Custom Resolution Utility (CRU)

[ditchmagnet]

I'm not sure if there is a correct place to ask this, but I recently put in a n156kme-gna but it was only reading 60hz in windows..I used CRU to add 144hz, and I wanted to add 165hz cause that's that the screen is, but highest I could set in CRU was 156 otherwise the text would go red.

Is there a place where people post profiles for screen models that I could get, or could someone with that model share the settings?

Thanks

[ToastyX]

(03-24-2025 05:56 PM)ditchmagnet Wrote:  I'm not sure if there is a correct place to ask this, but I recently put in a n156kme-gna but it was only reading 60hz in windows..I used CRU to add 144hz, and I wanted to add 165hz cause that's that the screen is, but highest I could set in CRU was 156 otherwise the text would go red.

Is there a place where people post profiles for screen models that I could get, or could someone with that model share the settings?

The first post explains why the text turns red. You need to add a DisplayID extension block and add 165 Hz in there.

There are too many displays and not enough people posting for sharing to be feasible. I plan to make a monitor search engine and database one day, so maybe I can add a way to share EDIDs for monitors and TVs later, but you're talking about a laptop panel, which is more obscure. Usually laptop panels have the preferred timing in the datasheet, but most panels will accept any reasonable timing, so it's not really important as long as it works.

[Jideo23]

Hi @ToastyX,

First of all, thank you for creating CRU! It's an incredibly useful tool.

I have a Dell Vostro 15 3530 (16GB RAM) with an Intel GPU. Unfortunately, my laptop only has:

a) 1x HDMI 1.4 port (no DisplayPort available)

b) 1x USB-C port (which appears to be for data transfer only and does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode)

I am using a Dell S3422DWG ultrawide monitor. With CRU, I was able to get the 3440x1440 resolution, but the refresh rate is limited to 30.9Hz.

From your documentation, I understand that single-link DVI is limited to 165 MHz, which explains why 30.9Hz works, as it uses around 164.75 MHz. However, from your docs, I read that Intel GPUs without HDMI 2.0 support can reach up to 300.99 MHz. If that’s the case, would it be possible to push beyond 165 MHz and get closer to 50Hz or 60Hz?

I have already:
✔️ Set the maximum TMDS clock to 340 MHz
✔️ Enabled HDMI support and HDMI 2.0 support in the extension block

Despite these changes, I am still stuck at 30.9Hz. Is there anything else I can try to unlock a higher refresh rate, given that my Intel GPU should theoretically support 300.99 MHz?

[chris89]

@ToastyX Thank you for your help. I am trying to be as clear as possible. The Voltage reduction because stock melts the memory module thermal pads, stock voltage on r9 290-390-390x is 1.55V, I found I could reduce it down to 0.9V, huge impact on thermals & can now improve the core frequency. It's in game stable.

Anyway, back to the topic of how to achieve 4k60 precisely over Displayport to HDMI 2.0 adapter, with amd radeon r9 290 adrenalin/ 22.6.1 or 23.11.1 drivers & how to get rid of the Interlaced Refresh Rates, and have only Progressive with CRU? How to make it to where when setting 4k60 (3840x2160p 60hz) (What is the desired setting for setting up CRU, Exact or CVT-RB, or Other?) It defaults to 1080i60 instead of 3840x2160p60? Thanks

I can try and video record the symptoms, if it helps. I hope I was clear enough.

---

It looks like I cannot get more than 340Mhz on 22.6.1 for r9 290 official amd driver with 1.4.15 atikmdag-patcher. All I got so far is 3840x2160p 39hz CVT-RB2 over displayport to hdmi 2.0 adapter on r9 290.

   

[ToastyX]

(03-25-2025 08:24 PM)chris89 Wrote:  Anyway, back to the topic of how to achieve 4k60 precisely over Displayport to HDMI 2.0 adapter, with amd radeon r9 290 adrenalin/ 22.6.1 or 23.11.1 drivers & how to get rid of the Interlaced Refresh Rates, and have only Progressive with CRU? How to make it to where when setting 4k60 (3840x2160p 60hz) (What is the desired setting for setting up CRU, Exact or CVT-RB, or Other?) It defaults to 1080i60 instead of 3840x2160p60?

As I said, you shouldn't have to do anything. It should just work if the TV and the adapter supports 3840x2160 @ 60 Hz and HDMI 2.0. What is defaulting to 1080i? You shouldn't be getting interlaced at all with an active DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. That tells me you might have a passive adapter and not an active adapter.

(03-25-2025 08:24 PM)chris89 Wrote:  It looks like I cannot get more than 340Mhz on 22.6.1 for r9 290 official amd driver with 1.4.15 atikmdag-patcher. All I got so far is 3840x2160p 39hz CVT-RB2 over displayport to hdmi 2.0 adapter on r9 290.

Then either the adapter or the TV doesn't actually support HDMI 2.0. You need an active adapter that converts DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0, not a passive adapter, and the TV should have an HDMI 2.0 data block in the extension block if it supports HDMI 2.0.

[ToastyX]

(03-25-2025 07:41 PM)Jideo23 Wrote:  I have a Dell Vostro 15 3530 (16GB RAM) with an Intel GPU. Unfortunately, my laptop only has:

a) 1x HDMI 1.4 port (no DisplayPort available)

b) 1x USB-C port (which appears to be for data transfer only and does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode)

I am using a Dell S3422DWG ultrawide monitor. With CRU, I was able to get the 3440x1440 resolution, but the refresh rate is limited to 30.9Hz.

From your documentation, I understand that single-link DVI is limited to 165 MHz, which explains why 30.9Hz works, as it uses around 164.75 MHz. However, from your docs, I read that Intel GPUs without HDMI 2.0 support can reach up to 300.99 MHz. If that’s the case, would it be possible to push beyond 165 MHz and get closer to 50Hz or 60Hz?

Unfortunately, the manual for the Dell Vostro 15 3530 states "The maximum resolution supported by HDMI port is 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz." That would indicate it doesn't really support HDMI 1.3/1.4 bandwidth, but more like HDMI 1.0-1.2. I don't know why they would limit the HDMI port like that. A true HDMI 1.4 port would support 3440x1440 @ 50 Hz at least.

[chris89]

@ToastyX Thanks

[aostang]

Can this utility be used to create an audio-only HDMI connection/port in Windows?

I've been dealing with an issue for years that I never really was able to get around, especially now that I have an ultrawide monitor. I have a soundbar I use with my computer that I can only get uncompressed 5.1 audio to via HDMI. Unfortunately it's not compatible with newer monitors and refresh rates so I cannot use the passthrough port on the soundbar to get video to my monitor.

What this has left me with for years is a phantom monitor that cannot be displayed that occasionally an app window will get lost in. I've become an expert at moving the apps blind back to my main monitor but I'd really like to get a solution that doesn't have the phantom monitor anymore. No HDMI splitters or audio extractors on the market support the resolution I'm running, 5120x1440@240Hz HDR VRR. Some say they support HDMI 2.1 and/or 48Gbps that "should" work, but in reality all only really support 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios for whatever reason (I've confirmed with multiple units and inquiries with manufacturers of others).

So.. do I have any hope with CRU, or does anyone else have another solution? Thanks!