[sclug] Gnomes screen resolution

[Alex Butcher]

On Tue, 10 May 2005, Luke Hinds wrote:

> I can't get the resolution on Gnome to increase beyond 1024x768 - This
> is using Gnomes own 'screen resolution' application. I don't confess
> to be much of an expect on X, and after google bashing for a while i
> figured i would ask you guys and girls. I would at least like to get
> up to 1280x800.

[snip]

> Section "Monitor"
>        Identifier      "Generic Monitor"
>        HorizSync       28-50
>        VertRefresh     43-75
>        Option          "DPMS"
>        Modeline "1280x800" 159.74 1280 1296 1552 1664 800 800 815 835
>        ModeLine "1680x1050" 214.51 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1103
> EndSection

With those monitor specs (i.e. 28-50, 43-75) that monitor will only just
scrape 1280x800 at 60Hz (ugh!). To do that, you'll need something like the
following modeline (as generated by <http://xtiming.sourceforge.net/>):

Modeline "1280x800 at 60" 83.91 1280 1312 1624 1656 800 816 824 841

You'll then need to include it in the list of valid modes for each display
depth:

> Section "Screen"
>        Identifier      "Default Screen"
>        Device          "Generic Video Card"
>        Monitor         "Generic Monitor"
>        DefaultDepth    24
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           1
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           4
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           8
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           15
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           16
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
>        SubSection "Display"
>                Depth           24
>                Modes           "1280x800 at 60" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
>        EndSubSection
> EndSection

If those aren't the right specs (and they look awfully low, though if the
monitor is old, that might not be unreasonable) then correct them by
referring to the monitor's manual, google, or the Windows 'driver' (i.e.
MONITOR.INF or whatever). Further, ideally, your maximum dotclock (i.e.
83.91) should not exceed the monitor's maximum bandwidth. Failing to do this
won't harm the monitor, AFAIK, but will result in a blurry picture. Reducing
it will result in a sharper picture, albeit at a lower (i.e. flickery!)
refresh rate. Note also, that if it's a TFT, running it at anything other
than its native resolution, or an integer multiple thereof, will result in
blurriness or uneven scaling (e.g. sometimes a pixel is represented by two
onscreen pixels, sometimes by one - leading to uneven, lumpy fonts)

Best Regards,
Alex.
-- 
Alex Butcher      Brainbench MVP for Internet Security: www.brainbench.com
Bristol, UK                      Need reliable and secure network systems?
PGP/GnuPG ID:0x271fd950                         <http://www.assursys.com/>