Refresh Rates?

[davebem]

Do newer graphics cards require newer monitors. I upgraded my ati rage pro Turbo with the radeon 7500. When I start my pc my monitor has trouble chageing resolution, sometimes it cuts out completly after the BIOS screen. If windows does start I cant change the resolution or colour depth, I have the latest drivers. I think my monitor supports 53-85Hz is this normal (applies to all monitors) could this be the problem? My monitor was brought new in 1998 and doesnt seem to have a make and uses plug and play windows drivers.

[Jiggy]

hi dave, ask a friend if you could use there monitor for a bit to see if thats so, is the card seated well in the slot?

[mjc]

No, they don't absolutely require new monitors, but often the "Adapter default" or "Optimal" setting is wrong for older ones, you need to manually set it. The information for what refresh rate works with what resolution should be in the manual for the monitor.

Also, since you cannot change resolution or color depth, it sound like a driver problem...check in Device Manager to see if there are any conflicts and that your drivers for your video card are actually the correct ones (should list your video card in the display apdapters, not something like Standar SVGA).

[davebem]

Can you explain it to me a bit more. I found the manual and there are 12 modes from 25.175Mhz to 94.500Mhz but the monitor automatically changes to these when you set the resolution in windows. What should you recommend I do. I tried setting the refresh rate to optimal in windows but that didnt work.

[mjc]

Ok, you have a PnP monitor so what I was talking about really doesn't matter.

I was thinking "older" than that.....

What should happen is that Windows and you monitor will switch the refresh rates back and forth a few times to find one that works, then Windows should remember that and automatically use it everytime you boot. If they keep trying to negotiate for every boot you have a driver problem and should probably reinstall them...