How to Run Resident Evil 4 on A 120Hz/144Hz Monitor

This guide will show you how I managed to play this game on a 144Hz monitor, and maybe also suitable for your non-60Hz monitor.

DESCRIPTION

Recently I re-downloaded RE4UHD and want to play it again, but the game won't start. And I have found that many people have the same problem as me. If you have a monitor with frequency other than 60Hz, mostly higher, the game won't launch. This maybe because RE4UHD the whole game was captured under 60FPS/30FPS. Other than 60Hz, it will cause some unknow bugs or some issuses, just my guessing.

Anyway, this guide will show you how I managed to play this game on a 144Hz monitor, and maybe also suitable for your non-60Hz monitior.

The following steps were made on a WIN10 system, WIN7 version would be much the same.

*Only tested for 144Hz monitors.
**English is not my native language, this was best I can do.

PART.0 - A More Easier Way, Try This First.

This was from one of the reply below this guide by mKiSS, due to I am lazy, I just quote his/her reply as below:

Originally posted by mKiSS:

It's easier, and probably better, to use DXVK.

Download the latest release from github[github.com], open the tar.gz archive with 7zip, drag and drop both the d3d9.dll and dxgi.dll from the x32 folder to the same folder where the game's executable (bio4.exe) is located (Steam\steamapps\common\Resident Evil 4\Bin32).

Now run the game. It should start flawlessly.

Many people said this was the only method worked correctly. And it's much easier. You should try this first. If not working, try the original one posted in this guide.





2023 UPDATE

Since version 1.8, the mod re4_tweaks[github.com] now supports a DXVK based Vulkan renderer. So if you're planning on using it or the "resident evil 4 HD project" (re4_tweaks is already included on that mod) you don't need to use DXVK anymore. I highly recommend using re4_tweaks since it also fixes many bugs and developer oversights left in this release of the game.

To install it, download the latest release[github.com] and then drag and drop the contents of the .zip file inside the game's executable folder (Steam/steamapps/common/Resident Evil 4/Bin32/). Check if the option UseVulkanRenderer is set to True inside dinput8.ini. You can also adjust the many other settings in this file to your liking. Now everything should be good to go.

If you're on Linux or using a Steam Deck, you also need to include the launch option WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b" %command% inside the game's properties on Steam.

PART.1 - Change Monitor Refresh Rate

1. Download RE4UHD fully.

1.1 RUN the game once anyway, it will let the game create some setting files.

A file named 'config.ini' under 'C:\Users\Username\Documents\My Games\Capcom\RE4'

2. Change your monitor refresh rate to 60Hz.

2.1 Right-click any blank area on your desktop then select 'Display settings' from the pop-up menu.



* You can also access this by going to the Display settings menu by 'Start' > 'Settings' > 'System' > 'Display'.





2.2 Select 'Advanced display settings'. You will see this on the right side of the window. If not, roll down until you see it.



2.3 Click 'Display adapter properties' under the monitor that you want to configure. Usually the default one if you don't have another monitor.



2.4 Click the 'Monitor' tab in the new window.

2.5 Select a refresh rate from the Screen refresh rate drop-down menu. Change it to 60Hz, and apply it, then you are good to go.




* But here are the difference. For example, my 144Hz monitor only offered 2 refresh rate options, 144Hz or 72Hz. They didn't have a 60Hz one (the 60Hz option in the picture was I added manually). I assume you will encounter the same problem here. Otherwise you would have launched the game already. If your non-60Hz monitor didn't have a 60Hz option, then we gonna need to add one manually.

PART.2 - Add 60Hz Option Manually

This was the key part.

3. Download[www.monitortests.com] Custom Resolution Utility (CRU)

3.1 Unzip the file to anywhere you want to. Then run the program 'CRU.exe' in administrator mode.

(During this guide was made, the software version was 1.4.2, just download the latest version will be ok.)



* Right click the exe icon and click Run as Administrator, click YES for the pop-up warning.



3.2 Click 'Add' button to add a 60Hz frequency option manually.

(I only edited resolution and refresh rate, and leave other parameters default.)





* Don't forget to click 'OK' button to apply the change.

3.3 And now alongside your original frequency options you can see the 60Hz option.



3.3 Restart you computer.

END

Go to PART.1 and change your monitor refresh rate to 60Hz, you should be able to select 60Hz option now.

Enjoy Your Game!

You can change your monitor refresh rate back after you launch RE4 once.

(This what I did.)

This step maybe can be skipped, it seemed like the game will automatically run in 60Hz mode if your monitor has 60Hz option. Since I change my refresh rate back to 144Hz, and the game still runs normally.

* This should be also applicable for other refresh rate monitor other than 144Hz, please let me know if it works.

EXTRA - config.ini

This was my config.ini file settings, the file should be found under
'C:\Users\Username\Documents\My Games\Capcom\RE4'

config.ini

resolution 1920 1080 60
vsync 1
fullscreen 1
adapter 0
antialiasing 8
anisotropy 16
shadowQuality 2
useHDTexture 1
ppEnabled 0
motionblurEnabled 0
variableframerate 60
subtitle 1
laserR 255
laserG 0
laserB 0
laserA -1

[EliteOverlord1]

Part 0 and 2 fix worked for me, thank you so much! also to those wondering who are having the "steam application needs to be running" fatal error, the first one fixes it as well, thanks again and hope this helps those who have that error when loading the game as did I!

[Diia Blood]

Thank you, you gorgeous human being!

[Dayne]

none of this worked lol

[DarkPhil04]

¡¡MUCHÍSIMAS GRACIAS!!

[Latem]

I did all that and the 60 Hz option is still not there... what should i do? ;-;

[XxZueiroGamerxX]

I got the same problem like bd-meyers, idk why this happens
Maybe a problem with the GPU (Intel Iris X) ?
Capcom never gonna fix anyway

[Nic3Marmot]

Feeling super defeated. I have tried all these options and get nothing but a white screen. Monitor is 60hz. I put the updated for 2023 re tweaks files into bin 32.. still white screen. Really wanted to experience this classic for the first time.

[Uni]

there are now 2 files in GitHub and when I open one of them there is only one

[Ariel]

The first time I opened the game it ran fine, but the second time it didn't open, thanks for the help

[mKiSS]

@Nessi yeah, since release 1.8 last december re4_tweaks now adds a vulkan renderer based on dxvk source code. I should to update my section of the guide.