# | README file for XREFRESH.EXE | | Version 1.08 | | WINNER 1000ISA | WINNER 1000TRIO | WINNER 1000TRIOV | WINNER 1000AVI | WINNER 2000AVI | WINNER 1000PRO/X | WINNER 2000PRO/X | GLoria | VICTORY 3D | | | Subsidary: | ELSA GmbH ELSA Inc. | Sonnenweg 11 2150 Trade Zone Blvd. | D-52070 Aachen Suite 101 | Germany San Jose, CA 95131 | USA | | Phone : +49-241-9177-0 Phone: +1-408-935-0350 | Support Fax: +49-241-9177-213 Phone: 1-800-272-ELSA | BBS (modem): +49-241-9177-981 Fax : +1-408-935-0370 | BBS (ISDN) : +49-241-9177-7800 BBS : +1-408-935-0380 | CompuServe : GO ELSA CIS : GO ELSA | WWW : http://www.elsa.de WWW : http://www.elsa.com | | 04/16/96 , ba Contents 1. Overview 2. Disk Contents 3. Installation 4. Usage Notes 4.1 DDC ( VESA Display Data Channel) 4.2 Command Line Parameters 4.3 Problems 5. Release Notes 5.1 Supported BIOS versions 5.2 Monitor Frequency Limits 5.3 Refresh Rates for VGA Modes 6. Restrictions / Known Problems 6.1 Permanent Setting 6.2 VGA Modes with High Refresh Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Overview XREFRESH.EXE is a utility to set the display refresh rate of VGA and VESA graphics modes of the ELSA graphics boards WINNER 1000ISA,WINNER 1000TRIO, WINNER 1000TRIOV, WINNER 1000AVI, WINNER 2000AVI, WINNER 1000PRO/X, WINNER 2000PRO/X, GLoria and VICTORY 3D The current program version is 1.08. See the Release Notes section 5.1 for a list of supported BIOS versions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Disk Contents The program disk/CD contains the following files: XREFRESH.EXE the executable program XREFRS_E.TXT this text file, including notes on the current program release XREFRS_D.TXT German version of the text you are currently reading ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Installation To use this utility, please copy the file XREFRESH.EXE from the disk to a directory on your hard disk. This directory should be included in your DOS path (environment variable PATH). If you want to use this utility permanently, you should call it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to set the refresh rate automatically each time your system is started. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Usage Notes 4.1 DDC (VESA Display Data Channel) If your ELSA graphics board and the connected monitor support VESA DDC1 or DDC2B, please call XREFRESH without any parameter on command line. DDC information about the monitor is read via graphics board. Using this information, XREFRESH analyses the maximum sweep rate of your DDC monitor. With the sweep rate XREFRESH calulates the maximum refresh rate for each graphics mode resolution. This establishes an optimal configuration for your monitor. Hint: - Only fixed refresh rates, which are implemented in graphics board BIOS, can be used. - If you are using a DDC1 graphics board, the display will be blanked for about one secound. - Our first experiences with DDC monitors (proto types) show, that sometimes the DDC information returned from monitor differs from the monitor specification. XREFRESH displays the maximum available sweep rate of the monitor. If the displayed maximum sweep rate is above or extreme below the monitor specification, the monitor shows a strange behaviour. Under these circumstances consult the monitor documentation or contact the monitor manufacturer. - Should the automatic refresh rate setting using the DDC standard fail, you can configure the refresh rate via command line parameter as described in the next paragraph. If the automatic refresh rate setting fails, the sweep rate will be unneccessary slow, the monitor will flicker and shows a distort display or the the monitor will produce a high frequency tone. 4.2 Command Line Parameters - XREFRESH [(VESA-refresh-rate)Hz] 45Hz 49Hz 60Hz 67Hz 70Hz 72Hz 75Hz 85Hz This will set the given refresh rate in Hertz for all VESA resolutions, as long as your hardware supports this setting; otherwise the next lower refresh rate is used instead. Example: XREFRESH 75Hz For the VESA resolutions from 640 up to 1280 pixels, a refresh rate of 75 Hz is set. The setting will become effective the next time a VESA mode is started. - A setting for individual resolutions is possible as follows: XREFRESH [(resolution VESA-refresh-rate)Hz] Allowed values for the resolution are: 640 800 1024 1152 (not supported on all boards) 1280 1600 Example: XREFRESH 1280 75Hz The next time a VESA mode with a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels is used, a refresh rate of 75 Hz will be set. - You may also set several refresh rates for different resolutions in one single call: XREFRESH [(resolution1 refresh1)Hz] [(resolution2 refresh2)Hz] [...] Example: XREFRESH 1600 60Hz 1280 60Hz 1024 70Hz 800 72Hz 640 75Hz An individual refresh rate is assigned to each of the resolutions: 640 x 480 pixels 75 Hz 800 x 600 pixels 72 Hz 1024 x 768 pixels 70 Hz 1280 x 1024 pixels 60 Hz 1600 x 1200 pixels 60 Hz - XREFRESH [VGA-refresh-rate] ( This option is not supported by the WINNER 1000ISA! ) XREFRESH accepts the following parameters as VGA refresh rates (upper or lower case allowed): VGASTD VGAHIGH Example: XREFRESH VGAHIGH "VGASTD" sets the refresh rate for the VGA modes 0 to 13 to the standard VGA value (horizontal scan frequency 31.5 kHz). Depending on the graphics mode, this will result in refresh rates of 60 or 70 Hz. "VGAHIGH" increase the refresh rate by approximately 25% for the VGA modes 0 to 13 (horizontal scan frequency 39.4 kHz). Depending on the graphics mode, this will result in refresh rates of 75 or 87.5 Hz. At text modi 3 and 7 immediatly the new settings becomes effective. The monitor is syncronized again. 4.3 Problems If you come across any errors or problems using this utility, please note the exact program version number, the command line parameters and other circumstances, under which the error or problem occurred. This will make it easier for us to track down the source of your problem. You may tell us your problems via our Support BBS ELSA ONLINE, or send them to us in written form. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Release Notes 5.1 Supported BIOS versions The current release supports the following versions of the BIOS: WINNER 1000ISA 1.00.00 (and later) WINNER 1000TRIO 1.00.00 (and later) WINNER 1000TRIOV 1.20.00 (and later) WINNER 1000AVI 1.00.00 (and later) WINNER 1000PRO/X 1.23.00 (and later) WINNER 2000AVI 1.26.00 (and later) WINNER 2000PRO/X 1.25.00 (and later) GLoria 1.00.00 (and later) VICTORY 3D 1.00.00 (and later) 5.2 Monitor Frequency Limits For the VGA high refresh timing (VGAHIGH), the monitor connected to the graphics board must allow a horizontal scan frequency of at least 39.7 kHz and a refresh rate of at least 87.5 Hz. The maximum allowed horizontal scan frequency of the monitor (sweep rate) must not be exceeded! 5.3 Refresh rates for VGA modes The command line parameters "VGAHIGH" and "VGASTD" were added to set the standard VGA display timings to high or normal refresh rates. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Restrictions / Known Problems 6.1 Permanent Setting This program does not allow a permanent setting of the refresh rates. It must be called each time the operating system is started. This is most easily done by calling the program in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 6.2 VGA Modes with High Refresh Rate ( This option is not supported by the WINNER 1000ISA! ) The refresh rates set with the "VGAHIGH" option are no standard values. Therefore, it is possible that some high refresh VGA modes are not properly displayed on some monitors.