can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

[phatsteve]

I've just fitted a Geforce 8500GT card and installed the restricted drivers with the Hardware drivers manager.
I get the Nvidia splash screen ok, and in system settings it says I'm using the nvidia driver. But the only option
for refresh rate is 50 Hz. I dual boot with xp, and in there the rate is 70 Hz. When scrolling it does seem a bit slow. How can I change the refresh rate?
Thankyou

[nowshining]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

in terminal - sudo nvidia-settings

or alas it could be a bug - i've read that the bug is that it shows 50 but it could be higher - ie: it doesn't show right.

Also

try installing the driver and updated one from the nvidia site.

Remove the one from ubuntu first.

[phatsteve]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

Thanks, i tried what you said and got this:-

sudo: nvidia-settings: command not found

I'll try the driver from Nvidia. The problem is, when I remove the nvidia driver
the screen res goes to 640x480 and then I can't see the 'apply' buttons on
dialogue windows, even if I move the panel (task bar?) to the side.

[dibl]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

I've had consistently bad luck with the Restricted Driver Manager, so I recommend you try it this way, and leave RDM shut.

1. Get out of the GUI with Ctrl-Alt-F1, and log in to the console.

2. Shut down X server with

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

3.

sudo apt-get install envyng-core

4.

sudo envyng -t

5. First choose #2 "Uninstall the driver" to get rid of whatever RDM did. Then choose #1 "Install the Driver"

6. When the installation process is completed, exit envyng, and restart your system with

sudo shutdown now -r

7. When it restarts and you are able to log in to the GUI, open the Konsole and issue

kdesu nvidia-settings

This should open the Nvidia settings utility. On the "X Configuration" tab, you can set the resolution and refresh rate. However, I recommend you leave refresh set to "Auto". This allows the driver to intelligently adapt the refresh rate to different types of video display tasks. You can set a fixed refresh rate if you want, but your choice might force it to crash under some conditions -- you're on your own with that.

When you have the resolution the way you want it, click the "Save to X Configuration File" button at the lower right, and save it.

8. To verify the default setting, do Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to restart the X server, and log in. You should see the resolution that you set.

Good luck with it.

[phatsteve]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

I did all as you said, when I issue

kdesu nvidia-settings

I have the option now of - Auto- or 60Mhz, I tried 60Mhz,
but it still read as 50Mhz in System Settings. Perhaps it is a bug,
but the display is fast enough, it plays dvds' fine, so I think I'll leave it as
it is, I've hosed too many systems messing around with display drivers!
Many thanks for help.

[dibl]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

but it still read as 50Mhz in System Settings.

Just leave that "System Settings" thing closed -- you don't need it with the Nvidia driver, and it will break things.

I've hosed too many systems messing around with display drivers!

Yep, I've seen that movie, too. :P

[nowshining]

Re: can't change refresh rate after install nvidia driver

i don't know about you OP, but compared to linux the disaply drivers are not enbedded into the kernel so if you mess up the GUI part - u can go thru the command line on bootup to fix it up, access the net, etc...