter together with most of my hair.
I extensively read through the whole thread, but solving the problem is beyond my mental capabilities at this point and in such state of mind.
I was using an ATI 4890 with Win764 and all was going smooth.
I recently upgraded to a 6950 (together with new system components), and now I can't play games above 60Hz.
More specifically I am currently able to run my desktop natively at 1280x1024 and select 100Hz only after unchecking "hide modes that this monitor cannot display". Not much of a problem per-se.

Next I install a game (DiRT2) and find out I can only play at 60Hz, no matter what I do, and the in-game menu only shows up to 85Hz available anyway (even if Windows and CCC let me choose 100Hz).

At this point I start following the tutorial on page 1 to create a new .inf file, and all I can achieve is to have 100Hz as an available option in DiRT2 in-game menu. Still, the game reverts the monitor back to 60Hz no matter what. But there is something new: I can actually play at 100Hz, BUT ONLY IN A WINDOW and after exiting the game momentarily with ctr-alt-del!

Additional step, I remove pin 7 from a spare VGA to DVI adapter and do the .inf trick all over from the start. Here is where I'm granted an added bonus: DiRT2 is now running at 75Hz.

I see this as a step in the right direction, but not quite satisfactory, as the 4890 allowed me to play ALL games at 1280x1024@100Hz with no tinkering.

Here is where I give up, re-fitting my intact VGA to DVI adapter and calling it a day.

One thing I *think* I understood is that Phoenix reports 1280x1024@75Hz only as a VESA Established timing. I have a feeling that until I can't change that reading to 1280x1024@100Hz, I won't be able to solve the problem. Thing is, I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO DO THAT, nor if it can be done alltogether.

My monitor is a 22" Samsung Syncmaster 1100DF with great viewing surface and good color fidelity, and I do have an .inf file from a driver set which won't run in Win764. I have no intention to change this monitor (why should I!!!), especially since I've run dry with finances after upgrading the system. The alternative at the moment is to leave my pc off until I can afford an LCD.

I hope someone can help me out, I'm quite desperate at this point.

 

[baarod]

Hi to everyone, I'm here sitting at my desk after pulling up an all-nighter together with most of my hair.
I extensively read through the whole thread, but solving the problem is beyond my mental capabilities at this point and in such state of mind.
I was using an ATI 4890 with Win764 and all was going smooth.
I recently upgraded to a 6950 (together with new system components), and now I can't play games above 60Hz.
More specifically I was able to run my desktop native at 1280x1024 and select 100Hz only after unchecking "hide modes that this monitor cannot display". Not much of a problem, and I was happy with it.

Next I install a game (DiRT2) and find out I can only play at 60Hz, no matter what I do., and the ingame menu only shows up to 85Hz anyway (even if Windows and CCC let me choose 100Hz)

AT this point I start following the tutorial on page 1 to create a new .inf file, and all I can get is the ingame menu of DiRT2 to show 100Hz as well. Still, the game defaults the monitor to 60Hz. But there is something new: now I can play it at 100Hz BUT ONLY IN A WINDOW!

Additional step, I remove pin 7 from a spare VGA to DVI adapter and do the .inf trick all over from the start. At this point I get an added bonus: DiRT2 is now running at 75Hz.

I see this as a step in the right direction, but not quite satisfactory, as the 4890 allowed me to play ALL games at 1280x1024@100Hz.

Here is where I give up, re-fitting my intact VGA to DVI adapter and calling it a day.

One thing I *think* I understood: Phoenix reports 1280x1024@75HZ only as a VESA Established timing. I have a feeling that until I can't change that reading to 1280x1024@100Hz, I won't be able to solve the problem. Thing is, I DON?T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO DO THAT, nor whether it can be done at all.

My monitor is a 22" Samsung Syncmaster 1100DF with great viewing surface and good color fidelity. I have no intention to change it, especially since I've run dry with finances after upgrading the system. The alternative at the moment is to leave my pc off until I can afford a new monitor.

I hope someone can help me out.

No adapters. No broken pins. This tutorial only works if your monitor is connected to your video card natively. Otherwise all bets are off. I will tell you this (as the tutorial author) you need to create a custom timing. The VESA standard timings do not go to 100Hz. See if you can connect your monitor using a native VGA plug or borrow a DVI monitor to complete your testing.

 

[baarod]

I've tried that solution and still no changes. The games only run "full screen" when I can select 1216x684 in its menu. If I choose 1280x720 the game goes out of screen.


EDIT: I could fix it thanks to this post: HDMI: How to disable?.
The thing was to use the TV with the DVI connection. In the first page you have the complete workaround and a few pages later you have a registry solution (based on the first one) wich is the one I used. No re-installing drivers, just modifying a key in the registry, restarting and working

It even worked with a TV, despite that workaround is mainly for monitors.

HDMI signal is digitally identical to the DVI output. Your TV is detected as a TV so it did the overscan. I'm positive that if you'd set the programs in nVidia control panel correctly you'd have been fine as well.

 

[Lurk]

No adapters. No broken pins. This tutorial only works if your monitor is connected to your video card natively. Otherwise all bets are off. I will tell you this (as the tutorial author) you need to create a custom timing. The VESA standard timings do not go to 100Hz. See if you can connect your monitor using a native VGA plug or borrow a DVI monitor to complete your testing.

I'm afraid I can't do that, unless I install a video card that still has native vga input.
Why was the 4890 working instead?
Thank you very much for your prompt reply, at this stage my brain isn't functioning properly enough to go any further.

 

[loquillo]

I've tried that solution and still no changes. The games only run "full screen" when I can select 1216x684 in its menu. If I choose 1280x720 the game goes out of screen.


EDIT: I could fix it thanks to this post: HDMI: How to disable?.
The thing was to use the TV with the DVI connection. In the first page you have the complete workaround and a few pages later you have a registry solution (based on the first one) wich is the one I used. No re-installing drivers, just modifying a key in the registry, restarting and working

It even worked with a TV, despite that workaround is mainly for monitors.

HDMI signal is digitally identical to the DVI output. Your TV is detected as a TV so it did the overscan. I'm positive that if you'd set the programs in nVidia control panel correctly you'd have been fine as well.

The problem was that I didn't have the choice to set it as a "monitor". And I couldn't deactivate the overscan option either (the nvidia control panel mark the options in "gray"). I tried every posible combination in the control panel and couldn't change it.

Anyway, it's been solved and workings perfectly.