Typing/generating display inf files to force refresh rates

[crim3]

I'm trying to force windows (win7) think that there isn't available any refresh rate above 60 Hz.

Right now the display is not being detected deliberately because I need it to be that way, so it's using a generic non-pnp monitor inf file. But the native resolution of the display was missed at the nvidia control panel. It seems to be a frequent problem with win7 and I found at internet that a new inf file with the resolution I needed can be generated with powerstrip. It worked like a charm, so now I'm on the 'inf path' for solutions to problems with the display.

So, let's say that I want windows think that, for example, only two resolutions, both at 60Hz, are available and, as a result, only those two resolutions are listed at the nvidia control panel. In other words, I want to find a way to tell windows explicitly which are the resolutions available and their refresh rates.

Can it be done with an inf file? Do I need first to delete or cancel somehow the resolutions that are actually available? Are they stored at the windows register? Any resource with an explanation of the sintax of those inf files?
By the way, are there any alternative solutions?

[cybereality]

I believe Windows may get that information directly from the EDID. It may be possible to overwrite the EDID on your display but that may be dangerous so I am not sure I recommend it. Its something to look into though.

[crim3]

I found it!

Vista 60Hz Fix. . .

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blazestorm View Post
Weird, Vista recognized my FW900 and I was running 1920 x 1200 @ 85hz

I'm back on XP running the same thing...
I was able to add 1680x1050 at 85hz by going into registry. . . I imagine you could do the same for 1920x1200. . . but for the purposes of this thread, I'm going to write about 1680x1050 since that's what I worked with. . . because I too don't recall having trouble with 1920x1200 once I just installed the built-in FW900 driver that comes with Vista.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{G ID}\0000\NV_Modes

(keep in mind that GID will vary from user to user)

You'll see something like the following:

Quote:
{*}S 720x480=1;720x576=8032;320x200 320x240 400x300 480x360 512x384 640x400=F;SHV 1920x1080x32 1920x1200x32 1920x1440 2048x1536=1F;640x480 800x600 848x480 960x600 1024x768x8,16 1088x612x8,16=1FFF;1600x1024x32 1600x1200x32 1920x1080x8,16 1920x1200x8,16=3F;1280x720x32 1280x768x32 1280x800x32 1280x960x32 1280x1024x32 1360x768x32 1600x900x8,16=3FF;1600x900x32 1600x1024x8,16 1600x1200x8,16=7F;
There's a guide to understanding this gibberish here (PDF)

However, if memory serves (I went back to XP so I can no longer check my registry), I added 1680x1050 to the second group (the one that ends in =F) and I was then able to select 85Hz for a refresh rate for 1680x1050 where it was locked at 60hz before.

Finally, the FW900 driver built into Vista should allow for 85Hz for 1920x1200. Those are really the only two resolutions I prefer (1920 for games, 1680 for desktop). All the games I tried made use of the higher refresh rates.

Edit: Duh. Obviously this is for nv cards only.

Edit: Actually, trying to remember, I think I may have just added my own custom entry and refresh rate after the *S in the beginning that said: 1680x1050=1DF; which should then allow the choosing of 144, 140, 120, 85, 75, 72, 70, and 60. But, of course, only a few of those will work. Looking at the manual linked above, you might also try 1680x1050=2B if you prefer 1680x1050 to be able to run at 100Hz.

The source: http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=103 ... count=3201" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And the PDF guide link: http://http.download.nvidia.com/Windows ... de_2.1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;