help! monitor refresh rates

iroc409 · 03-08-2004, 09:31 PM

ok, until i get in a new display, i'm in serious need of ramping up the refresh rates on my device, but i have a couple concerns i'm not sure about.

the monitor i'm using now is a samsung 955df (although it's an older model, i bought it right about when they first came out). at 1600x1200, it's rated for 68hz (the current models anyway, but i assume they're the same units).

well, windows won't let me set 68hz. i can do 60, 70, 75, 85. what i'm interested to know is twofold.

first off, is there a way to set specific refresh rates in windows? i've been looking around and so far, i haven't found any ways other than what windows dictates for me.

secondly, if i use a rating higher than the monitor is rated for, how detrimental is that to the device? i know in the past i've always heard that if you set a rate too high, you can make the monitor go BOOM. but what if i only set it to 70, where it's only running 2hz more on the cycle?

i've set it at 85 in the past temporarily (only for about a minute at a time), just to see if it would run. and, it does run perfectly fine at 85 hz (as far as i can tell). although, from what i've heard in the past, that's a quick way to end a monitor's life.

anyways, any help would be appreciated. the next one is going to be a top of the line 22" mits, without the color calibration hardware (almost doubles the price of the unit). it will increase my desk real estate and reduce eyestrain considerably, i think. if only lcd's would really catch up to the crt's color capabilities, i'd be all over those.

AntiBling · 03-09-2004, 03:09 AM

I used to work as a monitor repair tech. I did that job for about 3 years. In my opinion going to 70 shouldnt hurt it if 68 is truly the limit. Its odd that it functioned normally at 85 if its not supposed to. Most monitors of a recent vintage will detect scan ranges that are out of their design limits and just refuse to scan, giving an error message. Especially brand name ones... such as your Samsung. Are you quite certain about the specs?

BTW if there is no internal protection in the monitor and you exceed its scan range by enough of a difference it can be very detrimental. That affects the timing of the high voltage system which can cause things to heat up and burn. ( most likely the H.O.T. or flyback.

bigben2k · 03-09-2004, 10:17 AM

Well, I can confirm the specs:
http://www.samsung.com.au/samsung.asp?cat=51&obj=325
(in Australia, but should be the same monitor)

Download the driver at the bottom of the page, and install it: it should allow you to set the 68Hz refresh rate.

If that doesn't work, check for an updated driver to your video card.

iroc409 · 03-09-2004, 10:57 AM

good info from both, i was pretty sure that if i cranked it up too high, it would explode.

anyways. i had the driver from samsung usa installed, that .au site didn't appear to have XP drivers. but, i was running catalyst 4.0 or 4.1, something, so i just upgraded to 4.2. then i had to resinstall the monitor driver, which it identifies as 905df(x)/955df(x).

but, when running at 1600, if the "hide modes this monitor cannot display" box is checked, 60hz is my only choice. it does seem to be properly detecting the monitor tho, as at 640 it reads up 60,72,75,85,90,100 and 120. and i it should be able to do 120hz at 640.

i dunno, i could try 70, or maybe i just shouldn't mess with it, and i should wait until i get a new tube. i've been looking at lacie lately as well, those look pretty nice. i really need to get my hands on one of those brand new fancy lcd's (which even lacie is making). all i know is this refresh rate is killing me after over a year of sitting in front of it most of the day, i need something more ergonomic.

Cptn. Foo Foo · 03-09-2004, 11:00 AM

I have seen some older systems (older video cards would be more to the point maybe) that seem to run a higher Hz than what it actually is running.

Some monitors tell you what Hz they are running. Try browsing through the monitor's setup screens (like use thier setup buttons) and look for a readout of the current Hz in use. My Samsung 900NF does this.

Sometimes what the monitor says and what Windows says are different. Like you can set it to 85Hz in Windows, the monitor still shows the screen, but after checking the Hz on the monitor its only running say 75Hz.

Its wierd. Maybe this happened to you.

