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120hz external monitor

T

tronicman

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 7, 2011
8
0
Hello,

I really need some help here. I've been goggling around but can't find any answer to my question.

I've just did a change from Win to OS X and i don't know how to change the external monitors refresh rate. Its a monitor that can handle 120hz in 1680x1050. WHere in OS X Lion do change this setting?

Regards Fredrik
 
tronicman said:
Hello,

I really need some help here. I've been goggling around but can't find any answer to my question.

I've just did a change from Win to OS X and i don't know how to change the external monitors refresh rate. Its a monitor that can handle 120hz in 1680x1050. WHere in OS X Lion do change this setting?

Regards Fredrik
Click to expand...

In system preferences, displays. The display's own preference pane will appear on it.
 
I've been looking there and there are no other settings than changing the resolution. Graphic card from 1999 can handle 120hz, i guess also a late 2011 macbook pro should be able to do that...? However no setting for the HZ can be found there.
 
tronicman said:
I've been looking there and there are no other settings than changing the resolution. Graphic card from 1999 can handle 120hz, i guess also a late 2011 macbook pro should be able to do that...? However no setting for the HZ can be found there.
Click to expand...

Are you trying with the display connected? I don't think the HZ shows up unless you connect the other display first, then go to Display Preferences. Another window should open in the external monitor, and that should have hertz options.
 
I get two windows, one for each display. None giving me any option for the HZ, However, I'm using the minidisplay port to dvi adapter, is that the problem? When i used Windows 7 i connected it via DVI and DVI itself can of c handle 120HZ, is it the adapter than messing it up?

I mean i still cost 40 dollar.. should be able to handle 120HZ.

Btw I'm using a samsung syncmaster 2233 120HZ model.
 
I'm using a Samsung Syncmaster as well, and here's what I get in System Preferences>Displays (below).

MIne does that resolution, but no 120 Hz BTW.

Capture49.png
 
Hmm wtf, =( What could be wrong? Have u connected your monitor with the same adapter as i have?
 
I would assume the adaptor doesn't support 120Hz. It's not really a priority for Apple customers.

I've run into a similar roadblock with the MiniDP-VGA adapter. I've got a very nice 19" Sony Flat CRT which happily does 100Hz+ and it won't drive it above 75Hz ... which flickers.
 
I can't recall the name of the adapter, just something I picked up at monoprice for about $15, so nothing fancy. There are, IIRC, a couple of different kinds of DVI, but I don't think it should matter. Are you in mirror mode or extended desktop? Maybe that matters.

There is also an application called SwitchResX; it gives more abiity to tweak your displays than the system software.
 
I have a Samsung display as well. One of the things I found out after talking to Samsung is that the max input refresh rate is 60hz. Then the TV doubles the refresh rate to decrease flickering. This is coming straight from the horses mouth.
 
Utter rubbish. The horses mouth must have been faulty. There is no flicker on an LCD display hence why 99% of them run at 60Hz. CRTs did have flicker and 75Hz or above was recommended for a steady picture. I preferred 85Hz.

The 100/120Hz technology is promoted on LCD TVs as it allegedly reduces motion blur and enables 3D via the shutter glasses. It takes in a 50/60Hz input and does witchcraft with it. 100Hz CRT tellies were again developed to reduce the flicker. 32" and larger widescreen sets did benefit from 100Hz due to the size.

120Hz does have a use for the "running around shooting people" PC gaming crowd as ninja spec gaming PCs regularly put out more than 60fps as "it gives them an advantage" apparently. This is probably what the OP has and accepts a 120Hz input. Outside of the niche PC gaming market it's pointless and there's only a handful of monitors around that support it.
 
120Hz is also what you need for 3D gaming/video with shutter glasses.
tronicman said:
However, I'm using the minidisplay port to dvi adapter, is that the problem?
Click to expand...
I am assuming you use the normale Adapter not the Dual Link one.
Single link DVI cannot run 1680x1050 at 120hz.
What you need is a Dual Link DVI or Display Port cable.

Or you reduce the resolution until 120hz works or you just run it at lower hz. I doubt 120hz is of much use on a MBP under OSX anyway. There is no 3D support and little gaming. I don't see any point to 120hz under OSX.
For video 24p a 60hz refresh would already work for 3D.
 
