Strobelight - LightBoost Utility for AMD/ATI and NVIDIA

[ToastyX]

Strobelight enables backlight strobing on LightBoost-capable monitors. For more information about LightBoost and backlight strobing, visit BlurBusters.com.

Download: strobelight-beta4.zip - Source: strobelight-src.zip - strobelight-setup-src.zip

A message from ToastyX:

Over the years, I have created various monitor-related software and provided support for free. I would like to continue providing updates and work on new ideas, but I need your support. If you find my software useful, please consider supporting me through Patreon:

Compatibility issues:

AMD Radeon RX-series cards - ToastyX Wrote:RX-series cards have communication issues with DVI.

Workaround: Use DisplayPort if possible. No solution is available for DVI at this time.

NVIDIA 3D Vision - ToastyX Wrote:Stereoscopic 3D may not enable properly unless 120 Hz is non-strobed. Here is a version with the refresh rates swapped: https://www.monitortests.com/strobelight...wapped.zip

Requirements:

• Windows Vista or later
• AMD/ATI or NVIDIA GPU (laptops with switchable graphics are not supported)
• Dual-link DVI or DisplayPort (HDMI is not supported)
• ASUS or BenQ LightBoost-capable monitor (BenQ Z-series and newer monitors are not supported)
  

Compatible monitors (Amazon affiliate links):

• ASUS VG248QE
• ASUS VG278H (NVIDIA only)
• ASUS VG278HE
• ASUS VG278HR
• BenQ XL2411T
• BenQ XL2420T
• BenQ XL2420TX
• BenQ XL2420TE
• BenQ XL2720T
  

Getting started:

1. Run strobelight-setup.exe to install the refresh rates required to enable backlight strobing.
2. Copy strobelight.exe to your startup folder. (Win+R shell:startup)
3. Reboot.
   

Strobelight will initialize any monitors if necessary and stay running in the background to handle keyboard shortcuts. The initialization process can take a few minutes, but it only needs to be done once unless the monitors lose power.

Uninstalling:

1. Run strobelight-setup.exe and reset the display.
2. Remove strobelight.exe from the startup folder.
3. Reboot.
   

Keyboard shortcuts:

• [Ctrl] [Alt] [0-9] = Brightness (0 = 100%, 1 = 10%, 2 = 20%, etc.)
  

• [Ctrl] [Alt] [+] = Strobing on (highest strobed refresh rate)
• [Ctrl] [Alt] [-] = Strobing off (highest non-strobed refresh rate excluding 60 Hz)
  

• [Ctrl] [Alt] [F12] = 120 Hz strobed if available
• [Ctrl] [Alt] [F11] = 110 Hz strobed if available
• [Ctrl] [Alt] [F10] = 100 Hz strobed if available
  

• [Ctrl] [Alt] [F6] = 60 Hz if available
  

Note: strobe toggling does not work in full screen games.

Options for strobelight.exe:

Strobelight can be configured by renaming strobelight.exe to any of the following:

• strobelight-init.exe = Initialize any monitors if necessary and quit. It will not stay running in the background. Keyboard shortcuts will not be available.
• strobelight-hide.exe = Hide the tray icon. It will stay running in the background to handle keyboard shortcuts. You can use the task manager to end the process.
• strobelight-off.exe = Start with strobing off. This can be combined with the other options: strobelight-off-init.exe or strobelight-off-hide.exe
  

Keyboard options:

To change the modifier keys, rename strobelight.exe to include any combination of the following:

• -ctrl, -lctrl, -rctrl
• -alt, -lalt, -ralt
• -shift, -lshift, -rshift
• -win, -lwin, -rwin
  

Example: strobelight-ctrl-lalt.exe = [Ctrl] [Left Alt]

Disabling hotkeys:

To disable certain hotkeys, rename strobelight.exe to include -k followed by any combination of the following numbers:

• 0 = disable all
  1 = +/-
  2 = 0-9
  3 = numpad +/-
  4 = numpad 0-9 numlock on
  5 = numpad 0-9 numlock off
  6 = function keys
  

Example: strobelight-k345.exe = disable numpad hotkeys

Options can be combined: strobelight-ctrl-lalt-k345.exe

Changes in Beta 4:

• Fix refresh rates not being found in some cases when loading on startup
  

Changes in Beta 3:

• Work around GeForce Experience problem
• Added support for more than four refresh rates
• Added DisplayPort audio support
• Make sure all displays are strobed on startup
• Disable keyboard hook and hotkey threads if hotkeys are disabled
• Double-check if any modifier keys were released before processing hotkeys
  

