Support Note: 217
Subject: Refresh Utility v1.0
Product: GrafixStar 600, Apocalypse 5D, Apocalypse 5D SonicSeptember 05, 1996
CONTROL.COM is a DOS program which allows you to alter the refresh for display modes, available as patch 217, available on the Apocalypse CD-ROM in the directory Apoc5D\Updates\Sn0217\Patch217. This program is designed for DOS operation, and is not necessary in Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and OS/2 drivers. The program is resident in memory and occupies 1,664 KB of memory space. At anytime, CONTROL.COM can be released from memory (see instruction below for more information).
Please note: This program is not suitable for use with a fixed frequency monitor.
Supported modes
Refresh rates can be selected from the modes listed in the table below:-
Resolution Colors 320x200 256 N/A N/A 640x400 256 65k 16.7m 640x480 256 65k 16.7m 800x600 256 65k 16.7m 1024x768 256 65k N/A 1152x864 256 65k N/A 1280x1024 65k N/A N/A Background
To safely use the refresh rate program, it is vital that you know the following information with regards to your monitor.
- The monitors maximum resolution capabilities
Please use resolutions listed from the supported resolutions list above. If your monitors maximum resolution capability does not match a resolution on the list, you must select the nearest mode below your monitors maximum capabilities. eg. For a monitor with a max resolution of 1152x1024, you would select 1152x864.
- Maximum Horizontal scan rate
This describes the rate in which the monitor can display pixels on a line. Otherwise known as the line rate. This is typically measured in units of thousands of Hertz (kHz).
- Maximum Vertical scan rate
This describes the rate in which the monitor can display screens. Otherwise known as the refresh rate. This is typically measured in units or Hertz (Hz).
This information is usually available within the documentation that was supplied with your monitor in a section detailing specifications or capabilities. If this is not available, please contact your monitor supplier for more information regarding this area.
Installation
The refresh rate program can automatically sense the capabilities of a DDC (PlugnPlay) monitor. If you monitor is not DDC compliant, you will need to supply the additional data described above to the refresh rate control program to allow correct operation.
Warning: Using settings which exceed the limits of your monitor may damage your monitor permanently. Please see the specifications in your monitor documentation or ask your monitor supplier for further details regarding the capabilities of the monitor.
Syntax
CONTROL [-i] [-u] [-vnnn] [-hnnn]
where: i Show mode information (Verbose mode) u Remove from memory vnnn Set maximum refresh rate hnnn Set maximum line rate Note:
The maximum refresh rate input can accept values in the range 60 - 250 Hz. The maximum line rate input can accept values in the range 28 - 150kHz (or 28000 - 150000 Hz).For example: to setup the refresh rate control program to use a monitor capable of 48kHz and a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz, use the following command line.
CONTROL -i -v90 -h48
or
CONTROL -i -v90 -h48000
The -i option can be omitted from the command line, but proves useful for mode information.
Removal
To remove the refresh rate control program, use the [-u] option. This unloads the program from memory. The refresh rate control program can also be removed by rebooting your system.
For example: to remove the refresh rate control program from system memory, use the following command line.
CONTROL -uPlease Note: To redefine the settings after the refresh rate control program is loaded, you must remove the program.