Monitor Refresh Rate?

Drex · 2003-04-09, 01:58 AM

My monitor is currently set to 60hz with the option to raise it to 75hz or 85 hz. What is best for my gaming experience!? I dont know whether it matters what kind of system I have as to how to set my refresh but I have an Athlon 2500+, 9700 Pro and 512 corsair RAM...if that matters.

Civilian · 2003-04-09, 02:08 AM

72-75 is a good refresh rate. Going over 75 puts unnecessary strain on your CPU and under 72 kills your eyes.

I used to not pay attention to the refresh rates on my monitors until after I bought my 9700 Pro, and when you switch from a 60, the difference is unbelievable. Sixty sorta makes my eyes want to explode now.

Drex · 2003-04-09, 02:25 AM

Ok I set it to 75hz because I dont have the option to set it at 72...Just 60, 75 or 85. I'll see how this goes at this setting, thanks.

OneManArmy · 2003-04-09, 02:41 AM

Just to add:

If you have windows 2000/XP you will notice that when starting up a game you're refresh rate get stuck back at 60hz (its a windows bug). If you have a Radeon card there is a very easy way around this:

go to Display Properties --> Settings --> Advanced --> Displays Tab --> Click on the Monitor that is active --> DirectX Override Refresh rate : set it to whatever you want.

I have my desktop at 75Hz so I just use the "Same as Desktop" setting.

Now, If you have a Geforce there are plenty of Utilities out there that will allow you "fix" that bug.
look here
http://www.voodoofiles.com/type.asp?cat_id=33

or here
http://www.softnews.ro/public/cat/12/1/12-1-1.shtml

Hunter83 · 2003-04-09, 02:52 AM

I personally can't stand anything below 85Hz.

GeForce cards are just as easy to override the refresh rates.

However, the override does not work with OpenGL games such as Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I'd suspect the Radeons to have the same effect.
With RtCW at least it's an easy matter of adding a line to your config file.

Trebor95 · 2003-04-09, 03:54 AM

85hz is about ideal, if you have the option - use it

and if vsync is enabled, your graphics card will attempt to "hold" the FPS in sync with the monitors refresh rate (I'm not sure on whether I like this)

Squeeky · 2003-04-09, 06:16 AM

I use 85 and it works great

Navaron · 2003-04-09, 08:08 AM

Buh, I have normal moniter and I use 60. What is your resolution guys?

Squeeky · 2003-04-09, 08:37 AM

OneManArmy · 2003-04-09, 10:18 AM

I use 75Hz, Just because I don't know anything about my monitor and I dont feel like testing its ability to hold 85Hz at 1280x1024

Gammit10 · 2003-04-09, 11:59 AM

I use 75 Hz. The change from 60 Hz was amazing. In fact, whenever I install new video cards, I get sunglasses for when my computer defaults back to 60 Hz so my eyes don't bleed.
I'd like to go higher than 75, but I have my resolution set at 1280X1024.