I have a problem with the refresh rate.
We have just received a new computer (dell optiplex 760) running windows xp sp3 and e-prime 1.2.x (we do have e-prime 2.0 too, but we're not using that for this experiment). The monitor we're using is an Eizo CRT monitor with a resolution of 1024x768 @ 100Hz. The experiment is running at 800x600.

The problem is that no matter what I do, e-prime sets the refresh rate to 75Hz (74.88) according to the .edat file. I know that e-prime will use the "default monitor settings" if I don't override it somehow so I've opened the dxdiag -> More help property page -> "override" and typed in 100 (the refresh rate I want to use), but nothing happens. The .edat file is still telling me that my refresh rate is 75Hz.

We really need to run the experiment at 100Hz. Does anyone know what more I can try to get this working?
All answers are much appriciated!

Kind regards
Rune

I tried to run a different experiment at 1024x768 @ 100 hz (same as the windows setting). I was hoping maybe e-prime would leave the refresh rate at 100Hz now because it doesn't need to change display mode, but I'm still getting 75Hz in the edat file. The only difference from the windows settings, is that the e-prime experiment runs at 16 bit color instead of 32 bit.

I can't think of anything else. Please help me out here.

-R

From web support:

First, can you please confirm that when you set the refresh rate to 100Hz, that the monitor actually reports 100Hz as the refresh rate in Windows? The refresh rate should be reported in the Windows Display Settings and/or the settings for your specific video card. If you do not use the Override value, is it reported as 75Hz?

Secondly, if the monitor is reporting the 100Hz refresh rate in Windows, the next step is to ensure that Windows knows exactly what type of monitor is connected. If you go to the Settings tab in the Windows Display Properties dialog, Windows should report the name of the monitor attached. If it is reporting "Default Monitor" or "Plug and Play Monitor", it may not be using a 100Hz refresh rate. In that case you may need to get an INF file from Eizo that will allow Windows to recognize the monitor as that brand in the Display Settings.

Lastly, we recommend that you match the resolution and bit depth in Windows with the experiment settings in E-Prime. This will ensure that E-Prime does not need to adjust the display. To check the current bit depth, open the Windows Display Properties and navigate to the Settings tab. Bit depth will be displayed in the Colors drop-down menu. In your experiment, change the resolution and bit depth settings so they match those found in the Windows Display Settings. Does the EDAT file still report 75Hz?

What I did (my respons back to support):

I can confirm that windows reports 100Hz refresh rate with or without the override function. I can also confirm that windows recognizes the monitor (in displaysettings it says "Eizo T960 on Intel(R) 4 series chipset" and not "default monitor").

What really did the trick was to set the bit depth in windows. I should've thought of this earlier, but I guess I don't know enough on how the display settings in windows vs e-prime works.

But what's worth noting though, is that I had to go into a software that comes with the graphic card and manually add 1024x768@100Hz 32 bit and 800x600@100Hz 16 bit (these are the two resolutions our experiments will be running) because as a windows default, these settings was nowhere to be found. People must be sure that the monitor supports these formats though, I just took a chance

So yeah, the problem is solved thanks to you. I hope you too have been able to get some usefull information from this that can help other people with simular problems.

Hope this helps guys.

Best regards
Rune