60Hz Refresh Rate fix - for Battlefield notebook gamers

:wink: 60Hz Refresh Rate fix :wink:

My way.

First of all, I would like to say that this guide is NOT for everyone. Only those that are in need of having a display with a refresh rate of 60Hz.... mainly for Battlefield games.

If you do not play Battlefield and/or your system is fine and stable... DO NOT do this because it is really not needed and does not give any other benefits.

Reasons I am posting this:
- people with non-60Hz (58Hz, 59Hz, 61Hz, etc..)** LCD panels are wanting to know
- this way does not affect FPS or performance (from my tests)
- to get the BF people from stop complaining

I tested this with:
- my notebook (Clevo D900K)
- OS*: XP Pro (32-bit) SP2 and SP3 tested
- Drivers: 169.09
- LG WUXGA panel... with Windows detecting 61Hz**

* this fix should work within Vista, as confirmed by the people that have tested it.

** if you have a refresh rate higher than 60Hz (ex. 61Hz) you will NOT need to do this to play BF games... read the last part

Requirements:
- a notebook
- an LCD that does not have 60Hz as the detected refresh rate
- has an Nvidia videocard ( Note: read bottom if you do not have a Nvidia card)
- the latest drivers that are stable for your system
- Nvidia Control Panel (within the drivers)
.... and the dying need to have a refresh rate of 60Hz (BF gamers mainly).

Instructions:

1) Open your Nvidia Control Panel
- (on the left) Click Manage Custom Resolutions
- then (on the right) Click Create button


2) you should be in "Custom Resolutions" window
- click on Advanced button to see advanced options
- for "GDI Refresh Rate", type 60 (which means 60Hz)
- (at the bottom) for "Scaling Type", choose Display (none)
- now click the Test button (click OK/Yes on the windows that pop-up)
- now click OK button


3) Now Windows should be able to recognize the Refresh Rate for 60Hz... it should be chosen for you already
- if it is not chosen, just open Display Properties > Settings tab > Advanced button
- under Monitor tab > select 60Hz for Screen Refresh Rate.


Thats it. !!!

Now try to play your "beloved" BF games... it should work fine.

And for testings purposes, you should run 3DMark06 to make sure that there was no noticeable performance loss (which can happen depending on which ever drivers).
___________________________
For those with a refresh rate higher than 60Hz

Its easy for you, you DO NOT have to do any of this.

To play BF games, just edit the Video.con (with notepad)... and set the refresh rate to 60Hz.

Example:
All BF2 config files are in "Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\"

the file " Video.con" is what you open.
- change the refresh rate here:
VideoSettings.setResolution 1920x1200@ 61Hz

That is all.

More info here:
http://www.tweakguides.com/BF2_7.html
___________________________
For those with non-Nvidia cards or the above did not work

Try this:
Direct Refresh 1.2



I uploaded it just for those that want to try it.


_______________________________
Final Thoughts:

Lastly, the refresh rate for an LCD is NOT important to 99.9% of everyday use.. nor does it affect your work. Other factors of the LCD (such as response time, contrast, etc...) are far more noticeable and important.

Only old games like the Battlefield series are flawed to specifically need a refresh rate... which is pretty lame.

So... go play other games !!!... Battlefield is not the best out there... no even close (in a technological standpoint, as well as the compatibility stand point... refresh rate, widescreen resolutions, etc..).

All of the newer games and upcoming are fine with what ever refresh rate (or display for that matter) you have.

Hope this helps,
-Gophn

P.S. If I have done my job to show you that this thread is nearly useless to most of us... then please use your LCD refresh rate the way that it is automatically detected ( if it ain't broke, don't fix it)... so you do not have to go through this crap to play one freakin game.... With that said (for those that love BF), finish playing that game, uninstall it, and set your refresh rate back to normal.

 

Gop -

I have a Dell Vostro laptop with the Windows drivers (not laptop2go) and my control panel does not look like that. I don't have that selection "manage custom resolutions"

Any idea how I could get that selection with an 8600GT Mobile video card? Nvidia does not have drivers on their website and if I use the laptop2go drivers I get the BSOD.

 

First off, whats the refresh rate of your LCD?