Changes in Beta 2:

• New keyboard handler:
  • Allow Ctrl+Alt to work without affecting AltGr
  • Allow numpad to work without num lock
  • Added options to change the hotkey modifiers
  • Added options to disable certain hotkeys
  • Added Ctrl+Alt+F6 for 60 Hz
    
• Retry if monitor fails to respond when starting up
• Always show strobing options in the menu even if not available
• Show keyboard shortcuts for strobing options in the menu
• Retry if tray icon fails to update when system is busy
• Select 121 Hz in the setup program so strobing can be turned off by default
  

[Kert]

Works for XL2411T here and radeon hd6850. It did take a minute or so to initialize dispay though
Currently testing

Thanks a lot for such an app, guys!

[Black Octagon]

Excellent work! I don't have a LB monitor but had heard that this significantly simplified activation tool was in the works.

ToastyX, this is still NVIDIA-only, right? I read a rumor the other day that you were working on AMD functionality, but was unable to find any form posts by you to that effect

[mdrejhon]

I am inserting screenshots below, to show people what Strobelight looks like:

[Image: http://www.blurbusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/strobelight-setup.png] ... [Image: http://www.blurbusters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/strobelight.png]

I wanted to thank ToastyX for doing such a wonderful job in this LightBoost utility! Also, TestUFO, the Blur Busters Motion Tests is going to launch this weekend -- it is an excellent way of verifying whether LightBoost works or not.

For the record, Blur Busters only did testing of ToastyX Strobelight on nVidia products (I own multiple LightBoost monitors, both ASUS and BENQ). I believe in supporting nVidia because they made LightBoost. If you have not purchased a GPU yet, please consider leaning towards green instead of red. Although LightBoost can now be enabled independently of 3D Vision drivers (a side effect of any third party "easy LightBoost utility") -- Blur Busters does not wish to upset nVidia, while gently pointing out that nVidia needs to un-bundle LightBoost 2D from 3D Vision, and make it make it easier to enable LightBoost (like turning VSYNC ON/OFF). Again, please lean towards the Green Side (aka nVidia products) if you haven't purchased or upgraded your GPU yet.
__

Also, to test whether Strobelight is working use www.testufo.com -- the Blur Busters Motion Tests.
The best web-based motion test for LightBoost is: TestUFO: Moving Photo Test .... Turn on/off LightBoost while viewing this webpage in Google Chrome browser (the only release web browser at this time of writing to support VSYNC 120fps @ 120Hz).

[funky]

Any chance I can get this to work with my AOC g2460Pqu.

[ToastyX]

(06-29-2013 10:57 AM)funky Wrote:  Any chance I can get this to work with my AOC g2460Pqu.

Someone will have to test it and report if it works.

[funky]

(06-29-2013 03:57 PM)ToastyX Wrote:  

(06-29-2013 10:57 AM)funky Wrote:  Any chance I can get this to work with my AOC g2460Pqu.

Someone will have to test it and report if it works.

I tried to run the version you posted, but I get

Code:

---------------------------
Strobelight Beta by ToastyX
---------------------------
No compatible displays found.
---------------------------
Wiederholen   Abbrechen  
---------------------------

I ran strobelight-setup before, added strobed frequencies and rebooted. What seems weird to me is that the setup forgets which frequencies I selected every time I restart it.

[ToastyX]

Copy strobelight.exe to the desktop and rename it to strobelight-debug.exe, then run it and give me the debug.txt file.

The setup program does not read existing settings.

[funky]

(06-29-2013 04:38 PM)ToastyX Wrote:  Copy strobelight.exe to the desktop and rename it to strobelight-debug.exe, then run it and give me the debug.txt file.

The setup program does not read existing settings.

Code:

[2013-06-29 19:15:10.555] LOAD(AMD): LoadLibrary("atiadlxx.dll") = ERROR 126
[2013-06-29 19:15:10.556] LOAD(AMD): LoadLibrary("atiadlxy.dll") = ERROR 126
[2013-06-29 19:15:10.558] LOAD(NVIDIA): NvAPI_Initialize() = SUCCESS
[2013-06-29 19:15:10.769] INIT(NVIDIA, 0, 16): 3D = ERROR
[2013-06-29 19:15:10.980] INIT(NVIDIA, 0, 18): 3D = ERROR
[2013-06-29 19:15:10.980] INIT: No compatible displays found.

[victor.sic]

Are the brightness options supposed to have any effect directly to the user's desktop or only in game screen?