Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support => Topic started by: Shardik on August 12, 2009, 05:27:20 pm

Title: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Shardik on August 12, 2009, 05:27:20 pm
Hello there.
I hope this thread doesn't already exist, I just browsed through 2-3 pages and read the stickies.

How do I change the refresh rate in FS2/Open?

My old monitor has problems with 60hz so I want to run the game in 75hz.

I did set a default refresh rate for fullscreen applications with the DxDiag override, but FS seems to ignore that.

I don't think my comp specs matter, anyways, it's WinXP SP3. I found the registry entry for the resolution, but that's about all I was able to do. I hope this is easy to resolve.

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on August 12, 2009, 10:15:58 pm
FS2_Open uses OpenGL not DirectX so DxDiag is probably useless.  Does your video card have an option for setting the refresh rate?  Best bet update your drivers and see if there is a software control center for the video card.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: The E on August 12, 2009, 10:25:45 pm
If you run it in windowed mode, it should use the Desktop refresh rate.
In fullscreen, however.....Well, the code makes reference to an "OGL_RefreshRate" registry entry, but I do not know whether or not that is actually used.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Mongoose on August 12, 2009, 11:56:34 pm
I have an ATI card, and the "3D Refresh Rate Override" option in the Catalyst Control Center does just fine at keeping FS2 above 60 Hz.  I'd imagine that Nvidia's drivers have something similar.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Shardik on August 13, 2009, 05:23:32 am
Heyhey.
I didn't get to try these suggestions, but thanks a lot so far.
The DxDiag override should work, at least it does for my other OpenGL games since it just sets the fullscreen refresh rate, not depending on the fullscreen renderer. That's why I'll go with that registry entry first, I guess Freespace got its own set refresh rate.
I can't find the refresh rate setting in my video card drivers (8600 gts), I'm sure it was there in the past though. There's lots of application based settings, but no refresh rate.
Anyways, I'll play around with that registry entry later and tell you if it works.

edit: later, haha. The registry entry works like a charm, although I had to create it. Quite funny though, I did a little mistake and nothing worked, so I did a little searching and found an older thread here in the forum. Anyways, OGL_RefreshRate has to be created as a DWORD-value and my Freespace now perfectly runs in 75hz.
So, thanks The E, problem solved.
Thanks to Mongoose and FUBAR-BDHR as well of course, you did remind me of the option with the drivers, I should start looking where it went.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on August 13, 2009, 05:30:49 am
Step 1: Disable Vertical Synchronization on Launcher (found on "Game Speed" list on Features tab)

Step 2: Set the desired refresh rate on display settings/GPU driver panel

Step 3. Enable VSync on the GPU driver control panel.


As far as I know, having the vsync enabled on the Launcher will peak the frame rates to 60 FPS even if the actual screen refresh rate is higher. I consider this a bug actually, but I don't know if anyone has filed a Mantis report about it - regardless, it's easily circumvented by remocing the -vsync command line flag and enabling it in the graphics driver instead.

This should force vertical synchronization to the actual refresh rate of the display. :)
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Shardik on August 13, 2009, 05:36:50 am
Since changing the refresh rate via registry worked, I'm not sure if I had a bug-problem.
Anyways, I'll just provide a little information, maybe it'll help finding out if it is a bug. So, V-Sync is not disabled in the launcher and also forced on via my drivers. That's not much information, but I guess one setting overrides the other, so perhaps it can help just a little.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on August 13, 2009, 05:39:24 am
You could try and enable the FPS counter on the Dev Tools list of features.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Shardik on August 13, 2009, 05:56:53 am
Just did that, it runs at 75+-1 fps, so pretty much exactly my refresh rate.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Jouzin on August 26, 2009, 02:09:23 pm
OK now my turn..

I have my good old 17' CRT monitor. And I have one problem. I have nvidia 8600GTS and latest video drivers.

SO in launcher settings I picked my desktop screen resolution  setting which is 1152x864.  (my refresh rate is 85hz)
But I see that while I am playing FS2 it is still in screen resolution 1024x768 and refresh rate is 60Hz.  SO now question. Is there any way to change this to 85Hz ? And do you know why the game change screen resolution to 1024x768 ?

Thank you

Jouzin
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on August 26, 2009, 03:39:03 pm
Have you checked this?

(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9783/novsync.png)
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Jouzin on August 27, 2009, 07:38:25 am
Will try, thank you

EDIT: OK I have tried it no change hmm Still 60Hz
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Niroborn on December 16, 2009, 05:54:31 am
Tried everything posted here. The only thing that changes ref rate is RefrashForce.
BUT when I change rate with it appears sort of bug in game - lag of changing view direction, I mean when aiming target cross-hair may hold for a second and then go ahead. It's really impossible to play that way, so I change all back.
It's pretty annoying playing at 60Hz when your monitor can give 100.

Nothing like that in B4 :confused:
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Zacam on December 16, 2009, 10:41:00 am
I have an ATI card, and the "3D Refresh Rate Override" option in the Catalyst Control Center does just fine at keeping FS2 above 60 Hz.  I'd imagine that Nvidia's drivers have something similar.

Sadly, they don't. You can either Use Application V-Sync, Force On or Force Off. And if you Force Off, you still need the above mentioned registry value, which DOES work when used with the "Disable Vertical Sync" launcher flag.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Niroborn on December 16, 2009, 11:07:56 am
Sadly, they don't. You can either Use Application V-Sync, Force On or Force Off. And if you Force Off, you still need the above mentioned registry value, which DOES work when used with the "Disable Vertical Sync" launcher flag.
Sadly, it don't.

EDIT: running on GF FX5900XT in WinXP
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Zacam on December 16, 2009, 11:25:23 am
Well, sadly for you it isn't, much to my glee, it does. So, interesting conundrum we have here.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Niroborn on December 17, 2009, 12:16:12 am
Found out intresting fact. I've installed an ancient forceware driver (61.76) and :) It's got refresh rate overrider  ;7 Works just fine :nod:

It's in russian, since I'm russian ;)

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Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on December 17, 2009, 09:00:27 am
With an FX5900XT, you're probably better off using an older driver than the later ones anyway.
Title: Re: How to change the refresh rate?
Post by: Niroborn on December 17, 2009, 10:59:41 am
With an FX5900XT, you're probably better off using an older driver than the later ones anyway.
That's the same thing I thought.
Anyway that graphic living it's last days. Soon I'm gonna upgrade, though I'm pretty satisfied with it. I'm not a gaming maniac, you know.