HP DV9700t CTO Refresh Rate Problems

Hi there guys,
I recently purchased a dv9700t online hoping I could run some of my older games (BF2, BF2142, etc mostly EA titles), and I made sure I bought a system with relatively high specs T9300, WUXGA 1680x1050, 4GB RAM, Vista Ultimate 64-bit, NVIDIA 8600M GS.

However, when I try and run these games the keep on crashing to desktop.
From some research I was able to find out that this was due to my refresh rate being stuck on 59Hz. Now this isn't the first time I've bought a laptop, and I'm not a complete newbie, but I'm pretty sure the TFT lcd should be able to run at 60Hz.

I've spoken with HP support, installed every driver and program possible, even taken it into a service centre, but to no avail, they won't replace the screen or anything. The technicians on the phone think I'm some sort of guber that doesn't know how to change display settings.
I was just wondering if anyone else has encountered this issue, and also if anyone knows much about lcd screens, would upgrading to a wuxga 1920x1200 screen fix anything?
Is there any solution to this problem?

Also I'm thinking of upgrading my t9300 to an x9000 (2.8Ghz extreme), is it a worthwhile upgrade and will I see significant improvement in video editing, gaming, etc? Is arctic silver available for the dv9700t cpu or gpu?

ANY info on any of these issues would be extreeeemely appreciated.

Bernhard

 

On the issue of upgrading the CPU: upgrading from the Core 2 Duo T9300 to the Core 2 Extreme X9000 may result in some performance increase, but I don't think the improvements are worth it. After all, the Core 2 Extreme X9000 is an extremely expensive processor. The T9300 certainly suffices for both video editing and gaming.

As for your refresh rate issue, perhaps you may want to consider updating the NVIDIA graphics driver? You can try using one of the drivers posted from laptopvideo2go.com. If you want officially certified drivers, you may want to check the HP support website or the Microsoft Update Catalog for any updates.

 

Thanks for your reply, that's what I was trying to weigh up about the x9000, however, I've got a friend willing to sell me one for about $450, and if i sell my current t9300 i can probably make $200-$300 (after looking at second hand ones on ebay), which means i'll only fork out about $200 for a processor upgrade. That isn't too bad I must say.

As for the drivers, I've updated them, mixed and matched previous versions from laptopvideo2go and still a no go. I'm thinking of buying a wuxga screen and seeing if the problem disappears (if it doesn't at least I'll have a new 1080p capable screen, i think?), I'm hoping there is a solution though.

 

Search this HP forum, because I've seen this refresh rate problem before. I can't remember when, but if you look around you'll find it.

As for the CPU, not worth it. You can put on Arctic Silver 5 on the CPU and GPU, but if you have to ask if you can put it on there then you shouldn't be doing it yourself unless you're not afraid of breaking your laptop (I'm not trying to be mean).

 

there is no fix in vista for the refresh rate problem BELOW 60hz.
if it were 61 or 62 or whatever above 60, you edit the video.con file for bf2/2142 and it will work.

the battlefield series has for some reason been written to only run on 60+.

i had the same problem as you. i even send my first laptop back, and still had 59hz refresh rate.


i fixed mine by installing xp.

 

EDIT: Heres the fix. Try it first http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=212328

if that doesnt work then youll have to try the rivatuner method

 

So it's not worth it even if i can sell me T9300 for at least half the cost?
(I can get the x9000 for about $450). I've used arctic silver before and I know how to apply it on a desktop, wasn't sure if the application procedure was the same with a laptop.

 

Hmm so if I install a copy of XP sp2 I might be able to fix it?
I spoke with a friend whose a technician and he said that some manufacturers have trouble forcing framerates on the TFT panels, so it might be something wrong with the connection from GPU to lcd, but he's never heard of this problem before. Do you think an upgrade in lcd to WUXGA would make any difference? (If it doesn't at least I'll have a higher res screen)

I've tried both methods, but for some reason they just keep on going back to default. Even when I restart they go back to 59Hz refresh rate.
Thanks anyway

 

Try using the 169.04 driver from www.laptopvideo2go.com

 

Downloaded and installed. No luck I'm afraid, thanks anyway

 

Does anyone know if the dv9700 can handle the x9000 extreme processor?