Next is, make sure you choose "Advanced Settings" in order to show more selections.

About the Laptopvideo2go drivers, they are fine, just make sure to choose the correct ones.... uninstall your old ones first, then install the new ones... (updating would cause issues... BSODs.)

Which OS are you using?

174.31 drivers for Dell, Levono, Acer
- for XP 32-bit
- for VlSTA 32-bit
- for VlSTA 64-bit

You have to download the Modded INF (F.A.Q. here) and copy it to the unpacked driver folder before you do the install.

 

I've got quite a pickle for ya. I'm using an x61s which uses an x3100 gpu and its 12.1" screen only supports 50Hz. I've been dying to play BF2 but I can't change the refresh-rate. Any ideas?

 

X3100.... hmmm thats a tough one... since there is no great driver support.

Some people that had low 50Hz like that would have to connect the notebook to an external display in order to play the game.

Thread here about same thing:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=239958

 

Also try this:

Direct Refresh 1.2

I uploaded it just for those that want to try it.

 

BF2 isn't quite worth that, so too bad...

 

try the direct refresh.

 

Great, I couldn't find a working link to that app. I'll give it a shot now.

 

I have tried these force programs thus far and haven't had any luck yet. Like I set every resolution to override to 60hz but in the tray it still shows 59hz with the Direct Refresh icon.

 

I also did what you suggested. I installed the new drivers and modded INF file so now my control panel has the advanced options (it didn't before).

Ok I got it to show up, so I have 60hz and those new drivers you listed, and yet it still crashes to the damn desktop when trying to start the game.

So I looked in my nVidia panel....I have 800x600@60 and 1920x1200@60 both under custom resolutions. However, under the same panel where you click on "change resolution" only 59hz is available even though under display properties under monitor it shows 60hz.

ARGH.

I feel like I'm sooooo close. It's not a huge deal, it's just a particular game I want to play when I'm traveling.

EDIT: As it turns out none of the changes stick. Everything still shows 59hz even though the custom resolutions page of the control panel show the 60hz created resolutions.

 

Ok, bump...I edited this damn post

 

have you tried Direct Refresh yet?

i just uploaded it for the thread

 

Ok, as an update to be more specific:

- I create a resolution, such as 800x600@60hz and apply that resolution in the nVidia control panel.

- I then click on change resolution and confirm and apply the 800x600x60 resolution.

- I then verify that by going to Windows display properties, clicking on advanced and monitor and verifying that it is 60hz.

- I then start BF2 which is running in Windows XP compat mode as admin which then crashes to desktop with no errors.

- I then look at the control panel and display properties which have reset themselves back to 59hz.

 

Thats strange, I would disable Vista's UAC (User Account Control).

 

First off, thanks for all the help. I think this problem is more personal for me now as opposed to needing a solution.

I tried DR. I unzipped it or whatever. Then I double click it. It looks just like your screen shot you posted in this thread. I change every refresh rate from 0 to 60 for EVERY resolution. I then exit the program with "save settings on exit" checked. I try to start BF2, it does the same thing. It should be noted when I right click the icon in the system tray it says 59hz not 60hz (and yes, enabled is checked).

 

That's the very first thing I do after installing Vista, ALWAYS. That is the most annoying Vista "feature" on Earth.

 

Wish you got this guide up when i had the demo

 

I am not sure what to tell you.

I tested this fix in XP SP2 & SP3 and Vista x64 (pre-SP1).

The Nvidia "custom resolution" should work if done correctly.

 

this guide has been up for a while now.

 

Exactly how do you do it? Once you create the resolution, what do you do exactly?

 

dont run it in compatibility modes (XP and such).

I did not have to do that.

The Guide is pretty straight forward, I numbered it in the way I did it.

 

Is it possible I am missing something here? I am using "generic" monitor as my laptop display, does tha tmatter?

 

is there another display you can choose other than generic?

 

This is what I look like before I run the game:

 

Not really. Incidentally I can choose "default monitor" from the display properties which has a 60hz refresh but it won't accept it, even if I choose "extend the desktop" and "main monitor" (by default it is the second monitor). It only has 800x600 and if I choose all those option and hit apply or ok nothing happens except it closes the friggin window.

