Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: fuzeman on September 17, 2002, 01:46:52 AM
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I just got a Gnu GeF4 Ti4200 [yep I know I'm a day late but I'm also a dollar short] and was wondering about my refresh rate.
I believe it is set to 'optimal' now and was wondering if it would be better to set it at a specific value instead. Does optimal set it to a certain value or vary it depending on what 'it' thinks is best?
Thanks for the forthcomming advice, and even the wise cracks if they come.
fuzeman
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It's always best to set your refresh rate as high as possible for the resolution you are running. I like to do this manually, as I don't trust it to be "optimal", and I'm very sensitive to low refresh rates after many years in the computer industry. If it's below about 72 Hz, I can tell just by looking. The situation is normally made worse by florescent lighting, which in North America operates at a frequency of 60 Hz, so if your monitor refresh is close to that, they combine to make the flicker really bad.
I recommend.
1. Be sure your monitor driver is correct, or it won't let you set the refresh rate in 9x.
2. Use the 30.82 Detonators.
3. Get the refresh rate fix tool. THis will basically edit the registry for you to force your refresh at each resolution. Especially important when gaming, since the Detonators will drop to 60 Hz in DirectX mode by default.
You can get drivers and the refresh fix tool at http://www.guru3d.com
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Are the 30.82 detonators the best just now? I have GF3 Ti500.
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Yes, 30.82 detonators seem to give the best pefformance.
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I'm running Win98se and presently have 29.80's installed. I wanted to keep these ONLY to see the difference in changeing the video card from a GeF 2MX to the GeF4 Ti4200 and was planning on upgrading the Dets. I have the 30.82s and will install them shortly. I also have the correct monitor driver because I had a problem earlier when that wasn't installed and gave me a headache or three. I have Powerstrip and if that wont let me adjust the refresh rate I'll get the 'refresh fix tool' and give it a shot. I'm 99% positive my system will take 75 or higher on a refresh rate, but will double check to be sure. I'm an incandescent kind of guy so flourescent flicker shouldn't be a problem. With the Gnu video card, and an upgrade from a Duron 750 @ 850 to an XP1500+, I may try bumping up my resolution also. I presently run at 1024x768.
Thanks for you input
fuzeman
[ I owe you all a free kill... just try to find me :D ]
[Rereading the post I gues I only owe Lephturn a free kill :) ]
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Two points I would make.
1. Don't every "upgrade" your Detonators unless you need to. Your just asking for problems. If everything you play works fine, don't bother changing driver versions. Wait until you have a problem with a game, or start experienceing crashes in AH or something, THEN look for updated drivers. Also, I always recommend you stick to WHQL certified drivers, they just tend to be the stable ones. Currently the 30.82's seem to work fine for myself and others with a GeForce 4 Ti.
2. Test resolutions/refresh rates on your Windows desktop first. It depends a great deal on your monitor size and quality. I can go to 1280x1024 at home, but my toejamty 17" just doesn't look good at that resolution. Muck around with it and see what the highest useable resolution is for you. Also, if you have XP, be sure to turn on "Text Anti-Aliasing" and set it to "ClearText". It rocks. I have a 19" at work, and with ClearText turned on I can jump up one resolution range higher than I otherwise could use comfortably.
Oh, and I'd rather a good dogfight than a free kill anyday. :)
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Thanks a ton, or a kilo, Lephturn for the advise.
I upgraded from a GeF2mx to the 4 Ti4200 so I think moving from 29.80s to 30.82s may help me. I've got the destroyer program and will install them in proper fashion. I agree on the WHQLs, they can save you a headache or three.
I have a 19" ViewSonic A90 now at 1024x768x32 @75Hz and matched AH to that. I may try and bump it up to see how it works and looks but time will tell on that.
I'm running Win98se on a new AMD XP1500+, AMD replaced a defective T-Bird 1.4Ghz I bought off eBay, lucky they did; and my new GeF4 Ti4200, with 256nonDDR Ram.
If we meet in the air, I'll do my best to pluck off a few tail feathers off before I go down in flames :)
fuzeman
again, thanks for the help