Mac OS X 10.3.4: Monitor refresh rates; audio playthrough

Monitor refresh rates: solution? In our previous coverage of the 10.3.4 Update, including our Special Report, we noted reader reports of an inability to change monitor refresh rates after installing the Update. Reader Barry Levine reports success using a third-party utility:

"Happened to me, too (Samsung 955df on Dual-867/G4) when updating to 10.3.4. Problem was solved completely with DisplayConfigX. This $12 shareware app not only [restored] the higher refresh rates with higher resolutions but added new resolutions and refresh rates that were previously unavailable on this model monitor...I should note that I am currently using 1216x912@88Hz. Prior to DisplayConfigX, anything above 1150x870 was at 75Hz or lower. Best $12 I ever spent on my Mac."

Audio playthrough Reader Philip Lambe notes an issue with audio playthrough and OS X 10.3.4, as well as a fix:

"After upgrading to 10.3.4 I noticed that I could no longer get my external FM receiver to play back through the external microphone socket of my Sawtooth G4. In the past this was usually a problem easily fixed by opening Apple Audio MIDI Setup and checking the box for 'Play through.' In the Panther upgrade Apple has installed a newer version of Audio MIDI Setup with the brushed metal appearance. I looked on the previous systems folder in the Utilities folder and found the old version of Audio MIDI Setup was still there. I dragged this across to the new Applications folder installed by Panther and presto my sound input works as before."

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