How do I set monitor refresh rate in ETW?

**Bendit** · April 17, 2009, 06:36 AM

I have done several searches and I'm amazed I have not found the answer. But how does one set the refresh rate for ETW?

I have a nice old CRT but ETW sets the refresh rate at a low frequency, resulting in lots of screen flicker and sore eyes after a long session. Most good games let you set the refresh rate somehow, if not in game graphic settings, then in a hidden file somewhere. Does anyone know? TIA

**Brusilov** · April 17, 2009, 08:17 AM

I would have thought that the refresh rate was controlled by Windows rather than the game. Can you confirm what the refresh rate is set to in Windows. I think it's in the display settings somewhere.

**TestudoAubreii** · April 17, 2009, 08:32 AM

What video card do you have? I know that in ATI CCC, you can go into the advanced options and check your screen refresh rate there. If you still need help later on, I'll try to post a screen shot of it. This is assuming that you have an ATI card. I am not sure how it is done on a NVIDIA card.

edit: Here is what it looks like for ATI's CCC:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

morrisonicus

**Bendit** · April 17, 2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I have an nVidia card tho. At 1600x1200 resolution I can set the monitor to 75hz in Windows and most other games, but ETW defaults to 60hz. If I change the rez it still defaults to a very low refresh rate.

**SirVulf** · April 17, 2009, 02:54 PM

I guessing that's because of some hardcoded settings in ETW. Again shows their poor coding. Most wide screen LCD's that display 1440 rez or larger have a "refresh" of 60Hz. It may be that for some reason they hard-coded the monitor refresh charts into ETW. You may want to see if your monitor has drivers that you can install, that may help...

In Windows to change refresh rates, you may want to do the following:

1. Right Click your desktop (on empty space)
2. Go to Properties
3. Click the Settings Tab
4. Press the Advanced Button
5. Select the Monitor Tab
6. The Refresh rates should be on that tab.
I would make sure "Hide Modes that this monitor cannot display" is checked.

**Bendit** · April 18, 2009, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by SirVulf

I guessing that's because of some hardcoded settings in ETW. Again shows their poor coding. Most wide screen LCD's that display 1440 rez or larger have a "refresh" of 60Hz. It may be that for some reason they hard-coded the monitor refresh charts into ETW.

Quite possibly. CRTs are a dying breed to some extent.

Originally Posted by SirVulf

I would make sure "Hide Modes that this monitor cannot display" is checked.

It is. I do have the monitor drivers installed. All they do is tell Windows which resolutions and refresh rates the monitor supports. I only have to right click on the nVidia icon to change the refresh rate in Windows. Of course changing it in ETW is a different story...I can press a button on my monitor to see it is 60Hz in ETW, although my eyes are telling me that anyway.

**Bendit** · April 18, 2009, 01:14 AM

I found a work-around by using a free utility called Refresh Force for Windows XP. It works fine with ETW. Here is a link if anyone has the same question in the future.

http://www.pagehosting.co.uk/rf/