AA (Anti-Aliasing) caps Monitor refresh rate to 60Hz instead of 120Hz/144Hz

[V!P3R]

Hey there,
I have two 120 Hz Monitors and I am able to play CS:GO in 120 Hz using the "-freq 120" start option with overall low graphics settings. (tried "-refresh 120" too btw)
But: When I try to activate AA (Anti-Aliasing) the refresh rate of the monitor automatically gets set to 60Hz.
I am NOT talking about FPS here, fps_max is set to 300 (default) and on a empty server I easily get enough fps to utilize 120Hz. fps_max_menu is set to 120 (default too). VSync always off.

So as many Pros play with 120/144Hz monitors AND Anti Aliasing my question is: Is there some kind of workaround to use AA on a 120Hz Monitor?

I tried to activate AA in the Nvidia Control Panel, both general and application specific, while disabling it ingame (to keep 120Hz going) but AA still wasn't active. I also tried to use CSAA instead of MSAA to no avail (and FXAA is no option...).

Is there some internal console command to change the resolution/refresh rate instantaniously without using the settings menu? Because there is no Refresh Rate option in the settings menu.

I hope some developer can have a take on this too. Would be great to get an update to support 120 Hz including AA natively (if my system isn't the fault).

Greetz,
Viper

[Brentonator]

I found I have this same issue. Thanks for the solution (no AA). It's better than playing 60 Hz I guess!

For some reason my desktop resolution must be set to 1080p 120hz for -freq 120 to work too. I wish they would just use the settings from my drivers or my EDID (hacked or not). It seems they use neither.

[skada (low IQ)]

I use 144 hz (no modified EDID), and don't need the -freq command... and with any AA setting my fps never gets capped to 60 fps and refresh rate does not change. Strange bug, if it is one.

[V!P3R]

Originally posted by Genome:

I use 144 hz (no modified EDID), and don't need the -freq command... and with any AA setting my fps never gets capped to 60 fps and refresh rate does not change. Strange bug, if it is one.

FPS don't get capped on my end too. When I go to settings and change AA from None to f.ex. 4x MSAA and hit apply the screen goes black for a second and turns on again in 60Hz mode. When I deactivate it, same thing happens and I'm back to 120 Hz. You can check the refresh rate using the buttons on your monitor and find a menu like "Information" or similar (and you also can see the difference with your eyes only).

[skada (low IQ)]

I misread the original post and thought you mentioned 60 fps cap, but you didn't. My refresh rate does not change after selecting any type of msaa or csaa. It stays at 144. From the way you described it, definitely sounds like a bug.

[The Most Racist Player of All Ti]

I use 100Hz with a modified EDID and it works swimmingly with -refresh 100 and 4x MSAA.

[Brentonator]

I laugh when people say you can't see the difference. I feel like I'm playing on a laggy old computer in non-120hz mode.

A few things....my monitor supports 120hz at 1080p but it did not offer it in the EDID. Nvidia's control panel and CRU were used to add this custom resolution.

Without the custom resolution CS:GO resorts to 1080i 60hz for some reason, which makes no sense considering most games at least try to use 1080p 60hz.

Not sure where Source decides it's available resolutions and refresh rates...but it's annoying.

As soon as I add any AA whatsoever it resorts to 60hz. Removing the AA restores 120hz.

[V!P3R]

Originally posted by Piggly 2:

I laugh when people say you can't see the difference. I feel like I'm playing on a laggy old computer in non-120hz mode.

A few things....my monitor supports 120hz at 1080p but it did not offer it in the EDID. Nvidia's control panel and CRU were used to add this custom resolution.

Currently I only play on 88Hz instead of 120 because the DisplayPort on my laptop hasn't enough bandwith for 120Hz and even that is a HUGE difference to 60Hz.

I also used Nvidia Control panel to add a custom resolution (1920x1080@88Hz) and with the 'start option' "-freq 88" it works, but only when AA is not active :/ Maybe it happens because of the custom resolution, but in that case why would it work without AA?...
I don't think we can find a solution to this without a developer that knows whats going on inside the engine :/

[Sergej EZ Lit]

same! :(

[Milo]

I have the same problem, any news?

