Selecting correct Hz for new monitor

I'm using Windows 98 and I just bought a new monitor, a Samsung
SyncMaster 793s 17" screen. My old one was a Samsung Syncmaster 3 14"
screen.

When I went to change the monitor type on the Active Desktop list of
monitors, it obviously didn't have the newer 793s, so I tried to pick
a standardized monitor type from the list (at the top of the list it
says "standard monitor types").

I'm stuck between 2 options:
Super VGA 1024x768
Super VGA 1024x768 at 75 Hz

How can I tell which one I should pick? Also, does it matter if I
continue to use the monitor with the setting wrongly selected for the
older Syncmaster 3? What does this setting change, anyhow?

I should also note that the CD that came with the monitor only
provided drivers for Win2000 and up to Win XP, but not for Win 95/98.

 

Look up what modes the new monitor supports and pick something close, the
selection simply changes the resolutions and refresh rates available, hiding
those not supported by a particular model. Personally I would just choose
something generic, set it to the resolution I wanted, and then bump up the
refresh rate one notch at a time until either the picture looks distorted or
the monitor shuts down, and then back it off one.

 

Did the monitor not come with some software drivers? If not, you might
visit the maker's website and see if some are not available. Normally
you will have many possible settings if you acquire the proper drivers.

 

Or the monitor blows up.

Most monitors should be smart enough to shut down if an improper refresh
rate is fed to it but not all.

However, it's very likely that any modern monitor should be able to support
1024x768 at 78 Hz.

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You may have some luck with whatever the newer Samsung drivers are
that are available with Windows also, but compare specs to yours
before you change anything. If you do make a change and lose your
screen, restart in Safe Mode (F5 or F* while booting).

Tom

 

Maby I'm just lucky, but I've never had a monitor blow up on me. I've set
the refresh rate too high, set the frequency to high etc and the monitor
didnt shut down.. The picture just lost sync. I've done this with dozens of
old monitors without any problems trying to find the proper refresh rate and
resolutions for them.

- Mike

 

....make that F5 or F8.

 

Well IMO if the monitor blows up from setting the refresh too high then it's
not worth having in the first place. Decent 17" monitors are a dime a dozen,
took me a month to get $20 for one.