Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) 1.5.3

Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) 1.5.3 is a tiny free Windows tool by ToastyX for adding custom resolutions and refresh rates to a monitor. It edits the display information that Windows reads from the monitor, so you can use modes that the monitor supports but does not advertise, or fix incorrect ones. You can download Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) for Windows from the author's thread on monitortests.com.

Quick facts

• Version: 1.5.3
• Author: ToastyX
• Platform: Windows
• Licence: free
• Size: about 532.94 KB according to catalogue data
• Official page: CRU thread on monitortests.com

What it is used for

Every monitor tells the computer which resolutions and refresh rates it supports, using a block of data called EDID. Sometimes that information is incomplete or wrong: a monitor might handle a slightly higher refresh rate than it lists, a TV connected to a PC may default to an awkward resolution, or an adapter or dock may pass on incorrect data. CRU lets you add or edit these modes in a way the graphics driver respects. Gamers use it to try a modest overclock of the refresh rate, people with TVs use it to get the right resolution and scaling, and users of variable refresh rate displays adjust the supported range. The changes live in Windows, not in the monitor, so they can be undone. Still, sending a mode the monitor cannot handle leads to a black screen until you revert it, so work carefully.

Guide: adding a custom mode carefully

1. Download CRU from the official thread and unpack it.
2. Run it and select the monitor you want to change.
3. Add a detailed resolution with the values you want, starting close to the monitor's standard settings.
4. Apply the change and restart the graphics driver or the PC, as the tool instructs.
5. Select the new mode in Windows display settings and test it for a while.
6. If the screen goes black, wait for Windows to revert, or boot into safe mode and reset the changes.

Risks and tips

• Increase refresh rates in small steps and watch for flicker, artefacts or skipped frames.
• Keep a second display or remote access available when experimenting.
• Note original values before editing so you can restore them.
• Laptop panels and some monitors do not tolerate changes well; do not force them.

Pros and cons

• Pro: unlocks resolutions and refresh rates Windows does not offer.
• Pro: changes are stored in Windows and can be undone.
• Pro: tiny and free.
• Con: wrong values can lead to a black screen until reverted.
• Con: technical settings for beginners.

Alternatives

For timer and latency tweaks, our listings include Timer Resolution. MSI Kombustor stress-tests graphics cards, and NZXT CAM monitors temperatures while you experiment.