BTW...its the Samsung 900NF which can do 1600x1200 @ 85Hz (87Hz MAX)

Cptn. Foo Foo · 03-09-2004, 11:16 AM

Also, I know that nvidia's drivers let you make your own resolutions...maybe they let you pick a specific refresh rate too.

iroc409 · 03-09-2004, 11:20 AM

i think you're right, i don't think it's actually running 85 hz when i set windows to display that.

i dug through the information windows, and it showed all the settings it could run (which is actually a good bit higher than what samsung says - but then again they could have changed the model from its original settings as well).

anyways, at the bottom of the info window it says "74.9kHz 60Hz PP". i assume that's the current mode it's running in.

it goes through all the "factory settings" and "user settings", with a couple dozen resolutions and frequencies, but i can't see how to actually change anything.

sooo.. sounds like i'm probably stuck. ahh well, i've had this thing for like 3-4 years now i believe, so it's probably about time to upgrade.

iroc409 · 03-09-2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cptn. Foo Foo

Also, I know that nvidia's drivers let you make your own resolutions...maybe they let you pick a specific refresh rate too.

i don't have nvidia anything... but that's definitely good to know

iroc409 · 03-09-2004, 11:29 AM

well, this is messed up. i've gone clear down to 1024x768, and the information window still only states 60Hz, even if i set windows to 100Hz.

it's coming up with

74.9kHz 60Hz PP
48.3kHz 60Hz NN
63.9kHz 60Hz PP
48.3kHz 60Hz NN

but that's it, from 1600x1200 to 1024x768, those are the modes i'm guessing it's running in (a couple of those modes are same res, but i think a different frequency in windows).

ugh. what a piece of crap. so much for those rave reviews it got a few years back

the only upside is, at 1024 i can't seem to see the actual gyrating scanlines... so i guess it gives the appearance of running faster or something. i dunno. maybe i can set windows to 85hz and it will look better, even tho the monitor is still only running at 60hz

:shrug:

Cptn. Foo Foo · 03-09-2004, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iroc409

at the bottom of the info window it says "74.9kHz 60Hz PP"

That means its running at 60Hz. Windows might say something else however. But trust what the monitor says

You cant change the Hz by using the monitor's setup screens. You can change other stuff of course but not the Hz. Not all monitors tell you what Hz they are running but its a nice feature when they do.

The video card is what controls the refresh rate in that it tells the monitor what to use. And if you cant get a certain resolution or refresh rate then its a driver issue (like the driver interface windows just dont give you the option to tweak the Hz)

My $0.02

Cptn. Foo Foo · 03-09-2004, 11:36 AM

When I change refresh rates my Samsung 900NF displays the correct Hz in the setup screen.

You have got to have some kind of driver issue there. :shrug:

iroc409 · 03-09-2004, 11:42 AM

hrm, well, a driver issue would make sense. but according to samsung, that's the correct driver for the monitor.

i'll see what i can dig up on other drivers, and try those nt or 95 drivers or something from the .au site.

03-08-2004, 09:31 PM	#1
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	help! monitor refresh rates ok, until i get in a new display, i'm in serious need of ramping up the refresh rates on my device, but i have a couple concerns i'm not sure about. the monitor i'm using now is a samsung 955df (although it's an older model, i bought it right about when they first came out). at 1600x1200, it's rated for 68hz (the current models anyway, but i assume they're the same units). well, windows won't let me set 68hz. i can do 60, 70, 75, 85. what i'm interested to know is twofold. first off, is there a way to set specific refresh rates in windows? i've been looking around and so far, i haven't found any ways other than what windows dictates for me. secondly, if i use a rating higher than the monitor is rated for, how detrimental is that to the device? i know in the past i've always heard that if you set a rate too high, you can make the monitor go BOOM. but what if i only set it to 70, where it's only running 2hz more on the cycle? i've set it at 85 in the past temporarily (only for about a minute at a time), just to see if it would run. and, it does run perfectly fine at 85 hz (as far as i can tell). although, from what i've heard in the past, that's a quick way to end a monitor's life. anyways, any help would be appreciated. the next one is going to be a top of the line 22" mits, without the color calibration hardware (almost doubles the price of the unit). it will increase my desk real estate and reduce eyestrain considerably, i think. if only lcd's would really catch up to the crt's color capabilities, i'd be all over those. __________________ :shrug:

03-09-2004, 10:17 AM	#3
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Well, I can confirm the specs: http://www.samsung.com.au/samsung.asp?cat=51&obj=325 (in Australia, but should be the same monitor) Download the driver at the bottom of the page, and install it: it should allow you to set the 68Hz refresh rate. If that doesn't work, check for an updated driver to your video card. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