[Cubborn]

same here :( any answers?

[green fn]

I found a fix, at least for myself using an nVidia GPU and an overclocked monitor.

1. Take note of your nVidia overclock refresh rate, you'll need that later
   
2. Delete your overclocked refresh rates in the nVidia driver and set your monitor back to its default refresh rate
   
3. Download the following http://www.monitortests.com/forum/thread-custom-resolution-utility-cru
   
4. Open CRU.exe
   
5. Select your desired monitor from the drop down bar at the top
   
6. At the bottom of CRU click the drop down box that says "No extension block" and change it to "Custom extension block"
   
7. In the "Detailed resolutions group" click the button "Add..."
   
8. Set the drop down bar at the top labeled "Timing:" to "Automatic - LCD standard"
   
9. At the bottom, in the "Frequency" group, set the refresh rate to whatever your overclock in the nVidia control panel was and click "OK"
   
10. Select the resolution you just created under "Detailed resolutions" and use the small arrows under that box to move your new resolution to the top of said box
    
11. Click OK in the CRU main window
    
12. Run the "restart.exe" provided with CRU, it will restart your graphics driver allowing you to see the newly made resolution
    
13. Right click your desktop and choose "Display settings" (Win 10)
    
14. Click advanced display settings
    
15. Click display adapter properties
    
16. Go to the tab labeled "Monitor"
    
17. Click the screen refresh rate drop down box and choose your overclocked refresh rate
    
18. Go to CS:GO in your steam library and right click it and click properties
    
19. Click set launch options
    
20. Add the following if you don't already have it:
    
    -w X -h Y -freq Z
    
    Where X is your horizontal resolution
    Where Y is your vertical resolution
    Where Z is your overclocked refresh rate
    
    
21. Open CS:GO and enable MSAA (2x/4x/8x, doesn't matter)
    
22. Load an offline game and check visually to see if MSAA is on
    
23. Type "mat_info" into the console and where is prints out "Display mode" (towards the top) check to make sure that it says "@Z Hz" where Z is your overclocked refresh rate

Tell me if that worked for you since I haven't been able to test it on any other systems.
If you aren't using an overclocked monitor but can only use 60Hz in CS:GO with a 144/120Hz monitor, I would recommend using CRU to adjust the priority of the higher refresh rate resolution as I imagine this is where the bug stems from. Otherwise, you could try making a custom resolution with -1Hz from 144/120Hz and see if using that fixes the issue.

[ANDROHKA]

Originally posted by n i c o t i n e:

I found a fix, at least for myself using an nVidia GPU and an overclocked monitor.

1. Take note of your nVidia overclock refresh rate, you'll need that later
   
2. Delete your overclocked refresh rates in the nVidia driver and set your monitor back to its default refresh rate
   
3. Download the following http://www.monitortests.com/forum/thread-custom-resolution-utility-cru
   
4. Open CRU.exe
   
5. Select your desired monitor from the drop down bar at the top
   
6. At the bottom of CRU click the drop down box that says "No extension block" and change it to "Custom extension block"
   
7. In the "Detailed resolutions group" click the button "Add..."
   
8. Set the drop down bar at the top labeled "Timing:" to "Automatic - LCD standard"
   
9. At the bottom, in the "Frequency" group, set the refresh rate to whatever your overclock in the nVidia control panel was and click "OK"
   
10. Select the resolution you just created under "Detailed resolutions" and use the small arrows under that box to move your new resolution to the top of said box
    
11. Click OK in the CRU main window
    
12. Run the "restart.exe" provided with CRU, it will restart your graphics driver allowing you to see the newly made resolution
    
13. Right click your desktop and choose "Display settings" (Win 10)
    
14. Click advanced display settings
    
15. Click display adapter properties
    
16. Go to the tab labeled "Monitor"
    
17. Click the screen refresh rate drop down box and choose your overclocked refresh rate
    
18. Go to CS:GO in your steam library and right click it and click properties
    
19. Click set launch options
    
20. Add the following if you don't already have it:
    
    -w X -h Y -freq Z
    
    Where X is your horizontal resolution
    Where Y is your vertical resolution
    Where Z is your overclocked refresh rate
    
