Custom Refresh Rates through Nvidia Control Panel or CRU/EVGA Utility

Random Guy · 21 Apr 2015 at 11:49

Hi all - I wanted to ask because I have a Hazro H27WC, a few years old now but still marvellous to behold, and I have been toying with the idea of OC'ing it for a while now as I know it has the same internals as the infamous Catleaps of the last few years.

Now my question is quite simple: do I need to faff about with custom tool and utilities for this or can I quite simply just add the resolution/refresh rate using the Nvidia Control Panel? Some discussion on the Net has it that the EVGA Pixel Overclocking utility is simply using NCP's in-built functionality and not doing anything special.

Any advice would be very much appreciated

InvisiblePrawn · 21 Apr 2015 at 13:58

I can only speak for what I've used in the past, but the NCP has always served me well for this purpose. I've gotten 75Hz out of my cheap 1080P Asus that's now around 3 years old.

I never messed with any of the advanced settings, just set the refresh rate and apply. If you knew what you were doing, though, I imagine you might be able to push it a bit further with these.

Random Guy · 21 Apr 2015 at 14:48

Thanks InvisiblePrawn! Would you say you noticed a demonstrable difference with the higher refresh? Did you test in-game to verify? Was it clearly visible?

HACO · 21 Apr 2015 at 14:58

CRU makes the OS (and graphics card, and games) to think that you have a native higher refresh rate monitor (the extra options show up everywhere you can set them without the need to do any custom resolutions). This enables a few extra options in the nvidia control panel, such as forcing v-sync to always work with the higher refresh rate even if the game doesn't natively support high refresh rate v-sync (as some games don't, such as FIFA 15).

Random Guy · 21 Apr 2015 at 15:57

HACO said:
CRU makes the OS (and graphics card, and games) to think that you have a native higher refresh rate monitor (the extra options show up everywhere you can set them without the need to do any custom resolutions). This enables a few extra options in the nvidia control panel, such as forcing v-sync to always work with the higher refresh rate even if the game doesn't natively support high refresh rate v-sync (as some games don't, such as FIFA 15).

Will I need anything more than the Nvidia Control Panel to enable the higher refresh?

HACO · 22 Apr 2015 at 14:23

Random Guy said:
Will I need anything more than the Nvidia Control Panel to enable the higher refresh?

No, but as I said you do need the CRU in order to allow games to run VSync at the higher refresh rate.

The process for me has always been like this:

1. Use DDU to clean out drivers. REBOOT.
2. Install latest nvidia drivers. REBOOT (even if it doesn't ask for reboot).
3. Install the pixel clock patch. REBOOT.
4. Add the new refresh rates with CRU. REBOOT.
5. Go to nvidia control panel and choose the new refresh rate from the drop-down like a native high refresh rate monitor.
6. Go to "Manage 3D Settings" and set VSync refresh rate to highest available. That option only appears if the OS and drivers think you have a native high refresh rate monitor.

Doesn't take more than 5 minutes and from then works flawlessly without any issues. Works with all games.

Random Guy · 23 Apr 2015 at 09:24

Thank you very much for that overview HACO - invaluable help and much appreciated.

YB2ndBEST · 23 Apr 2015 at 21:52

Yep I use CRU to take my 60hz 1440p IPS to 96hz. I've gone as high as 110hz but then the colors looks a little washed out (even with correction). Huge difference, I refuse to play at 60hz ever again lol. So simple!

Random Guy · 24 Apr 2015 at 12:20

YB2ndBEST said:
Yep I use CRU to take my 60hz 1440p IPS to 96hz. I've gone as high as 110hz but then the colors looks a little washed out (even with correction). Huge difference, I refuse to play at 60hz ever again lol. So simple!

I tried it last night. At 120 it was looking washed out but even worse, leaving pixel trails as I moused around in the Win 7 Desktop. At 90 it fared better - 96 is a good option actually (multiple of 24) and I think I will add this next and see how it goes.

Random Guy · 12 May 2015 at 11:10

Just to update here - I have been on 96 Hz with my Hazro for a good few weeks now, all going well and can't really complain. Difference to 60 Hz is not as pronounced as I expected but mind you I have not been switching back and forth to try comparisons all that much. Just glad to be running at the higher frequency.