 

no, generally a bad idea. dv9700 cant handle that much heat.

Though It is possible with major tweaking. (thermal paste, undervolting, etc)

x9000 costs about $500-600, definately not worth it

 

hmmm, I guess so. I've currently got the T9300 and my laptop lives on a docking station pretty high up (marble tiles underneath, apparently they absorb excess heat really well and plus it looks good on the table), so my temps rarely change even with major tasks like video encoding.
I've got some arctic silver 5 lying around, do you know what happens when a cpu overheats? I've never really tried on my desktop (I was too scared of overclocking it too much), so I'm guessing the result would be the same on a laptop, BSOD? Fried motherboard?
I've got my sights on X9000 for $420 which is relatively cheap, and if I sell the T9300 it would probably end up costing $200-$300 in the end.
I tend to like keeping my options open with overclocking because a lot of my time is taken up encoding video, so it would be handy having a portable workstation to encode video quickly with.

I've also bought the WUXGA 1920x1200 screen for the dv9700, It should get here in a week or so. I'm hoping my refresh rate problems disappear with the upgrade!

 

Theres about 5 reasons the x9000 isnt a viable option

-Thermal heat (notebook wasnt designed to handle the heat)
-Price (Core2INSANELY overpriced)
-Power (The difference compared to your T9300 is in seconds)
-un OC'able (HP's BIOS doesnt have the option to unlock the last two multipliers)
-Battery life (forget about portability)

 

Thanks for the info flipfire, I might spend the money on a 24" lcd monitor then...

 

WELL I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS BUT I AM SOO HAPPY!!!!!
MY SCREEN IS A LOVELY 1920x1200 (1080p capable), with a much sought after 60Hz refresh rate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I upgraded my screen from smart micro usa for about $350, installed it myself with some help from the hp media library and now I can run BF2, BF2142 and that 3D CAD Program that all needed min of 60Hz!
Take that HP support!

My experience with hp leaves a bitter taste, I've been a loyal customer for many years, with notebook and desktop purchases. I was disgusted at the price difference of notebooks between USA and Aus so I bought one online.
Cost me $1300 for a dv9700t CTO running 2.5Ghz, 2 x 120GB HDD, HD DVD ROM, 8600M GS 512MG RAM, 4GB RAM and a 1680 x 1050 screen, this was a massive saving of at least $1000 at the time, but the fact was the screen was defective, and I couldn't run games and applications I had specifically bought to run on this beast (proved by the fact I have 60Hz as my refresh rate now!), so I rang Hp support who treated me like some sort of noob guber who had no idea how to change display settings.
Call after call, promise of call back after promise of call back and they were no help, one techy advised I get it physically checked at a service centre, so I did.

The service centre took it, and after a day I get a phone call telling me my serial number is not in their worldwide database (even though I can clearly see that my warranty is global and still active on their bloody website), and because I had installed a different OS than the licence on the bottom (it was non activated Vista 64-bit, and it was just there to see if my refresh rate problem disappeared) they had reported me to the HP fraud department copying all of the contents on my hard drive (which is possibly illegal?) and I was charged a bloody handling fee of $25.
Nice work HP... I take the laptop back and 4 weeks later I get a call from HP's follow up group seeing if I was happy with their service (or lack thereof), and I told them nothing was done, they never called back and I was left in the cold.
They escalated my claim, and promised my they will call back to arrange a repair... too late my friends. So $350 and a week later, I have self serviced my laptop, fixed my problem and proved those annoying Indian technicians wrong, especially the one who was very rude to me, insisting that my GFX could not support the apps I was trying to run!! (An 8600M GS not being able to run a game like BF2, ludicrious!!!)

Now my laptop is running great and I am unusually happy right now!
So my advice to anyone suffering the same problem (with HP, maybe not Dell who actually help their customers out) with their refresh rate, upgrade your screen. Get yourself a full HD lcd or return your HP and buy another laptop!

 

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).