Need a display mode your monitor or graphics driver does not expose? Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) edits the monitor’s software EDID override so custom resolutions and refresh rates can appear in Windows display settings.
What does CRU change?
CRU displays the resolutions and capabilities a monitor reports through EDID, then lets you create a software override saved in the Windows registry. The change does not rewrite the monitor’s hardware. After the graphics driver reloads, Windows can offer the added modes in its display settings.
The main editing area separates detailed resolutions, standard resolutions, range limits, and extension blocks. Detailed resolutions are the usual choice for custom modes and can include refresh rate and timing values. CRU can also edit FreeSync ranges or remove resolutions the display reports but should not offer.
How do you apply a custom mode?
Choose the target display from CRU’s dropdown; an active marker identifies a display recognized by the graphics driver. Add or edit a detailed resolution, select a timing method, and save the override. Presets include PC, HDTV, and CRT-oriented timing rules, along with exact refresh-rate options.
Run CRU’s restart utility to reload the graphics driver, then select the new resolution or refresh rate in Windows display settings. If the screen does not return after the restart, CRU’s recovery mode can temporarily unload the overrides. The Delete control removes an individual display override; the reset utility clears overrides for all displays.
Extension blocks and timing limits
Extension blocks hold additional display information. CTA-861 blocks can include extra resolutions, audio formats, and HDMI data; DisplayID can accommodate resolutions or pixel clocks beyond the limits of standard detailed entries. CRU also provides VTB-EXT for additional standard resolutions.
Standard detailed entries stop at 4095 × 4095 pixels and a pixel clock of about 655 MHz; anything above that needs a DisplayID block. CRU cannot read extension blocks on Intel GPUs, and older graphics hardware or drivers may support only a limited number of blocks. The graphics driver and display must also support the mode for it to work.
Pros
- Edits detailed resolutions, refresh rates, and timing parameters
- Supports CTA-861 and DisplayID extension blocks
- Can change FreeSync ranges and remove unwanted resolutions
- Includes driver-restart and override-reset tools
Cons
- Extension blocks cannot be read on Intel graphics
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 · AMD/ATI or NVIDIA GPU with an appropriate driver; supported Intel graphics drivers also work
Does CRU change my monitor’s firmware?
No. The override lives in the Windows registry; the monitor itself is left untouched.
Where do I select a resolution added in CRU?
After saving the override and restarting the graphics driver, choose the mode in Windows display settings.
What is a CRU extension block for?
It carries extra display data, such as additional resolutions, audio formats, or HDMI capabilities.