03-09-2004, 10:57 AM	#4
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	good info from both, i was pretty sure that if i cranked it up too high, it would explode. anyways. i had the driver from samsung usa installed, that .au site didn't appear to have XP drivers. but, i was running catalyst 4.0 or 4.1, something, so i just upgraded to 4.2. then i had to resinstall the monitor driver, which it identifies as 905df(x)/955df(x). but, when running at 1600, if the "hide modes this monitor cannot display" box is checked, 60hz is my only choice. it does seem to be properly detecting the monitor tho, as at 640 it reads up 60,72,75,85,90,100 and 120. and i it should be able to do 120hz at 640. i dunno, i could try 70, or maybe i just shouldn't mess with it, and i should wait until i get a new tube. i've been looking at lacie lately as well, those look pretty nice. i really need to get my hands on one of those brand new fancy lcd's (which even lacie is making). all i know is this refresh rate is killing me after over a year of sitting in front of it most of the day, i need something more ergonomic. __________________ :shrug:

03-09-2004, 11:20 AM	#7
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	i think you're right, i don't think it's actually running 85 hz when i set windows to display that. i dug through the information windows, and it showed all the settings it could run (which is actually a good bit higher than what samsung says - but then again they could have changed the model from its original settings as well). anyways, at the bottom of the info window it says "74.9kHz 60Hz PP". i assume that's the current mode it's running in. it goes through all the "factory settings" and "user settings", with a couple dozen resolutions and frequencies, but i can't see how to actually change anything. sooo.. sounds like i'm probably stuck. ahh well, i've had this thing for like 3-4 years now i believe, so it's probably about time to upgrade. __________________ :shrug:

03-09-2004, 11:29 AM	#9
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	well, this is messed up. i've gone clear down to 1024x768, and the information window still only states 60Hz, even if i set windows to 100Hz. it's coming up with 74.9kHz 60Hz PP 48.3kHz 60Hz NN 63.9kHz 60Hz PP 48.3kHz 60Hz NN but that's it, from 1600x1200 to 1024x768, those are the modes i'm guessing it's running in (a couple of those modes are same res, but i think a different frequency in windows). ugh. what a piece of crap. so much for those rave reviews it got a few years back the only upside is, at 1024 i can't seem to see the actual gyrating scanlines... so i guess it gives the appearance of running faster or something. i dunno. maybe i can set windows to 85hz and it will look better, even tho the monitor is still only running at 60hz :shrug: __________________ :shrug:

03-09-2004, 03:09 AM	#2
AntiBling Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: orlando FL Posts: 147	I used to work as a monitor repair tech. I did that job for about 3 years. In my opinion going to 70 shouldnt hurt it if 68 is truly the limit. Its odd that it functioned normally at 85 if its not supposed to. Most monitors of a recent vintage will detect scan ranges that are out of their design limits and just refuse to scan, giving an error message. Especially brand name ones... such as your Samsung. Are you quite certain about the specs? BTW if there is no internal protection in the monitor and you exceed its scan range by enough of a difference it can be very detrimental. That affects the timing of the high voltage system which can cause things to heat up and burn. ( most likely the H.O.T. or flyback.

03-09-2004, 11:00 AM	#5
Cptn. Foo Foo Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 95	I have seen some older systems (older video cards would be more to the point maybe) that seem to run a higher Hz than what it actually is running. Some monitors tell you what Hz they are running. Try browsing through the monitor's setup screens (like use thier setup buttons) and look for a readout of the current Hz in use. My Samsung 900NF does this. Sometimes what the monitor says and what Windows says are different. Like you can set it to 85Hz in Windows, the monitor still shows the screen, but after checking the Hz on the monitor its only running say 75Hz. Its wierd. Maybe this happened to you. BTW...its the Samsung 900NF which can do 1600x1200 @ 85Hz (87Hz MAX)

03-09-2004, 11:16 AM	#6
Cptn. Foo Foo Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 95	Also, I know that nvidia's drivers let you make your own resolutions...maybe they let you pick a specific refresh rate too.

03-09-2004, 11:36 AM	#11
Cptn. Foo Foo Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 95	When I change refresh rates my Samsung 900NF displays the correct Hz in the setup screen. You have got to have some kind of driver issue there. :shrug:

03-09-2004, 11:42 AM	#12
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	hrm, well, a driver issue would make sense. but according to samsung, that's the correct driver for the monitor. i'll see what i can dig up on other drivers, and try those nt or 95 drivers or something from the .au site. __________________ :shrug:

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)