How to: Force 2560x1440 resolution on a Dell U2311H monitor on AMD GPU's

Things you need:

• Dell U2311H Monitor. (Maybe other monitors will work too)
• AMD GPU. (should work with any GPU that uses CCC10.2 driver or higher)
• AMD Display Library (ADL) SDK v3.0 (The ADL utility) (Different Host for 3.0 AMD now has 4.0 without ADLutil!)(Download for 4.0 exe only)
• A Backup / Restore point of your current Windows.

How it works:

Because the Dell U2311H monitor's are physically limited to a 1920x1080 resolution you won't be able to set anything higher in CCC or Windows.
Even if you input a higher resolution the monitor will downscale it to 1920x1080 pixel. Windows will still work with higher resolution!

Why should i do this?

Absolutly no idea! Windows Desktop looks horrible in 2560x1440, ingame looks fine.
But nice to compare 7680*1440 vs 5760*1080 resolution. You're also able to run 1920x1200 pixel. or 1920x480 pixel with black bars. (Eyefinity simulation)

How to set up:

Be sure to create a Windows restore Point / Backup before trying this!

(all names of the .txt files are just placeholder! you can use them or rename them as you like!)

Extract the archive you downloaded somewhere on your computer. (In my case i put it into C:\AMD)
Open CMD (press Windows Key +R and enter CMD)
use "cd" to switch into the directory in which you unpacked the stuff. more specific into ADL_SDK\adlutil\ and type "adlutil" to get an overview.

don't forget to press Enter!

Type "adlutil get get.txt" to create a text file with your current display settings.


AdapterIndex 5
DisplayIndex 4
Width 1920
Height 1080
ColorDepth 32
RefreshRate 60.00
XPos -1920
YPos 0
Orientation 0
ModeFlag 0
ModeMask 0x00FF
ModeValue 0x0046

AdapterIndex 6
DisplayIndex 3
Width 1920
Height 1080
ColorDepth 32
RefreshRate 60.00
XPos 0
YPos 0
Orientation 0
ModeFlag 0
ModeMask 0x00FF
ModeValue 0x0046

AdapterIndex 7
DisplayIndex 1
Width 1920
Height 1080
ColorDepth 32
RefreshRate 60.00
XPos 1920
YPos 0
Orientation 0
ModeFlag 0
ModeMask 0x00FF
ModeValue 0x0046


Warning: "Display Index" is not the same as shown in CCC! Take a look on the "XPos" and you might figure out which one is which.

We don't need the "adlutil set get.txt" command here, so we'll skip that. (But if you do! You can use maximal 12 rows! Only one Display per command!)

Enter "adlutil list list.txt" to create a file with current override mode. This should creat an empty file and write into the cmd "TimingOverride list for Adapterindex 5, DisplayIndex 4 is empty!" That's because we haven't used override yet!

Edit the get.txt so that only the DisplayIndex 1 is shown.
AdapterIndex 7
DisplayIndex 1
Width 1920
Height 1080
ColorDepth 32
RefreshRate 60.00
XPos 1920
YPos 0
Orientation 0
ModeFlag 0
ModeMask 0x00FF
ModeValue 0x0046


and then use "adlutil info get.txt d1info.txt" to get the override settings.
AdapterIndex 7
DisplayIndex 1
TimingStandard 16
PossibleStandard 15
RefreshRate 0
Width 0
Height 0
TimingFlags 0
HTotal 2200
HDisplay 1920
HSyncStart 2008
HSyncWidth 44
VTotal 1125
VDisplay 1080
VSyncStart 1084
VSyncWidth 5
PixelClock 14850
HOverscanRight 0
HOverscanLeft 0
VOverscanBottom 0
VOverscanTop 0

Enter "adlutil gen d1.txt" to create a template/sample.
Edit the d1.txt so that only the DisplayIndex 1 is shown.

AdapterIndex 7
DisplayIndex 1
TimingStandard 1
PossibleStandard 0
RefreshRate 60
Width 1920
Height 1080
TimingFlags 0
HTotal 0
HDisplay 0
HSyncStart 0
HSyncWidth 0
VTotal 0
VDisplay 0
VSyncStart 0
VSyncWidth 0
PixelClock 0
HOverscanRight 0
HOverscanLeft 0
VOverscanBottom 0
VOverscanTop 0


Merge settings from d1info.txt into d1.txt. Important! Set "TimingStandard" to "8" this will allow custom resolutions and timings!

AdapterIndex 7
DisplayIndex 1
TimingStandard 8
PossibleStandard 15
RefreshRate 60
Width 1920
Height 1080
TimingFlags 0
HTotal 2200
HDisplay 1920
HSyncStart 2008
HSyncWidth 44
VTotal 1125
VDisplay 1080
VSyncStart 1084
VSyncWidth 5
PixelClock 14850
HOverscanRight 0
HOverscanLeft 0
VOverscanBottom 0
VOverscanTop 0


Now, we want 2560*1440 pixel right? Edit the "Width" and "Height" settings accordingly and save the d1.txt
Do NOT under any circumstances edit the "HDisplay" or "VDisplay"! You might screw your system up badly!

type "adlutil over d1.txt". Done! If your screen didn't change to 2560x1440 pixel you still have to to that manually in CCC or windows settings!

Don't even bother trying something higher than that on a Dell U2311H! It will result in Blackscreen or heavy Graphic problems.

You can change the Width and Height with any value between 640x480 and 2560x1440 ! So if you wan't to run 1920x480! Try it out!
Might look like that in the end!

How to remove:

1. Well, you don't realy have to! You can just change the resolution back to 1920x1080 pixel!
2. But if you realy wan't to remove the overdrive modes.
3. Type "adlutil list r.txt" Change that only one DisplayIndex is shown! and set the "TimingStandard" back to "16".
4. Type "adlutil over r.txt" this should delete ONE override mode.
5. IF you set more than one override mode (You have more than one shown in r.txt when you use list command) you have to delet them all manually.
6. (by redoing these steps for removing)

For more information read the "ADLUTIL User Guide" thats included.

Big News: sakulthefirst made a GUI for this tool! Download here!