    
21. Open CS:GO and enable MSAA (2x/4x/8x, doesn't matter)
    
22. Load an offline game and check visually to see if MSAA is on
    
23. Type "mat_info" into the console and where is prints out "Display mode" (towards the top) check to make sure that it says "@Z Hz" where Z is your overclocked refresh rate

Tell me if that worked for you since I haven't been able to test it on any other systems.
If you aren't using an overclocked monitor but can only use 60Hz in CS:GO with a 144/120Hz monitor, I would recommend using CRU to adjust the priority of the higher refresh rate resolution as I imagine this is where the bug stems from. Otherwise, you could try making a custom resolution with -1Hz from 144/120Hz and see if using that fixes the issue.

CRU helped me!
(btw. refreshlock did not help for this issue)

I also have nvidia, followed all steps and issue was resolved because I can simply choose HZ inside the resolutions menu, instead of adding a new resolution csgo isn't recognizing within +AA.

Thank you

[Effinlag]

Doesn't want cause input lag? Why would anyone want to play like that?

[(playing on controller)]

I found some fix, but idk if its for this exact issue.

Basically, make a custom resolution of your native resolution inside the AMD's Display category. Same Hz, same Width and Height of your native resolution, and then make it also inside the CRU "Custom Resolution Utility" same thing, Width Height and Hz. Then, any Resolution will work properly as it won't change to that res because I think, it won't force that resolution because the game thinks its a custom one, therefore you can play normally on different resolutions with different Hz amounts.

Cheers

[vontsfx]

Originally posted by submissive and breedable:

I found a fix, at least for myself using an nVidia GPU and an overclocked monitor.

1. Take note of your nVidia overclock refresh rate, you'll need that later
   
2. Delete your overclocked refresh rates in the nVidia driver and set your monitor back to its default refresh rate
   
3. Download the following http://www.monitortests.com/forum/thread-custom-resolution-utility-cru
   
4. Open CRU.exe
   
5. Select your desired monitor from the drop down bar at the top
   
6. At the bottom of CRU click the drop down box that says "No extension block" and change it to "Custom extension block"
   
7. In the "Detailed resolutions group" click the button "Add..."
   
8. Set the drop down bar at the top labeled "Timing:" to "Automatic - LCD standard"
   
9. At the bottom, in the "Frequency" group, set the refresh rate to whatever your overclock in the nVidia control panel was and click "OK"
   
10. Select the resolution you just created under "Detailed resolutions" and use the small arrows under that box to move your new resolution to the top of said box
    
11. Click OK in the CRU main window
    
12. Run the "restart.exe" provided with CRU, it will restart your graphics driver allowing you to see the newly made resolution
    
13. Right click your desktop and choose "Display settings" (Win 10)
    
14. Click advanced display settings
    
15. Click display adapter properties
    
16. Go to the tab labeled "Monitor"
    
17. Click the screen refresh rate drop down box and choose your overclocked refresh rate
    
18. Go to CS:GO in your steam library and right click it and click properties
    
19. Click set launch options
    
20. Add the following if you don't already have it:
    
    -w X -h Y -freq Z
    
    Where X is your horizontal resolution
    Where Y is your vertical resolution
    Where Z is your overclocked refresh rate
    
    
21. Open CS:GO and enable MSAA (2x/4x/8x, doesn't matter)
    
22. Load an offline game and check visually to see if MSAA is on
    
23. Type "mat_info" into the console and where is prints out "Display mode" (towards the top) check to make sure that it says "@Z Hz" where Z is your overclocked refresh rate

Tell me if that worked for you since I haven't been able to test it on any other systems.
If you aren't using an overclocked monitor but can only use 60Hz in CS:GO with a 144/120Hz monitor, I would recommend using CRU to adjust the priority of the higher refresh rate resolution as I imagine this is where the bug stems from. Otherwise, you could try making a custom resolution with -1Hz from 144/120Hz and see if using that fixes the issue.

Wow, thanks man. I had to go back in time few years back to solve my problem! Love you