- Are monitor drivers necessary? Buying new monitor for Windows 95
- Posted by Ben Myers on May 5th, 2005
Monitor drivers are not necessary, but they can prove very useful.
A monitor "driver" (really a text file, not a binary executable module) tells
the system all about the possible combinations of resolution and refresh rate
which can be sustained by the monitor. The driver also defines power-saving
options, although these are pretty much standard on SVGA monitors less than 5
years old.
I can easily see a monitor flickering if it is running at 60Hz refresh. I often
set the refresh rate higher when my clients unwittingly set up their own
computers. A higher refresh rate is easier on the eyes. So maybe monitor
drivers are necessary after all, to save your eyes... Ben Myers
On Wed, 04 May 2005 21:23:49 GMT, DaveJohnson12@nospam. wrote:
- Posted by Ben Myers on May 5th, 2005
If there are no special drivers for the monitor you buy, make sure you know what
its specs are. Then adjust the refresh rate to the highest number for the
resolution you have chosen... Ben Myers
On Thu, 05 May 2005 02:45:32 GMT, DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote:
- Posted by Jeff Richards on May 6th, 2005
The system should only be offering refresh rates that the video card can
generate. If you somehow manage to select an invalid rate the video card
will ignore it.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
<DaveJohnson12@nomail.> wrote in message
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- Posted by Ben Myers on May 6th, 2005
The only potential for damage here is if the monitor is run at a frequency
higher than its design specs. You won't hurt the graphics card. Windows tells
you the possible combinations of resolution and refresh rate based on the
capabilities built into the card and the monitor. Together.
800 x 600 on a 17" monitor is fine for my eyes. Some people like 1024 x 768...
Ben Myers
On Fri, 06 May 2005 01:46:27 GMT, DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote:
- Posted by mdp on May 7th, 2005
How fast you can ultimately go with your refresh rate will depend on your
resolution but with your monitor specs showing vertical frequency spec of
50-160 Hz, I'd say you probably have more head room beyond 85Hz at 800x600.
Note the modes it shows are preset modes. As long as your graphics card and
monitor can handle other combinations and you have that info in a driver
(INF) file, you are free to try different settings.
<DaveJohnson12@nomail.> wrote in message
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- Posted by Shep© on May 7th, 2005
On Sat, 07 May 2005 06:11:47 GMT If I have seen farther it is because
I have stood on the shoulder of giants DaveJohnson12@nomail. wrote :
I've found little or no use for anything above 75Hz on a CRT 
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- Posted by cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user) on May 9th, 2005
On Sat, 07 May 2005 02:02:25 GMT, "mdp" <markdpend@spambegone.aol.com>
It goes about dot rate, which is a combo of res plus refresh rate. A
14" that is not totally useless (i.e. not "name brand" or really
really old) will do something at least like...
1024 x 768 60Hz (flicker++)
800 x 600 70Hz or 72Hz
640 x 480 75Hz
....and you can force this by:
- calling your monitor a "brand" CTX, "model" 1451
- disabling PnP detection for monitors so it doesn't re-detect
- dsiabling power management in case yours isn't compatible
If you don't define a specific monitor in Win9x, you'd only be offered
"optimal" and "adapter default". To get explicit refresh rates, you
have to define a non-generic monitor, and I use CTX 1451 for 14". For
larger monitors, choose something that looks appropriate and then do
the rest of the steps so that it doesn't mis-suspend, and PnP doesn't
try to second-guess the settings you are trying to enforce.
Use the workaround above to kill the "I have no .inf" issue. Note
that some really junk SVGA chipsets cannot control refresh rates at
all, and some SVGA cards' fluffware gets in the way by taking over
refresh rate management. Suspect the latter if:
- the rate selected isn't what seems to be in effect
- additional proprietary tabs are added to the Display dialog boxes
Monitor "drivers" are really drivers at all, but are instead a bunch
of "how-to" settings in an .inf
Most 17" can do this:
1024 x 768 at 72Hz or better
800 x 600 at 75Hz or better
640 x 480 at 85Hz or better
Good 17" can touch 1600 x 1200 at flickery 60Hz, and do 1280 x 1024 at
70Hz or better. Modern 17" monitors tend to fall short of this,
possibly to improve reliability (long warranties) and to protect 19"
turf; usually 1280 x 1024 is at a flickery 60Hz only, and 1600 x 1200
is not supported at all. Today's 19" do what the best of yesterday's
17" used to do, though sometimes 1600 x 1200 at 70Hz is possible.