Well if you have been using a 120hz model even in "windows using", you wont go back. It seems like the macbook pro screen use blur to cover the "low fps" My external monitor dosnt use it. However, i end up having a head that hurts since the refresh rate isnt what it should be. My head hurts only after using the external one.

How come. mini displayport -> dvi cant handle 120hz? dvi -> dvi can handle it, and also mini displayport -> mini displayport.

How come I cant even see any options for the HZ..?
I cant see any option for HZ even at as low res as 640x480.

Btw I use my 120hz as extended display, just like in Windows.
 
tronicman said:
Well if you have been using a 120hz model even in "windows using", you wont go back. It seems like the macbook pro screen use blur to cover the "low fps" My external monitor dosnt use it. However, i end up having a head that hurts since the refresh rate isnt what it should be. My head hurts only after using the external one.

How come. mini displayport -> dvi cant handle 120hz? dvi -> dvi can handle it, and also mini displayport -> mini displayport.

How come I cant even see any options for the HZ..?
I cant see any option for HZ even at as low res as 640x480.

Btw I use my 120hz as extended display, just like in Windows.
Click to expand...
That's all in your mind, LCDs do not flicker at all. In normal use it is impossible to discern either refresh rates. Do you get headaches watching a 24fps movie at the theater? Because THAT does flicker.
 
Well, i guess you cant feel any diffrence between a 60hz and a 120hz either, even you just use it in browsing?

However i need to buy an adaptor for 99 to get my monitor working as it should?

The feeling is still that the monitor feels tense. Maybe cos its supposed to be in 120hz not 60hz.

Even tho i need another adaptor i should still be abale to see the HZ option, with i dont.
 
Hello, sry for late answer. Im using apples adaptor. I changed to another monitor, a sycmaster as well but a model that only handle 60hz. To my suprise the option for HZ can now be found but since the monitor only can handle 60hz thats the only option. If i change monitor again, the HZ option is gone and the monitor feels tense.
 
From what i've researched (and i've been doing ALOT)

The 2233RZ (which is the same as me..) only works if you connect it directly to the Graphics card.. so the problem here is the converter, so from what i've read its not possible.

Though i'd be glad if it turned out i was wrong :)

EDIT********

Checked a thread i made a while back about it (on a danish website though, i can link if you want).. a guy told me it was possible with one of these http://www.amazon.com/Accell-UltraAV-B087B-002B-DisplayPort-Dual-Link/dp/B002ISVI3U

I never tried it out, can anyone confirm if it would work?

edit again*

i'm finding a lot of people saying that they got 120Hz in windows (bootcamp).. but somehow none of them tell how they got it .. other than a guy said he bought the mini display -> Dual-DVI Adapter

I've written to them and i'll post a new comment as soon as i find anything out.
 
Last edited:
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I've been looking around for so long now and no Apple users seems to know for sure. The answers is more like "what is hz, and hmm what could 120hz be?" External monitor? "well 30hz is enough, the eye cant handle more updates anyway, so that cant be any difference between a 60hz and a 120hz in daily useage". I guess Microsoft users overall is more hardcore and demand stuff to work flawless.


I love my macbook pro as a laptop but connected to an external monitor, well welcome back to 1995.
 
I don't think you understand how our brain/eye combination works :p

Pretty soon people will be selling 240hz monitors and people will be buying them and touting how awesome they are... lol
 
tronicman said:
I've been looking around for so long now and no Apple users seems to know for sure. The answers is more like "what is hz, and hmm what could 120hz be?" External monitor? "well 30hz is enough, the eye cant handle more updates anyway, so that cant be any difference between a 60hz and a 120hz in daily useage". I guess Microsoft users overall is more hardcore and demand stuff to work flawless.


I love my macbook pro as a laptop but connected to an external monitor, well welcome back to 1995.
Click to expand...

Your bit in bold is absolutely correct.

120Hz serves only two purposes :
1) 3D at 60fps. Requires twice the number of fields for the shutter glasses to work
2) Higher FPS in games for a tiny bit less lag and more kills when playing army

I'll repeat myself - LCD monitors do not flicker. There is no need for 120Hz support apart from the reasons above. If your Samsung monitor can't display a 60Hz signal correctly then it's a design fault with that monitor.
 
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