and Refresh Rates
eXPerience the Eyestrain
ПРОБЛЕМА в Windows XP с играми, при переходе в режим 60-75Hz
(Мерцание)
Refresh Rates: The one CRITICAL flaw in Windows XP
Microsoft Windows XP offers many great new features and innovations for both consumers and corporate users alike, but if you play computer games, you might want to think twice before purchasing XP to replace your Windows 98/ME operating system. Windows XP suffers from huge limitations in the way it handles monitor refresh rates, and buying XP will increase monitor flicker and could severely hurt your eyes!
By default, Windows 98/ME always plays games at the highest refresh rate your monitor and video card can handle, and this offers the least flicker and the least eyestrain possible. However, Windows XP plays games at much lower refresh rates. In every resolution, all DirectX games in Windows XP run at only 75 Hz, and all OpenGL games in Windows XP run at only 60 Hz. That's right, OpenGL based Quake III Arena will run at only 60 Hz in XP! Both of these refresh rate settings will give you much added eyestrain and a nasty headache after playing for a while. This gaming refresh rate issue is such a HUGE and OBVIOUS problem, it makes you wonder how Microsoft can even ship an operating system with such a huge flaw.
Games however, are not the only area refresh rates are handled poorly in Windows XP. When setting your 2D desktop refresh rate in "Display Properties," Microsoft got rid of the "Optimal" refresh rate setting in Windows XP. In Windows 98/ME, Windows is automatically set at an "Optimal" refresh rate setting in "Display Properties," and Windows always uses the highest refresh rate possible at EVERY resolution on the 2D desktop. Now, since Windows XP only uses static refresh rate values instead of the "Optimal" setting in "Display Properties," every time you switch resolutions in XP, you have to manually change your refresh rate setting to the highest available to get the best display quality possible on the 2D desktop. With an "Optimal" setting, users don't need to worry about refresh rates at all.
Also, no matter what people may tell you, this is NOT a driver issue. These refresh rate problems happen with EVERY video card on the market, with all available drivers. It happens on NVIDIA, ATI, S3, Matrox, 3dfx, and all other video cards. Even with drivers designed for Windows XP, you will still experience these problems.
Furthermore, don't believe the
myth that it's bad to run your monitor at high refresh rates, even if your
monitor supports them. Running your monitor at high refresh rates, as long as
your monitor can support them, will not damage or cause any added stress to your
monitor. I have confirmed this with multiple monitor manufactures. While most
people can't consciously tell the difference between 85 Hz and higher refresh
rates, running at higher refresh rates will still cause less eyestrain after you
use your computer for an extended period of time, so it is best to run your
monitor at the highest refresh rate possible.
What can I do!!??
The only way to get these problems fully fixed is to let Microsoft know how much you hate the refresh rate limitations. Microsoft has a website up just for submitting feedback here.
Go to that address
above and tell Microsoft two simple things (in your own words):
Feel free to mention your own personal comments about these issues as well, such as how they affect your computing experience when using Windows XP. If you like this site and what it's trying to accomplish, please mention the address of this site when you send your feedback to Microsoft. Also, please pass the address of this site on to as many people as possible so that they too can send feedback to Microsoft about these issues.
Temporary solutions for now...
Thankfully, many programs have been created to correct the refresh rate limitations in games for the time being. A few of these programs also fix the limitation with the 2D desktop refresh rate as well. However, you still have to configure them yourselves, which is a pain, and it completely ruins the "Out of the Box Experience" in Windows XP.
Here is a list of the current Refresh Rate programs:
NVRefreshTool: The only refresh rate utility designed just for NVIDIA cards that works with the latest driver structure.
Rage 3D Tweak: The best utility out there for fixing the refresh rate limitations with ATI cards, and it also locks your 2D desktop refresh rates as well. Go to the "Custom Display Modes" tab in the "Advanced" section of "Display Properties" to set your refresh rates.
Radeonator version 1.80: Works just as well as "Rage 3D Tweak" and also locks your 2D desktop refresh rates, however in my tests, it would not allow you to set the refresh rate settings for resolutions of 1280x1024, 1600x1200, and beyond. Use only if you cannot get "Rage 3D Tweak" to work correctly. Also, make sure you use version 1.80, because version 2.0 does not have the ability to fix the refresh rate problems yet.
RefreshLock: Fixes the refresh rate limitations for all video cards, however I have not tested it. Use only if you don't have an ATI or NVIDIA card.
MultiRes: A free utility by EnTech Taiwan that also works with all video cards. However, it is confusing and a real pain to set up. You have to manually change your monitor to each resolution available, adjust the refresh rate for each resolution, and then go to the "About" dialog box and select "Lock Refresh Rates." However, once it is set up, it works good, and it locks your 2D refresh rate settings as well. Use only if you don't have an ATI or NVIDIA card, or if you switch your 2D resolution often and need to lock your desktop refresh rate settings.
NVIDIA Refresh Rate Fix (NVRefreshFix): This was the first refresh fix created, although it doesn't have much use now since it doesn't work with the latest NVIDIA drivers and their updated driver structure.
Note: I did not list the ATI Refresh Fix because it has given people too many problems, to the point where some had to reinstall Windows XP. I suggest you use the Rage 3D Tweak program instead for ATI video cards. It works great in my experience. Also, some people will tell you to just run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DXdiag) and use the "Override" button to fix the refresh rate problem in DirectX games. However, this is not a real solution, because it only sets a "static" refresh rate value, which is pointless if you use different games with different resolutions that run at different refresh rates.
It's all up to you...
Only you can help get Microsoft's attention about these issues so they can fix them in future service packs and releases of Windows. Wouldn't you love an operating system that automatically used the highest possible refresh rate in both games and the 2D Windows desktop so that you wouldn't even need to worry about refresh rates at all? It could be a reality if enough people like you contact Microsoft and tell them to fix these issues.
Even if you have fixed the problem in games with one of the utilities mentioned above, wouldn't you still love to have an operating system that just worked right out of the box, instead of having to install and configure a 3rd party program to make things work right?? Wouldn't you love to just forget about refresh rates altogether?
It only takes a small moment of your time, so please contact Microsoft at the site listed above and tell them to fix these two issues. Hopefully we can all help make this great operating system "Perfect" in later service packs and releases of Windows, but it will only happen if you all give them your feedback!
Please send questions or comments to raider@bravoport.com.ua
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