How can I limit refresh rates?

[TheManInGray]

I seem to have an issue opposite of what is normally desired. In my case, my monitor only supports 60Hz but some 3D apps try to change the refresh rate to something higher, leaving only "Out of Range" displaying on my monitor.

So, I need to find a way to make Windows 7 only use 60Hz.

My video card is an EVGA GTX 460, monitor is Sceptre X24WG, but I can find no drivers for it.

I remember being able to do this in the past but not sure how or if it can be done in Windows 7.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[smarteyeball]

You should be able to create a custom resolution/refresh rate in the Nvidia Control Panel

ie:

 

[TheManInGray]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I can make a custom resolution and that works for setting the desktop resolution and refresh rate (actually had to do this to get 1900x1200). However when a 3D app goes full screen it (something) is selecting another refresh rate.

If I look in the NVidia control panel, for the "stock" resolutions it allows for selection of other refresh rates besides 60. I need to limit things somehow so that when a resolution change occurs it always uses 60. Now it's trying to use something else and my monitor can't display it.

There seems to be some disconnect between Windows / NVidia and the monitor, seems like what I need is something that will tell Windows / DirectX not to use anything except 60Hz.

BTW, this hasn't been an issue with this monitor on the Vista and XP machines that use it (via KVM).

So far I've spent $900 to build a game machine that can't play games, frustrating

 

[logicearth]

Its the game or whatever it is you are trying to run that is the problem. You should talk to the developer of that game. It isn't Windows that is trying to change the refresh rate its the game in question.

 

[carwiz]

Don't run the game in 3D. I don't think your display supports it anyway. 3D normally requires a higher refresh rate--120Hz and up.

 

[Wishmaster]

Yea, I was going to say dont you need a 120hz monitor for 3d Vision?

I seem to recall it needs to do 2 images at 60hz for it to work (total 120) or something along that line ... I dont use it so Im not sure.

--EDIT --
If Im reading this correctly it appears thats the problem.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-system-requirements.html

Note the 3D display Req.

 

[carwiz]

Yeah, 120Hz for passive 3D (Two-color glasses). Active 3D (Expensive shutter glasses) need even higher. And, active 3D requires an emitter on the display for the glasses.

 

[TheManInGray]

Sorry, by 3D I didn't mean 3D lol, I meant 3D as in Direct3D or OpenGL.

After messing with it more today, I installed the X-Plane demo, fortunately it allows me to choose resolution and refresh rate, so hopefully the other ones will too.

And now that I see that one can do it, the blame does squarely fall on the game developer, although I'm sure from their perspective they are picking from a list of what Windows (or video or monitor driver) tells them will work.

I think that's the core of the problem. I cannot find any drivers for my monitor. It's using Generic Plug and Play (I've also tried Generic Non Plug and play too). The result is always the same - it is showing that it can do >60Hz, but it really can't and therein lies the problem.

I had a similar issue once in the past long ago with XP, but I was able to create a custom inf file for the monitor with just the resolutions and refresh rates I wanted. However for one I don't remember how I did it (the inf syntax is not exactly straight forward), and also I'm not sure if that would even work with Windows 7.

I know the easiest answer would be to just go buy another monitor, but all coinage has been spent on this project (besides the monitor looks fine).

 

[carwiz]

I was looking at the console for my Intel chipset driver (under Display>Screen Resolution>Advanced Settings-Monitor tab) and there's a check box to "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display". This box is just below the drop-down for Screen refresh rate. I think this is present for the generic display driver. You might check to see if there's a similar setting.

Added:
I forgot to mention that I believe this will limit what Windows will allow software to select too.

 

[Duzzy]

If the above fails and your monitor is the "SCEPTRE X24WG-Naga" then you could try the Vista driver at the bottom of this page Sceptre Manual Download

EDIT: To get to the Advanced Settings on most Win 7 computers just right click the Desktop -> Change Resolution -> Advanced Settings

 

[stormy13]

If you didn't do a custom install and just in case it is what is causing the problem, open Programs and Features and uninstall the 3D Vision driver/software. Select the Nvidia entry in Programs and Features and it should open a small window that allows you to select to either uninstall everything or pick and choose which parts to uninstall.

P.S. It won't hurt anything to uninstall it either, unless you have the Nvidia 3D Vision kit and a 120 Hz monitor. Still have no idea why Nvidia insists on it installing automatically when people don't have the necessary hardware.

 

[TheManInGray]

Thanks everyone for all the input.

On the back of the monitor it says X24WG-1080p - not sure if that is the same as the naga model.

If I go to the advanced page, I see a "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" checkbox but it is grayed out. With the previous NVIDIA driver it was not grayed out, but the only thing it did when I clicked it was to take away the custom resolutions I had added. With the newer NVIDIA driver it already has 1900x1200 so I didn't need to add it.

The "Hide" checkbox is grayed out now with Generic Non-Pnp Monitor and Generic PnP Monitor. Also, the refresh rates listed there are 60,70,72,75,85,100. I have a feeling that if this list only had 60 maybe that would help.

I tried the Vista driver above but it did not work. When I try to add it through Monitor Properties ... => Have Disk, I get:

The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device. If the folder contains a driver, make sure it is designed to work with Windows x64-based systems

Also, I uninstalled both 3D Vision components to no effect.

I'm thinking as long as the full screen game I'm using allows me to choose a resolution and refresh rate and it defaults to one with 60Hz I'll be fine. But if that is not true I'll be dead in the water. So, depending on what I choose I may be Ok, but I would much rather not have to face the uncertainty, especially since once I get past 30 days it becomes much more difficult if not impossible to return or swap out parts without just having to spend more money.

 

[Duzzy]

Try this file Driver needed: Sceptre X24WG-1080P.

Rename it to .inf. I don't know what determines if it's x64 or not but can't hurt to try. There are 2 changes I can see we could make if it doesn't work as is but they may make no difference.

Also under device manager monitor properties, Details tab, Hardware ID property what is the value(s) listed?

 

[TheManInGray]

I tried that and i got the same message as above. Maybe I'm not doing it right? I'm going into Screen Resolution -> Advanced Settings -> Monitor -> Properties -> Driver -> Update Driver -> Browse My Computer -> Let Me Pick -> Have Disk then I point to the folder with the inf file in it.

The Hardware Ids property shows:

MONITOR\Default_Monitor

 

[Duzzy]

Well just taking a stab in the dark with these changes.

If you open that file and go to this line "%SPT2402%=SPT2402, MONITOR\SPT2402 ;X24WG-1080P" and change MONITOR\SPT2402 to MONITOR\Default_Monitor.

If that don't work try going to this line %MFG%=SCEPTRE and change to %MFG%=SCEPTRE,NTx86,NTAMD64

I would try both changes in separate files then both in the one file.

 

[TheManInGray]

Tried all 3 combinations, same result.