nVidia Refresh Rate Fix MKII is a legacy, third-party utility from the early 2000s used to solve the infamous Windows 98/2000/XP “640×480 @ 60Hz” bug.
In those older operating systems, running a Direct3D or OpenGL game would force a CRT monitor’s refresh rate down to a flickering 60Hz, regardless of your desktop settings. Because modern operating systems and modern drivers have completely fixed this issue, this utility is entirely obsolete and should not be used on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
If you are running an emulation rig or a retro Windows XP machine, here is how the utility works, followed by how to achieve the same goal on a modern PC. How to Use the Legacy MKII Utility (Retro PCs Only)
If you are operating a retro machine with an old CRT monitor and an early Nvidia GeForce card:
Download and open the executable file (no installation is usually required).
Scan your registry: The program automatically reads your monitor’s EDID/driver limits and displays a list of your graphics card’s supported resolutions.
Fix the rates: Click the Fix or Auto-Fix button. This applies a registry override to ensure that when a game triggers a specific resolution (like 1024×768), Windows forces the highest supported refresh rate (like 85Hz or 100Hz) instead of dropping to 60Hz.
Reboot your PC: Restart your computer to allow Windows to load the modified registry configurations. Modern Alternative: The NVIDIA Control Panel
If you are on a modern computer, you do not need third-party tools. You can set and lock your refresh rate directly through official software:
Open the Software: Right-click an empty space on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
Navigate to Display: On the left sidebar, expand the Display menu and click Change resolution.
Select Your Rate: Select your primary monitor, locate the Refresh rate dropdown menu on the right, and pick your monitor’s maximum speed (e.g., 144Hz or 240Hz). Click Apply.
Force a Custom Rate: If your desired refresh rate is missing, click Customize… at the bottom, select Create Custom Resolution…, type in your exact target refresh rate, and click Test to force it. Modern Alternative: Custom Resolution Utility (CRU)
If Windows or the NVIDIA Control Panel is completely blocking you from selecting your monitor’s true refresh rate, the modern spiritual successor to the MKII tool is Custom Resolution Utility (CRU). It edits the Windows registry directly to delete broken configurations and cleanly force high refresh rates for modern HDMI and DisplayPort monitors.
What operating system and graphics card are you currently using? If you are trying to fix a specific game that is capped at 60Hz, let me know the name of the game so I can provide the exact modern workaround.
I no longer have my 240hz refresh rate available from Windows
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