Thread: FAQ: How to enable 800x480 for Nvidia Video Cards.

First of all, Windoze won't allow you to display a resolution/refresh rate combination that the monitor won't allow...
Linux will let you do that, and you could destroy your monitor.



Also, depending on which GeForce chipset, you may also need to apply teh CoolBits tweak. Download it here: http://downloads.guru3d.com/download...t=815#download

Well, the reference nvidia drivers is what will give you the ability to set custom resolution. If you just let windows load its driver, you only get standard 4:3 res's.

I got 800x480 to work correctly for my lilliput on my nvidia gforce go 6150

psyrex:
Do the reference drivers already include the coolbits tweak, I wonder?
Hmmmm.

I don't know. Looking at the link you provided, it just says it "unleashes hidden functions" which can just be marketing speak. The Microsoft drivers might simply just handle video and ignored all the other features of a GeForce chipset requiring a tweak to handle the interesting stuff. NVIDIA just has a large comprehensive driver (I think it's a whopping 30MB to download for my GeForce MX440) that enables all the features, one of which includes the ability to set custom timings without the need for powerstrip.

For reference, people can find the nvidia reference drivers here: http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Yes, I am using the reference drivers from nvidia. I didnt have to install coolbits at all. So far its been about 10 hours of testing on my lilliput and its good.

Originally Posted by macmini

Yes, I am using the reference drivers from nvidia. I didnt have to install coolbits at all. So far its been about 10 hours of test on my lilliput and its good.

You should probably then add that as the first step: "Install reference drivers."

For those of you who has older card that the newer nVidia driver doesn't work, I have some good news for you. In my case nVidia 16MB TNT2 Pro AGP from a Dell GX150. nVidia reference driver doesn't install because it doesn't recognize the card. I have to download the driver from Dell website. The self extract file for this driver is TNTPXPA0.EXE. When extract, it create a folder called \563YT\WinXP inside the usual folder for all Dell drivers. Now follow these steps for a customize resolution for windows.
Do this at your own risk. It's proven working for me. That doesn't mean it will work for you.
- Open file the driver inf file namely NV???.INF in Notepad or your favorite simple text editor. In my case, it is NVDD.INF
- Scroll down untill you see something like this

Code:

; NV5 (TNT2) Supported Reference Modes
;
; NOTE: 640x480 MUST be listed FIRST in this list !!!!!
;

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_MULTI_SZ%,  "8    640  480   60       75 85 100 120  0"
HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    320  200   60 70 72 75             0"
HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    320  240   60 70 72 75             0"

There are several section that look like that and you have to modify for all section. That is depend on the driver being installed. The driver I installed support 2 different model (TNT2 and TNT2 Pro). So there are total of 6 of those sections (3 sections for each model, 1 section support 8 bits, 16 bits and 23 bits => 3 sections). I want 800x480 at 60, 70, 72, 75Hz.
So I look at this line

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    640  400   60 70 72 75 85          0"
HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    800  600   60       75 85 100 120  0"

That is a 8 bit mode section.
The 1st line is 640x400 Resolution at 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 Herts.
The 2nd line is 800x600 Resolution at 60, 75, 85, 85, 100, 120 Herts.
Because I want 800x480 at 60, 70, 72, 75Hz. So it is easier for me to copy the first line and just change the resolution and refresh rate (less work than if I copy 2nd line). So my custom resolution line look like this.

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    800  480   60 70 72 75             0"

Together, they look like this.

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    640  400   60 70 72 75 85          0"
HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    800  480   60 70 72 75             0"
HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    800  600   60       75 85 100 120  0"

So that is one section out of 6 sections I have to add. To make my life easier, I just copy the first line I created and paste it into the other section.
For example the line I created in the 8bit section look like this

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "8    800  480   60 70 72 75             0"

Copy that line and paste into the 16bit section, and change "8 to "16 and you are done for that section. The 16bit section look like this.

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "16   800  480   60 70 72 75             0"

and 32bit.

Code:

HKR,, NV5_Modes,                   %REG_SZ_APPEND%, "32   800  480   60 70 72 75             0"

Well, you guys get an idea
After finish modify the INF file, save it and install, re-install, or update the driver.
Good luck.

I believe that this same concept can be use with other video driver as well.