 

Same deal, same laptop that I own:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=183116

 

Have tried just running the game in window mode?

 

Here is an example of what to do with the BF2 link:

Code:

"C:\Program Files\EA Games\Battlefield 2\BF2.exe" +menu 1 [B]+fullscreen [U]0[/U][/B] +szx 800 +szy 600

The fullscreen should be set to 0

 

Honestly, no. As you can see from the EA response in that other thread I posted, the game MUST be run at 60hz, so until I can figure out why Vista reverts back to 59hz I won't be able to run the game. Stupid.

 

refresh rate is an issue when you are doing fullscreen gaming.

window mode will adapt to the current window config.

 

I got a debug assertion failed, Unknown Dynamic Option Value 800x600

 

I hope you didnt copy and paste what I typed... that was supposed to be an example only.

you were just supposed to change the fullscreen value from 1 to 0

 

I gotta go grab some food. BRB.

In any case, I am not sure why you have the issues... maybe try XP.

Or wait for the new Battlefield games.

I am beta testing Battlefield Heroes, and it does not have this refresh rate BS.

 

I did that.

 

If I dual-boot XP/Vista, will this problem go away when playing BF2 on XP?

 

XP has had the most success with these kinds of game workarounds.

 

Will I still have to do a workaround or will it just default to 60hz instead of 59hz with XP?

 

you might still have to do the "Custom Resolution" if XP detects your display with anything other than 60Hz.

 

I've all but given up on this bull****. How stupid to make the game this way.

 

^^ exactly, thats why I was adamant on getting on the new BF betas to make sure this crap does not happen again for the new games.

I have done a lot of crash and bug logging for BFH... hoping the final product would be good.

 

Hi Guys,

Please see my solution on another thread HERE

Should solve all your woes

#Wonderdog

 

Gophn,

Thanks so much for posting on this issue. I've just spent £850 on a laptop to play BF2 and I've been pulling my hair out over this 59 Hertz issue. You have at the very least given me a ray of hope, but I haven't quite got it working yet.

I've downloaded the drivers that you suggeste (first 174.31, then 171.60)however when i go to the manage custom resolutions and click create a get an empty dialogue box with a yellow warning triangle, followed by a microsoft warning that Nvida Control Panel has stopped working.

Have I done something wrong, or is there just general compatibility issues with some laptops/GPU chipsets.

My spec is as follows
MESH GX700-220UK
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 Dual Core Penryn Processor (2.10GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
17.1" WSXGA+ TFT with Amazing Crystal Vision Technology (1680x1050)
512MB VRAM nVidia Geforce 8600M GT Dedicated Graphics (DX10)
3GB DDR2 677MHz Memory
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (NB)

Kind Regards

Julian

 

Well, I am happy to announce that after almost two weeks I have found a solution for the Windows Vista 59Hz monitor refresh problem on Battlefield 2.

I did try all the above suggested and even tried to overwrite my EDID...no good.

Finally, deep in my frustration (and not even that interested in playing BF2 really, but I am too stubborn), I decided to inspect the profile files BF2 created (when I tested it on a different monitor to make sure the monitor was the problem and not BF2). I had fixed Battlefield Vietnam by copying my profile files from a working profile from a different computer but that solution failed on BF2.

Anyway, I did find a "General.con" file which at the end contains a setting that called my attention: "GeneralSettings.setLCDDisplayModes 0"...mhhhh
"I wonder what happens if I change it to 1?" I said to myself...et voila!!!!

IT WORKED!!

NOTE: after some experimenting I determined that enabling the "setLCDDisplayModessetting" alone is NOT enough, you also must have the LATEST nVidia drivers (I have "179.28_notebook_winvista_32bit_beta.exe" installed) which allow you to create custom resolutions. Then you need to create the 800x600x60Hz, 1024x768x60Hz, etc. The combination of custom resolutions and "setLCDDisplayModessetting" WORKS for me on Vista.

I hope this helps others.

FYI: my notebook is an HP Pavilion dv9700t (2.5Hz core duo, 4G of ram, Geforce 8600M), and my particular model came with a Samsung OEM LCD screen, PnP ID SEC4447, model LTN170WP-L02).