# Running a CRT monitor at 120 Hz **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061 "2015-11-30T22:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/1 "2015-11-30T22:21:50Z")
I have an old monitor (NEC Accusync 120) that I need to run at the max refresh rate. I run it on one computer and I can change raise it above 60 Hz, as high as 120 Hz as long as I lower the resolution to 800x600. This works fine on one computer (Dell Precision 5810, Nvidia Quadro K620). But on another computer (Dell Optiplex 9010, AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series) I can’t change it from 60 Hz, no matter what resolution I pick. Not 120, and not even 100 or 75 Hz. Both are Win7-64. Theoretically, any video card from the last several years should work with an old monitor, no? It’s read as “Generic Non-PnP Monitor.” I can’t find any drivers that Windows accepts for the second computer, and I’m not sure if there are any special drivers on the first one. Anyone know any options to make it work, either through Windows or Catalyst Control Center? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/2 "2015-11-30T22:36:38Z")
This sounds like a limitation of your video card. Check for updated drivers, as you may have already done, but it might be a physical limit of video memory or the RAMDAC. The manufacturer’s website should give you the specs of what resolutions/refresh rates the card will support. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/3 "2015-11-30T23:34:18Z")
LCDs pretty much all refresh at 60 Hz (technically that’s a frame rate not refresh but close enough). Newer driver/card makers may not bother offering other options anymore given how seldom you see CRTs in use. It’s like trying to find a video card with an EGA port… It’s not worth their time to make them. It can be a shame because larger CRTs can be uncomfortable to view at a lower refresh rate. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/4 "2015-11-30T23:39:38Z")
It’s a video card issue. Just get a cheap video card off ebay that will handle the res spec you want. When you install it the motherboard will turn off the onboard video and default to the installed card. You can probably get what you want for 10-15 dollars or so. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/5 "2015-11-30T23:45:12Z")
Also having supported Dells for over a decade, I can say that your Precision workstation which is a high end computing platform is going to have a much more flexible video card than the Optiplex which is your typical office workstation. I’m not surprised that it can recognize and utilize a CRT while the other system won’t. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/6 "2015-12-01T03:00:19Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > LCDs pretty much all refresh at 60 Hz (technically that’s a frame rate not refresh but close enough). Newer driver/card makers may not bother offering other options anymore given how seldom you see CRTs in use. It’s like trying to find a video card with an EGA port… It’s not worth their time to make them. > > It can be a shame because larger CRTs can be uncomfortable to view at a lower refresh rate. ☹ That seems weird to me, when TVs are all talking about 120 hz and beyond. And I understand that you need high refresh rates with no dipping to avoid getting motion sickness from VR devices. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/7 "2015-12-01T03:54:16Z")
So I’m halfway there. I figured out that the video card is some Dell-specific one, and I switched from the AMD to Dell’s drivers. Now Catalyst crashes immediately upon starting Windows or when I try to view the CRT from the desktop :smack: > [@astro](#): > > It’s a video card issue. Just get a cheap video card off ebay that will handle the res spec you want. When you install it the motherboard will turn off the onboard video and default to the installed card. You can probably get what you want for 10-15 dollars or so. They’re both PCI-E, no onboard, but point taken. These are work computers so I’m not spending my own money, but I can sacrifice an old card that’s lying around. > [@BigT](#): > > That seems weird to me, when TVs are all talking about 120 hz and beyond. And I understand that you need high refresh rates with no dipping to avoid getting motion sickness from VR devices. There are plenty of 60 Hz TVs being sold, but it seems that monitors are even more commonly 60 Hz. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/8 "2015-12-01T04:08:59Z")
I am astounded that anybody uses CRT’s anymore. Perhaps I am blessed with cheap flat-screens. _(I have three around that are not being used. You are welcome to them.)_ ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/9 "2015-12-01T04:35:46Z")
Try the overrides on this page: [http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/256-screen-refresh-rate-display-settings.html](http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/256-screen-refresh-rate-display-settings.html) This is normally due to your monitor not having the proper drivers, so you have to manually force your video card to set it to a refresh rate that it thinks is incompatible (but should actually be fine). If that doesn’t work, look for a third-party refresh rate setting utility that bypasses the native Windows one. Your computer and video card are more than powerful enough to drive 800x600x120Hz. I think anything made in the last 15 years can do that easily. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/10 "2015-12-01T05:14:01Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > There are plenty of 60 Hz TVs being sold, but it seems that monitors are even more commonly 60 Hz. Your average office LCD will be 60hz but there are plenty of 120-144hz LCD’s available, mainly for gamers. > **[List of Best Gaming Monitors – 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, FreeSync, G-SYNC](https://blurbusters.com/faq/120hz-monitors/)** > > This is the Blur Busters Official List of 120Hz, 144Hz and 240Hz computer monitors, including LightBoost monitors, gaming monitors, and overclockable monitors, including 1080p and 1440p monitors, for PCs and for XBOX ONE gaming consoles. > Blur Busters... ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/11 "2015-12-01T05:22:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > That seems weird to me, when TVs are all talking about 120 hz and beyond. And I understand that you need high refresh rates with no dipping to avoid getting motion sickness from VR devices. The problem is the signals the CRT needs are analog. Yet, virtually no-one using computers today needs an analog video signal - the main people using analog VGA cables are people who have their LCD monitors connected incorrectly… It would make sense to keep reducing the cost of the components for the DACs and their support hardware on newer video card designs, and not bother to even support more than 1 refresh rate in the drivers. There were some usable 24 inch LCD monitors on sale this black Friday for about $100 and pretty good ones for about $200… ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/12 "2015-12-01T05:24:19Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Your average office LCD will be 60hz but there are plenty of 120-144hz LCD’s available, mainly for gamers. > [List of Best Gaming Monitors – 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, FreeSync, G-SYNC | Blur Busters](http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/120hz-monitors/) That refresh rate is over a digital link, not analog like a CRT. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/13 "2015-12-01T05:44:30Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > I am astounded that anybody uses CRT’s anymore. > Perhaps I am blessed with cheap flat-screens. > _(I have three around that are not being used. You are welcome to them.)_ There are plenty of good reasons to use CRTs in my industry, but not many for the normal user. I am not using it because I want to or am too cheap, but because LCDs are inferior for my purposes. > [@coremelt](#): > > Your average office LCD will be 60hz but there are plenty of 120-144hz LCD’s available, mainly for gamers. > [List of Best Gaming Monitors – 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, FreeSync, G-SYNC | Blur Busters](http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/120hz-monitors/) On Newegg there are: 166 144 Hz 232 75-76 Hz 999+ (doesn’t give more specific) 60 Hz The vast majority are 60 Hz. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/14 "2015-12-01T05:46:41Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > That refresh rate is over a digital link, not analog like a CRT. Yes but the original poster is almost certainly better off buying a 120 hz LCD monitor than trying to keep that CRT going on an analog link. The difference in sharpness going from analog to digital is pretty drastic. Heres a 23 inch 120hz monitor for $119 as a cyber monday special: [http://www.amazon.com/VS247H-P-1920x1080-DVI-D-Back-lit-Monitor/dp/B005BZNDS0/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448948694&sr=1-1&keywords=120hz+monitor](http://www.amazon.com/VS247H-P-1920x1080-DVI-D-Back-lit-Monitor/dp/B005BZNDS0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448948694&sr=1-1&keywords=120hz+monitor) You can get 27 inch ones for $300 What industry are you in in which an analog CRT is still preferred? I work in high end post production and broadcast reference monitors are all LCD now, CRT is completely dead. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/15 "2015-12-01T05:50:54Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > There are plenty of good reasons to use CRTs in my industry, but not many for the normal user. I am not using it because I want to or am too cheap, but because LCDs are **inferior for my purposes**. What purposes are those? They now make specialized LCD gaming monitors with fast resource rates. LCDs are inherently sharper. LCDs don’t flicker unless the manufacturer cheaped out on the backlight drive circuitry. They make LCDs that have been calibrated for accurate color… About the only thing I can think of is black level… ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/16 "2015-12-01T06:00:09Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > About the only thing I can think of is black level… OLED has that covered. An since the original poster is talking about a cheap NEC Accusync, not some exotic specialist CRT, its pretty fair to say that any decent 120hz LED display would give far better results no matter what industry you are in. ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_Kennedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/17 "2015-12-02T00:51:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > It’s read as “Generic Non-PnP Monitor.” I can’t find any drivers that Windows accepts for the second computer, and I’m not sure if there are any special drivers on the first one. Anyone know any options to make it work, either through Windows or Catalyst Control Center? Go to the screen resolution setting in Windows - on Windows 7, right-click on an empty desktop area, select “Screen Resolution”, click on “Advanced Settings”, select the Monitor tab and un-check the “Hide modes that this monitor cannot display”. If the monitor has a digital connection to the video card (not your scenario), the box will be grayed out and non-selectable. Defaulting to hiding the modes dates back to the earliest PC displays like the MDA, where an unsupported mode would damage the monitor. The earliest PC monitor to actively promote multiple modes was the NEC MultiSync. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/18 "2015-12-02T00:56:41Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > OLED has that covered. An since the original poster is talking about a cheap NEC Accusync, not some exotic specialist CRT, its pretty fair to say that any decent 120hz LED display would give far better results no matter what industry you are in. The OP could be a professional gamer. Except, if he were, he’d have a nicer video card… ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/19 "2015-12-02T01:44:07Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > What purposes are those? They now make specialized LCD gaming monitors with fast resource rates. LCDs are inherently sharper. LCDs don’t flicker unless the manufacturer cheaped out on the backlight drive circuitry. They make LCDs that have been calibrated for accurate color… > > About the only thing I can think of is black level… Scientific research. > [@Terry\_Kennedy](#): > > Go to the screen resolution setting in Windows - on Windows 7, right-click on an empty desktop area, select “Screen Resolution”, click on “Advanced Settings”, select the Monitor tab and un-check the “Hide modes that this monitor cannot display”. If the monitor has a digital connection to the video card (not your scenario), the box will be grayed out and non-selectable. Unhidden, 60 Hz is still the only option. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061/20 "2015-12-02T01:54:38Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Scientific research. Your NEC Accusync is not giving you any benefits for scientific imaging that you can’t get in a good quality 120hz LED display. For one thing using VGA its incredibly soft at any resolution above 1280x1024. This has to be a personal eccentric quirk of yours. Work in pro video, understanding display tech is part of my job. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-crt-monitor-at-120-hz/739061.md?page=2)