How do I lock my video refresh rate? (Solved)

[eddieg780]

I keep getting flickering on my screen. I check my refresh rate and it keeps going to 50hz. Obviously it's wrong. When I put it to auto the flickering stops but somehow it keeps going back to 50hz and the flickering comes back. I have noticed in Windows XP my refresh rate is 75hz. How do I set this permanently? Nvidia 7300 go on Lucid 10.04. Thank you.

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Couple of points:

If you're using twinview, nvidia-settings will report the refresh rate incorrectly, so don't trust it.

If you're using an LCD monitor, use your screen's native rate only. LCD's only display properly at their native refresh rates and resolution.

To set the desired refresh rate: If you have the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf, look in it for modelines. If you don't have it, type xrandr -q in a terminal to show what you have available.

In a terminal, you can calculate a modeline using the tool "gtf". Type gtf <width> <height> <vert refresh rate>. Here's an example with output:

[admin@localhost ~]$ gtf 1280 1024 75

# 1280x1024 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 80.17 kHz; pclk: 138.54 MHz
Modeline "1280x1024_75.00" 138.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1069 -HSync +Vsync

If you have the xorg.conf file, add your modeline to your monitor section and make sure the mode name appears in modes. If you do not have an xorg.cong file, read up on adding and setting a mode manually with xrandr and then put the required commands in a script file named 45_custom_xrandr in the /etc/X11/Xsession.d directory and make it executable.

[eddieg780]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

I do have a xorg.conf file. Here is what it says under Monitor:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
Option "DPMS"

I see there is a range for the refresh rate. So what does it do pick the average?

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

It will change it to the settings it determines itself. You can look in /var/log/Xorg.0.log to see what it's picking. If it's an LCD look up the specs and use the native vert. and horz scan freqs. If it's a CRT (tube) you have more flexibility.

To force it, add this option to Monitor section:

Option "useEDIDfreqs" "false"

Then change these to your settings
HorizSync 75.0 - 75.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0

Then add your modeline

or what ever you need.

Then add this to Screen section

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600"
EndSubsection

Using whatever resolution(s) you need, repeat for each color depth. 8, 15, 16, 24

[eddieg780]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

I don't think I'm getting this. I have a laptop so I assume I have an LCD. The "auto" settings seems to work fine but it won't stay of that setting. Why does it switch it on it's own and how? 1680x1050 is my resolution. The flashing seems to be the refresh rate changing. It seems like my mouse movement is causing it.

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

I've never heard of a "variable" refresh rate, meaning one that changes on the fly. I don't think you're going to solve this by guessing what is causing your issue. You going to have to do some investigating and trying some things.

What are you not getting? You don't say you've taken any steps to resolve your issue or tried anything I've suggested.

DO these things:

1. Open Dolphin, navigate to /var/log/ , open the file Xorg.o.log, read it and take note of (EE) errors and (WW) warnings. Report your findings.

2. Open a terminal, type xrandr -q in it and report the results.

[eddieg780]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Ok, here are the (ww)...

(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
built-ins
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
(WW) AllowEmptyInput is on, devices using drivers 'kbd', 'mouse' or 'vmmouse' will be disabled.
(WW) Disabling Keyboard0
(WW) Disabling Mouse0
(II) Loader magic: 0x81f0e80
(II) Module ABI versions:
X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
X.Org Video Driver: 6.0
X.Org XInput driver : 7.0
X.Org Server Extension : 2.0
(++) using VT number 7

(--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:01d7:1028:2003 nVidia Corporation G72M [Quadro NVS 110M/GeForce Go 7300] rev 161, Mem @ 0xed000000/16777216, 0xd0000000/268435456, 0xee000000/16777216, BIOS @ 0x??/131072
(WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)

Here is the xrandr -q

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1050
default connected 1680x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1680x1050 50.0* 51.0
1600x1024 52.0
1440x900 53.0
1400x1050 54.0
1360x768 55.0 56.0
1280x1024 57.0
1280x960 58.0
1152x864 59.0
1024x768 60.0
960x600 61.0
960x540 62.0
840x525 63.0 64.0
800x600 65.0 66.0
800x512 67.0
720x450 68.0
680x384 69.0 70.0
640x512 71.0
640x480 72.0 73.0
576x432 74.0
512x384 75.0
400x300 76.0
320x240 77.0

I don't get what to change or maybe don't want to mess up my video so I can't see anything anymore. I have looked when the screen in flashing and my refresh rate is changing from auto to 50 to 51. I don't get why it's changing on it's own.

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

You can test using xrandr because the settings are wiped on reboot.

1680x1050 50.0* 51.0 >This line shows your default is 1680x1050@50hz and 51hz is available.

To change it for testing, we need to create a new mode that sets it at 1680x1050@75 (assuming that's what you want). Your connected output is show as "default" and I'm not sure if that will work as an output label. If ant of the commands with "default" in them through an error, try using "LVDS" instead of "default"

open a terminal and do these commands:

xrandr --newmode 1680x1050@75 188.07 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1096 -HSync +Vsync
xrandr --addmode default 1680x1050@75
xrandr --output default --mode 1680x1050@75

The change should be immediate. Then enter xrandr -q again and you should see your new mode with a * by it. If all is well and your jumpiness goes away, then you can enter these commands into the /etc/X11/Xsession script or in a separate file like /etc/X11/Xsession.d/45_custom_xrandr

Let me know what happens...

[kyonides]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

For some reason this line failed even if I confirmed I can make it run at that refresh rate...

xrandr --output default --mode 1024x768@70

...but the following one worked fine, there was no error output.

xrandr --output default --mode 1024x768 --rate 70

Do you know why your suggestion wouldn't work in my case?

[Snowhog]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Maybe you might want to concider upgrading to KDE 4.3.3 (your sig says you are still running KDE 4.3.2)

HOWTO: Add KDE 4.4.3 PPA

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Maybe it doesn't like the @ symbol in the name - try it without

[Guest]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

You can test using xrandr because the settings are wiped on reboot.

1680x1050 50.0* 51.0 >This line shows your default is 1680x1050@50hz and 51hz is available.

To change it for testing, we need to create a new mode that sets it at 1680x1050@75 (assuming that's what you want). Your connected output is show as "default" and I'm not sure if that will work as an output label. If ant of the commands with "default" in them through an error, try using "LVDS" instead of "default"

open a terminal and do these commands:

xrandr --newmode 1680x1050@75 188.07 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1096 -HSync +Vsync
xrandr --addmode default 1680x1050@75
xrandr --output default --mode 1680x1050@75

The change should be immediate. Then enter xrandr -q again and you should see your new mode with a * by it. If all is well and your jumpiness goes away, then you can enter these commands into the /etc/X11/Xsession script or in a separate file like /etc/X11/Xsession.d/45_custom_xrandr

Let me know what happens...

I LOVE YOU

[oshunluvr]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Whoa there friend! Affection is nice, but I'm a "Let's take it slow" kinda guy

[Yuri sss]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Don't forget the vaseline and the condoms, guys

[kyonides]

Re: How do I lock my video refresh rate?

Another thing you may try is to add the xrandr -r Your_Refresh_Rate to XSetup file.