Resolution and Refresh Rates?

[Computer_User]

Hello.

I have a Dell P992 (19" flat screen) and a ATI Radeon 7500 (PCI). What I want to know is: What should I set my resolution and refresh rates at? What do you (pcmech members) have it set to? I set it at 1600x1200 @ 85 Hz but the icons and menu are quite small. Now I have it set at 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz. Should I go with the 1600x1200 are keep it at 12080x1024? Do I need to change the refresh rates to match the resolution (if they even have anything to do with one another)? Sorry if these are simple questions but I would like to know. Any information and advice will be appreciated.

Thanks
Computer_User

[j4ck]

Originally Posted by Computer_User Hello. I have a Dell P992 (19" flat screen) and a ATI Radeon 7500 (PCI). What I want to know is: What should I set my resolution and refresh rates at? What do you (pcmech members) have it set to? I set it at 1600x1200 @ 85 Hz but the icons and menu are quite small. Now I have it set at 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz. Should I go with the 1600x1200 are keep it at 12080x1024? Do I need to change the refresh rates to match the resolution (if they even have anything to do with one another)? Sorry if these are simple questions but I would like to know. Any information and advice will be appreciated. Thanks Computer_User

Resolution is basically the square dimension of pixels your monitor is displaying per square inch. When you have your monitor set to the resolution 1600x1200 then it is using (1600)*(1200)=1920000 individual points of light to display a picture in one square inch of your screen. Intuatively, this may seem like a lot of work for your graphics card to do...and it is! Typically, the higher the resolution you wish to run your monitor, the lower your maximum frame rate will be, simply because your graphics card can't keep up with all the work involved.
Personally, I run my desktop at a resolution of 1280x1024 at a refresh rate of 75 Hz. So, my hardware is drawing one full screen of pixels once every 1/75=.0133 seconds. If you set your refresh rate too low (say, below 60 Hz), you might notice "screen flicker". Which is highly annoying.
You should set your screen resolution and refresh rate to whatever you feel most comfortable with and to whatever your graphics hardware can handle displaying. Usually, after you set your desktop resolution you will only have the option to set your desktop refresh rate to a setting that is allowed by your graphics card. If you accidently somehow make a mistake in your graphics settings, don't worry. Windows will default back to the configuration that existed before you made the change after about 10 seconds.

[Computer_User]

Thanks for the information, j4ck. It was very helpful. What resolution and refresh rates do you (pcmech users) use? This is sort of a poll I guess. I am just curious at what most people use when it comes to this.

[Alaron]

Check out this thread: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...ght=resolution

[DragonNOA1]

Mine is 1024x768x32 @75hz.

[Cricket]

Use the resolution and refresh rate that works best for you. Don't worry about what others have their computers set to.

Cricket

[WolfPac_Ite]

I guess there's no point in playing a game if everythings tiny.

Mine is also 1024x768x32 @75hz.

[pam123]

Your eyes, and the monitor's limits, are the guides.
If 1600 x 1200 is too small and 1280 x 1024 is fine, then it's the latter.
I have a 17" monitor so mine is set at 1024 x 768 x32 @ 85 Hz.

[Geonosis]

Mine is set to 1280 x 1024, but how do I find out the refresh rate

[Computer_User]

Thanks for all the responses and participation. I just wanted to know some common resolutions and refresh rates so I can get and idea of what to use.

"but how do I find out the refresh rate"

I just click on my ATI logo in the system tray and it will bring up a list of all my resolutions --> I click on a resolution --> and then a box appears and displays the refresh rates. That is the way I do it but I dont know how any other way and not sure about with any other video cards.

Thanks
Computer_User

[buford]

I use a CRT (Veiwsonic PF77 17") and have my settings at 1280x1024@85Hz. For word processing, spreadsheets, internet browsing, etc... this is the best size for me. depending on the game i'm playing i may or may not adjust the default screen size. however cricket:

"Use the resolution and refresh rate that works best for you. Don't worry about what others have their computers set to."

and WolfPac_Ite :

"I guess there's no point in playing a game if everythings tiny."

have very good points.